Rhode Island Accident Lawyer Blog
Thousands of people are injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island each year. Massachusetts and Rhode Island require drivers to carry liability insurance to protect others in the event the driver causes a motor vehicle accident. Liability insurance pays damages to victims of a car accident when a driver is responsible for the crash.
Just like all other states, Rhode Island and Massachusetts set minimum insurance requirements for all drivers.
In Rhode Island, drivers must purchase the following insurance coverage:
- Bodily injury coverage in the amount of $25,000 for one injury or death
- Bodily injury coverage in the amount of $50,000 for injury or death to two or more persons
- Property damage coverage in the amount of $25,000 per accident
You may choose to purchase a higher amount of liability insurance coverage. You may also choose to purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance; however, you are free to decline these types of automobile insurance.
The minimum insurance requirements for Massachusetts are slightly different. A driver must maintain:
- Bodily injury insurance coverage in the amount of $20,000 for one person and $40,000 for two or more people
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in the amount of $8,000 per person
- Uninsured Motorist Insurance in the amount of $20,000 for one person and $40,000 for two or more people
- Property damage coverage in the amount of $5,000 per accident
Under Massachusetts law, you are not required to carry underinsured motorist insurance.
What Is Underinsured Motorist Insurance?
In both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, purchasing underinsured motorist insurance is at the discretion of each person. Many people do not opt to purchase underinsured motorist insurance; however, we believe it is in your best interest to consider this type of automobile insurance coverage.
Underinsured motorist insurance protects you in the event you are injured in an accident caused by another driver and that driver’s insurance coverage is not sufficient to pay your damages. In other words, if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage, your underinsured motorist insurance should pay the difference up to your policy limits.
As you can see from the above limits, the minimum insurance requirements are not very high. If you suffer a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or another severe injury, your damages can quickly exceed the state’s minimum coverage amount. You could be stuck with thousands of dollars in unpaid damages. However, purchasing an underinsured motorist insurance policy can prevent this from happening.
For example, a person suffers a back injury in a Massachusetts car accident that requires surgery and months of physical therapy. The victim is out of work for months as he struggles to recover from the injuries. His medical bills and lost wages quickly add up to over $100,000, but the driver who caused the accident carries minimum insurance coverage. The driver has no assets to pay the remaining damages after his insurance company pays $20,000 to the driver. Therefore, the accident victim files a claim against his underinsured motorist insurance policy for the remaining damages. The insurance company should pay damages up to the policy limits.
Do I Need an Attorney to File an Underinsured Motorist Insurance Claim?
As with any insurance claim, it is always in your best interest to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. This is the case whether you are dealing with another driver insurance company or your insurance provider. An underinsured claim can be complicated. It helps to have the advice and support of an experienced personal injury attorney.
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