Will Your Current Auto Insurance Actually Protect You in a Crash?

Many people often overlook the importance of comprehensive coverage when it comes to auto insurance. In Louisiana, there is a legal minimum requirement for car insurance. However, simply purchasing the legal minimum may not provide adequate protection for a car accident.

Understanding potential coverages and following the advice of our Louisiana car accident lawyers can help you choose the right policies to protect your interests in a crash.

What’s the Legal Minimum for Car Insurance in Louisiana?

Louisiana requires all vehicle operators to meet minimum auto insurance requirements to drive in the state. These minimum requirements include liability coverage, which consists of bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

• Bodily injury liability: You must have a minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident of bodily injury coverage in a crash. This means that if you are at fault in an accident, your insurance will cover up to $15,000 for each person injured, up to $30,000 total per accident.
• Property damage liability: The minimum property damage liability coverage required in Louisiana is $25,000. This pays for damage to other people’s property, such as their vehicles or buildings, in an accident you cause.

Why You Should Buy More Than the Minimum

Although fulfilling only the minimum requirements is perfectly legal, these limits frequently fall short of covering the actual expenses associated with an accident. Opting for minimal insurance coverage could potentially lead to issues such as:

• Insufficient coverage: In a major accident, the minimum coverage limits may not be enough to cover all of the other party’s expenses, leaving you on the hook for anything past the coverage limits out of your own pocket. 
• Legal consequences: If you are found to be at fault for an accident and your insurance coverage falls short, you could be susceptible to legal repercussions, such as a lawsuit. This could lead to substantial financial penalties and the potential loss of your assets.
• No protection for yourself: Basic liability insurance does not offer coverage for your own vehicle’s damage, or any of your own injuries. If you cause an accident, you’ll need to cover your car’s repair or replacement costs because your insurance won’t assist, and you’ll have to depend on your health insurance for your medical bills.

Recommended Coverages for Louisiana Drivers

To ensure that you are adequately protected in case of an accident, consider purchasing additional coverages beyond the legal minimum. These extra coverages can provide valuable protection and peace of mind.

Here are some suggested coverages for Louisiana drivers:

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage can protect you if you are involved in an accident with a driver without insurance or who has insufficient coverage. It helps cover your medical expenses if the liable party can’t pay.

• Comprehensive and collision coverage: Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damages caused by non-collision incidents like theft, vandalism, or natural disasters, while collision coverage covers damages from accidents with other vehicles or objects.

• Medical payments insurance: Also called MedPay, this insurance covers your medical expenses and lost wages, no matter who is responsible for an accident, up to the coverage limits. Since it is considered part of your auto insurance, it is separate from your health insurance. In Louisiana, MedPay is optional but can be valuable in ensuring that you receive prompt medical care and financial support in the event of a crash.

• Umbrella insurance: In addition to the standard auto insurance coverages, Louisiana drivers may also want to explore the option of umbrella insurance. Umbrella insurance provides an extra layer of liability protection that goes beyond the limits of your primary auto insurance policy. Umbrella insurance can provide additional financial security and help safeguard your assets in a major accident or lawsuit.

• Gap insurance: Gap insurance is essential for individuals who have a car loan or lease. This coverage bridges the gap between your vehicle’s actual cash value and the outstanding amount you owe if your car is declared a total loss due to an accident or other covered incident.

Protect Your Interests After a Crash

At Dudley DeBosier, we understand the importance of having comprehensive auto insurance coverage. We advise Louisiana drivers to carefully assess their situations and consider purchasing additional coverage options beyond the basic requirements to protect their financial security, so they already have it when they need it.

Contact our legal team today for a free case review if you’re hurt in a crash. We can help you understand your insurance coverages and how they apply to your situation and guide you through the legal steps to secure compensation for your injuries through a claim against the other driver’s insurance or an injury lawsuit.

Disclaimer: This content has been reviewed by Chad Lederman, Director of Legal Operations at our New Orleans office.

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