Understanding Minimum Liability Insurance

AUTHOR: A.J. Bruning | September 2, 2015
Understanding Minimum Liability Insurance

After an auto accident picking up the mess and getting back to a sense of normality can be a long and challenging process. Once the police reports are filed, doctor appointments complete, and you begin down the road towards physical and financial recovery, it is important to determine who is liable for the injuries you sustained during the accident. This is the point where understanding complex motor vehicle insurance coverage such as umbrella coverage or medical payments coverage will help to ensure you receive proper compensation.

What is Minimum Liability Insurance?

When it is determined that a driver is responsible or liable for an accident he or she will be held accountable for the resulting bodily injuries or property damage.1 Liability insurance is a very common form of car insurance that is involved in many auto accident claims and that most states require drivers to have as a form of basic protection. This type of insurance is based on set requirements or limits that establish the maximum amount a car insurance company will pay in a single claim.2 The liability coverage under a minimum liability policy will typically designate three dollar amounts: first is the amount payable per person in an accident, second is the total limit coverage when there is 2 or more injured persons in an accident, and lastly is the limit for property damage.3 For instance, in the State of Missouri the minimum requirements for an insurance coverage policy is $25,000 per person for bodily injuries, $50,000 per accident for total coverage of bodily injuries, and $10,000 for property damages.4 State limits are typically very similar, the State of Illinois for example, is set at $20,000 per person for bodily injuries, $40,000 per accident for total coverage of bodily injuries, and $15,000 for property damages.5

Changes to Insurance Minimums in Saint Louis

To understand how liability insurance minimums effect current auto accident payouts, consider the recent car accident in the St. Louis area involving Edward Domain, CEO of the online news company Techli. He was involved in a taxicab accident with a driver who ran a red light, was speeding, and using a cellphone; the serious crash resulted in extensive physical injuries including a crushed pelvis, torn tendons, and broken bones.6 This accident has created a move towards changing the minimum amount of insurance coverage for cabs. The St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission currently has a $200,000 minimum liability policy, but Mr. Domain reports that the insurance coverage payout does not come close to meeting the expenses of medical care and rehabilitation. Changes to insurance minimums aim to increase the compensation a victim of a car accident can receive in order to cover the actual financial loss suffered through bodily injuries or property damages, but liability limits or other available insurance coverage options are useless to a victim who does not seek out proper compensation.

Contact an Experienced St. Louis Auto Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation

If you have been injured during an auto accident an experienced car accident attorney can help prove liability, research the insurance coverage options, file the appropriate claims, and work to protect your legal rights and interests. To discuss the circumstances of your accident with an experienced auto accident attorney contact the The Bruning Law Firm trial attorneys at 314-735-8100 for a free consultation.

LET US GET STARTED ON YOUR ST. LOUIS CAR ACCIDENT CASE TODAY

If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured in an auto accident, contact The Bruning Law Firm today. We provide the comprehensive, professional legal representation you deserve at a time when you need it most.

Call or contact our office online today to schedule a free consultation.

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For more information, use these resources:

  • WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
  • ST LOUIS MO CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS
  • CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES
  • CAR ACCIDENT FAQS
  • PEDESTRIAN CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER MO
  • ILLINOIS CAR ACCIDENT
  • DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENTS
  • ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS
  • TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER ST LOUIS MO
  • MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS
  • REAR-END ACCIDENTS
  • UNINSURED MOTORIST
  • UNDERINSURED MOTORIST
  • MO MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
  • MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE
  • UMBRELLA COVERAGE
  • VIEW ALL MO AND IL LEGAL SERVICES 

A.J. Bruning

Founder

I was born and raised to represent individuals who have been needlessly injured. I mean that literally. At a young age my father would tell me about the clients he was representing. I would meet them and take pride in their admiration of my father. I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer and represent clients that needed my help.

Author's Bio

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