Choosing the Right New Jersey Auto Insurance Policy
Our attorneys have over seven
decades combined experience.
Here at Smith-Doran we pursue auto-accident related personal injury claims that meet the threshold for a lawsuit. Yet we know that our clients are often caught off-guard by insurance limits.
They’ve heard the headlines on personal injury claims, and are surprised to find out that insurance companies are only going to pay up to the policy limits.
And since New Jersey is a no-fault state, those policy limits will matter when it’s time to get compensation for a car accident that doesn’t meet the lawsuit threshold, too. It’s vital to take advantage of the lower rates that no-fault laws provide and to buy as much coverage as you can.
Minimum Insurance Requirements Are Rarely Enough
The law requires every driver to take out $15,000 in liability bodily injury coverage per person, with a total maximum of $30,000 per incident, with $5000 of liability property damage.
Note that medical insurance policies usually don’t cover injuries sustained from car accident. If someone has to go to the ER those amounts may be plenty, but if you have to stay overnight for for more than a day or so you’ll run past them very quickly. The average hospital stay runs $12,600 per night.
It usually pays to buy much higher liability insurance. This is to cover you so that if you are found at-fault for an accident that meets the lawsuit threshold you won’t find yourself with a huge out-of-pocket debt.
The maximum you can get is $250,000 per person and $500,000 per incident. Usually getting that kind of coverage is well worth the cost.
Collision Coverage
You want collision coverage, as that’s the coverage that repairs your vehicle when you get into an accident.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This is the coverage that pays your hospital bills when someone strikes you. Again it’s wise to get $250,000/$500,000, which is the maximum coverage you can receive.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This is the coverage that pays you when an uninsured driver hits you. A very good idea, considering 16.6% of our drivers are uninsured. Get the highest amounts you can afford.
The Unlimited Right to Sue
Choosing the unlimited right to sue will cost you, but it may be well worth the cost. This means you don’t have to meet the threshold for personal injury lawsuits. You can sue for any car accident if the other driver was at-fault. We absolutely recommend this coverage as the right to sue can mean getting far more compensation for an accident or injuries.
Injured in a car accident?
We can help. Just call us a for a free consultation and we’ll tell you whether you have a viable case.
See also:
What New Jersey’s No-Fault System Means for Your Personal Injury Case
Do All New Jersey Car Accidents Require Help From a Personal Injury Attorney?
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Here at Smith-Doran we pursue auto-accident related personal injury claims that meet the threshold for a lawsuit. Yet we know that our clients are often caught off-guard by insurance limits.
They’ve heard the headlines on personal injury claims, and are surprised to find out that insurance companies are only going to pay up to the policy limits.
And since New Jersey is a no-fault state, those policy limits will matter when it’s time to get compensation for a car accident that doesn’t meet the lawsuit threshold, too. It’s vital to take advantage of the lower rates that no-fault laws provide and to buy as much coverage as you can.
Minimum Insurance Requirements Are Rarely Enough
The law requires every driver to take out $15,000 in liability bodily injury coverage per person, with a total maximum of $30,000 per incident, with $5000 of liability property damage.
Note that medical insurance policies usually don’t cover injuries sustained from car accident. If someone has to go to the ER those amounts may be plenty, but if you have to stay overnight for for more than a day or so you’ll run past them very quickly. The average hospital stay runs $12,600 per night.
It usually pays to buy much higher liability insurance. This is to cover you so that if you are found at-fault for an accident that meets the lawsuit threshold you won’t find yourself with a huge out-of-pocket debt.
The maximum you can get is $250,000 per person and $500,000 per incident. Usually getting that kind of coverage is well worth the cost.
Collision Coverage
You want collision coverage, as that’s the coverage that repairs your vehicle when you get into an accident.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This is the coverage that pays your hospital bills when someone strikes you. Again it’s wise to get $250,000/$500,000, which is the maximum coverage you can receive.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This is the coverage that pays you when an uninsured driver hits you. A very good idea, considering 16.6% of our drivers are uninsured. Get the highest amounts you can afford.
The Unlimited Right to Sue
Choosing the unlimited right to sue will cost you, but it may be well worth the cost. This means you don’t have to meet the threshold for personal injury lawsuits. You can sue for any car accident if the other driver was at-fault. We absolutely recommend this coverage as the right to sue can mean getting far more compensation for an accident or injuries.
Injured in a car accident?
We can help. Just call us a for a free consultation and we’ll tell you whether you have a viable case.
See also:
What New Jersey’s No-Fault System Means for Your Personal Injury Case
Do All New Jersey Car Accidents Require Help From a Personal Injury Attorney?