What Is the "Bodily Injury" Amount in Pennsylvania if You Have "Full Tort" Insurance?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The bodily injury amount is whatever you purchased between the state minimum (used to be $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident/$5,000 property damage – I am not sure if they have increased it) and the maximum available. Most companies will write up to $500,000 and you can purchase a personal umbrella for more coverage.
Full tort is a choice you make (full tort or limited tort) on your policy. Full tort means you can sue for any injury (soft tissue included). Limited tort limits your right to sue to major injury – you would have to check with your agent for an exact definition of major injury.
If you have full tort & want to sue the other party, the maximum you could collect under THEIR policy is THEIR bodily injury limit, so even if you have a major injury & they have minimum limits, the minimum limit is what you would get. If the value of your injury exceeds their policy limit, you MAY be able to collect under your UNDERinsured motorist coverage, if you have it and if your limits are higher than the other party’s limits. The most you could then collect is up to your limit.
PA is a PIP state so all of your medicals will come from your own policy no matter who is at fault, up to the maximum limit on the policy.
Example – you get in an accident, the other party is at fault, you have serious injuries, broken bones, need surgeries, etc etc, the other party has a per person BI limit of $50,000, you have a per person BI limit of $100,000 – you could collect the $50,000 on their policy (as long as your injuries warrent it) and then UP to another $50,000 on yours for a total of up to $100,000. You cannot collect your full $100,000 for a total of up to $150,000.
I hope this helps.
OK, the two are not related AT ALL.
The MINIMUM bodily injury, in PA, is $15,000 per person. The maximum is $500,000 CSL, but you can buy an umbrella if you want more.
Full tort means, you retain your right to sue someone else, if they cause an accident, for pain and suffering for ANY injuries you might have.
You can have minimum liability, AND full tort. But one is YOUR coverage, the liability, and the other is what you can collect from the other guy.
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