All drivers in Louisiana are required to have at least a minimum of liability insurance coverage to protect others in an accident. Because accidents can cause tremendous damage, many motorists choose to carry much higher amounts of liability coverage and additional insurance protection.
If you are injured in a Louisiana car accident, you will look to the at-fault party’s insurance carrier to pay your damages. Because insurance companies are in business to make money, they try to avoid paying claims when possible and to pay as little as possible when they must pay.
Many insurance adjusters use sneaky tactics to try and take advantage of injury victims. The Louisiana car accident lawyers at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys have decades of experience handling car accident cases and recovering maximum compensation for our clients.
We know how to combat insurance companies’ tactics and hold them responsible for paying the full value of our client’s claims.
Call (225) 999-1111 or complete the form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation.
How Much Insurance Coverage Are Louisiana Drivers Required To Have?
Louisiana Revised Statute 32:861 requires all drivers to have a minimum amount of liability coverage to pay for injuries, property damages, and other expenses incurred by other motorists in the event of an accident.
The minimum amount of coverage required in Louisiana is:
- $15,000 per person for bodily injury
- $30,000 for bodily injury for every person in the accident
- $25,000 for property damage
If you are involved in a serious motor vehicle accident, these minimum amounts will probably be woefully inadequate to cover all damages. You will be personally responsible for paying all damages in excess of your insurance coverage limits.
Because car accident damages can be exorbitant, it is wise to consider increasing the amount of liability coverage you carry and to consider adding additional insurance coverage.
What Other Insurance Coverage Is Recommended?
The minimum required liability insurance coverage does not cover you or your vehicle in the event of an accident. It only covers others involved in an accident when you are at fault.
Many drivers purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage in addition to the required minimum liability insurance.
PIP insurance can help pay for your own damages or the other party’s damages in the event of an accident if you are at fault. It also provides coverage for your injuries if the other party is at fault but they don’t have insurance coverage or their coverage is insufficient for the extent of your damages.
Many drivers also purchase collision insurance to cover damages to their vehicles.
Most auto insurance companies also offer what is called “Full Coverage” insurance. Full Coverage provides the required minimum bodily injury and property damage, collision insurance for your vehicle if you are involved in an accident, and comprehensive insurance coverage for damages to your vehicle from other sources, such as flood, theft, hail damage, and more.
Another important consideration is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance (UMI). This type of insurance provides coverage for you when you incur damages caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
What is Louisiana’s No Pay, No Play Rule?
Louisiana’s insurance law known as No Pay, No Play, is set forth in Louisiana Revised Statute 32:866. It provides that even if another party is at fault for an accident, you cannot recover most damages if you do not have at least the minimum required insurance coverage yourself.
Specifically, the law bars you from recovering the first $15,000 of bodily injury damages and the first $25,000 of property damages.
There are some exceptions to the No Pay, No Play rule. This bar to recovery does not apply if you are a driver from a state that does not require the minimum insurance coverage as Louisiana. It also does not apply if your vehicle is parked legally and another driver crashes into it.
Other exceptions to the No Pay, No Play law include when the at-fault driver flees the scene of the accident, is in the process of committing a felony when the accident occurs, or is ticketed and convicted or pleads nolo contendere to driving under the influence.
What Will An Attorney Do That I Can’t Do?
- Negotiate with insurance companies to reach a fair settlement as quickly as possible.
- Investigate your car accident to determine all causes and potentially liable parties to maximize the potential for compensation.
- Pay the expenses of pursuing your damages and only charge you after recovering compensation for you.
- Accurately calculate all current and future damages to ensure you know the true value of your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a Louisiana motor vehicle accident caused by another party, you deserve to be compensated for your damages.
The car accident injury lawyers at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys know Louisiana car accident laws have decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies and recovering full and fair settlements for their clients. We want to help you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Call (225) 999-1111 or complete the form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation.