Infographic: Massachusetts Auto Insurance Coverage Types

Many drivers go to renew their auto insurance policies and simply buy the minimum required under Massachusetts law, without taking time to learn about the different coverage types. Our attorneys have created an infographic to help you understand a few coverages: Bodily Injury, Underinsured and Uninsured and Medical Payments.

Should you ever be injured, your car insurance policy is your plan for recovering, providing for your family and getting back to your life. Ask questions. Make sure you understand the coverage you buy. Make sure you buy the right types and the right amount.

Coverage Types and Terms

If you can, pull out the coverage selections page from your Massachusetts auto insurance policy. Here are some of the terms you will see:

No Fault

In Massachusetts, every car is required to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) which pays up to $8,000 in benefits. PIP comes from the car you were in or the car that hit you if you were a pedestrian or bicyclist.

 PIP (Personal Injury Protection) usually covers:

• The first $2,000 in medical bills (up to $8,000)
• Replacement services (house cleaning, yard work, etc.)
• Lost earnings
• Co-pays and deductibles

Bodily Injury Coverage
Bodily Injury (BI) coverage comes from the driver who is responsible for the accident, usually from the car they were driving. Massachusetts requires at least $20,000 for bodily injury coverage. There may be up to $500,000 in BI auto insurance, and many people have “umbrella” policies providing much more.

When you buy BI coverage for your own car, make sure are not just paying for the mandatory minimum amount, $20,000. Even if you only want this amount of coverage, pay a few dollars more to make sure you have what is known as “Optional Bodily Injury” coverage.

Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If you or a family member have an auto, then your policy may provide coverage for an accident. Underinsured coverage provides insurance in the same manner as BI coverage, but it picks up after the BI coverage is all paid out. If the responsible driver has no coverage, uninsured motorist coverage will provide similar coverage, but it will come from your own insurance policy.

Medical Payments
You can buy supplemental medical payments coverage, up to $100,000, on your own policy or a family policy. Medical payments coverage is very important, since it will cover co-pays and deductibles even after the PIP coverage is exhausted. Medical payments coverage can also be used to defray the cost of health insurance liens; health insurance companies are entitled to be paid back in auto accident cases. Medical payments coverage from your own company can help protect your settlement.

How Much Car Insurance Should You Have?

Once you pay for the required minimum coverage, adding additional coverage is not that expensive. You should buy as much as you can reasonably afford.

Article published in 2018.

About Breakstone, White & Gluck

The Boston car accident lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 100 years combined experience representing individuals injured by car accidents in Massachusetts. If you have been injured, learn your rights for seeking compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact us at 800-379-1244 or use our contact form.