Handler, Henning & Rosenberg issued the following announcement on June 28.
As a Pennsylvania resident, it is essential for you to be aware of state regulations that could affect your legal rights following a car crash. One of the most important topics that Pennsylvania drivers should be aware of is the difference between limited tort and full tort coverage—specifically, how it affects your insurance coverage.
The state of Pennsylvania has implemented major changes to automobile insurance regulations in an attempt to reduce the high number of lawsuits over car accidents. The state has passed a law that requires every PA driver to have personal injury protection insurance (PIP), which covers medical bills for injured drivers regardless of who is at fault. This regulation is meant to reduce the number of lawsuits suing for pain and suffering—which helps reduce insurance expenditures.
This has led insurance companies to offer a full tort or limited tort coverage that affects an individual’s ability to file a lawsuit in court for the damages.
What Is Limited vs. Full Tort Coverage?
To put it simply, drivers that are insured with full tort coverage have the ability to sue for all damages resulting from a car crash, whereas drivers with limited tort coverage have award limits when filing a suit. In both policies, drivers are only able to present a case if they were injured in an accident and were not at fault. Victims with full tort coverage can file a lawsuit to cover all damages—such as pain, suffering, medical charges, and property damage.
In return for waiving some of your rights to sue negligent parties for damages after a serious car accident, the insurance company offers a lower premium.
Which Tort Should You Choose?
Yes, limited tort coverage offers you savings on your premiums…but is it worth it?
Limited tort coverage provides for medical costs; however, you’ll be left with few other options should you be injured in a car accident. Medical bills only cover some of the losses from a car crash—leaving survivors in serious financial trouble if they've waived their right to sue. Filing for pain and suffering often results in higher recovery amounts. Full tort coverage allows you to fully recover all that you’ve lost from the party responsible.
Original source can be found here.