Insurance Coverage for Pedestrian Accidents
Understanding what insurance covers pedestrian accidents can be complex. Multiple policies may apply to your injuries.
Driver's Liability Insurance
#What It Covers
The at-fault driver's liability insurance should cover:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage (phone, clothes, etc.)
#Typical Limits
Minimum liability limits vary by state, typically ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 per person. These minimums are often inadequate for serious injuries.
Your Own Coverage Options
#Health Insurance
- Covers your medical treatment
- May seek reimbursement from accident settlement
- Provides immediate coverage while claim is pending
#Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage
- Applies if you're hit by a driver with no insurance
- Applies to hit-and-run accidents
- Usually part of your auto insurance policy
- **Critical coverage for pedestrians**
#Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage
- Applies when driver's insurance is insufficient
- Kicks in after driver's limits exhausted
- Usually part of your auto policy
#Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
- Pays your medical expenses regardless of fault
- No deductible typically
- Part of your auto policy
- Quick payment while claim proceeds
#Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Required in "no-fault" states
- Covers medical expenses and lost wages
- Part of your auto policy
- Pays regardless of who caused the accident
No-Fault States
In no-fault states (Florida, Michigan, New York, etc.), your own PIP insurance may be primary:
- Covers your injuries first
- Regardless of who was at fault
- May limit your ability to sue driver
Umbrella Policies
Some drivers carry umbrella policies that provide additional coverage:
- Extra liability above standard limits
- Often $1,000,000 or more
- Important for serious injury cases
Steps to Take
1. **Identify all applicable policies**
- Driver's liability insurance
- Your health insurance
- Your auto insurance (UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP)
- Any umbrella policies
2. **File claims appropriately**
- Report to driver's insurance
- Notify your own insurance
- Consult attorney before recorded statements
3. **Don't accept quick settlements**
- Full extent of injuries may not be known
- Initial offers typically too low
- Consult attorney first
#
What It Covers
The at-fault driver's liability insurance should cover:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage (phone, clothes, etc.)
#Typical Limits
Minimum liability limits vary by state, typically ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 per person. These minimums are often inadequate for serious injuries.
Your Own Coverage Options
#Health Insurance
- Covers your medical treatment
- May seek reimbursement from accident settlement
- Provides immediate coverage while claim is pending
#Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage
- Applies if you're hit by a driver with no insurance
- Applies to hit-and-run accidents
- Usually part of your auto insurance policy
- **Critical coverage for pedestrians**
#Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage
- Applies when driver's insurance is insufficient
- Kicks in after driver's limits exhausted
- Usually part of your auto policy
#Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
- Pays your medical expenses regardless of fault
- No deductible typically
- Part of your auto policy
- Quick payment while claim proceeds
#Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Required in "no-fault" states
- Covers medical expenses and lost wages
- Part of your auto policy
- Pays regardless of who caused the accident
No-Fault States
In no-fault states (Florida, Michigan, New York, etc.), your own PIP insurance may be primary:
- Covers your injuries first
- Regardless of who was at fault
- May limit your ability to sue driver
Umbrella Policies
Some drivers carry umbrella policies that provide additional coverage:
- Extra liability above standard limits
- Often $1,000,000 or more
- Important for serious injury cases
Steps to Take
1. **Identify all applicable policies**
- Driver's liability insurance
- Your health insurance
- Your auto insurance (UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP)
- Any umbrella policies
2. **File claims appropriately**
- Report to driver's insurance
- Notify your own insurance
- Consult attorney before recorded statements
3. **Don't accept quick settlements**
- Full extent of injuries may not be known
- Initial offers typically too low
- Consult attorney first
Minimum liability limits vary by state, typically ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 per person. These minimums are often inadequate for serious injuries.
Your Own Coverage Options
#Health Insurance
- Covers your medical treatment
- May seek reimbursement from accident settlement
- Provides immediate coverage while claim is pending
#Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage
- Applies if you're hit by a driver with no insurance
- Applies to hit-and-run accidents
- Usually part of your auto insurance policy
- **Critical coverage for pedestrians**
#Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage
- Applies when driver's insurance is insufficient
- Kicks in after driver's limits exhausted
- Usually part of your auto policy
#Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
- Pays your medical expenses regardless of fault
- No deductible typically
- Part of your auto policy
- Quick payment while claim proceeds
#Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Required in "no-fault" states
- Covers medical expenses and lost wages
- Part of your auto policy
- Pays regardless of who caused the accident
No-Fault States
In no-fault states (Florida, Michigan, New York, etc.), your own PIP insurance may be primary:
- Covers your injuries first
- Regardless of who was at fault
- May limit your ability to sue driver
Umbrella Policies
Some drivers carry umbrella policies that provide additional coverage:
- Extra liability above standard limits
- Often $1,000,000 or more
- Important for serious injury cases
Steps to Take
1. **Identify all applicable policies**
- Driver's liability insurance
- Your health insurance
- Your auto insurance (UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP)
- Any umbrella policies
2. **File claims appropriately**
- Report to driver's insurance
- Notify your own insurance
- Consult attorney before recorded statements
3. **Don't accept quick settlements**
- Full extent of injuries may not be known
- Initial offers typically too low
- Consult attorney first
- Covers your medical treatment
- May seek reimbursement from accident settlement
- Provides immediate coverage while claim is pending
#
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage
- Applies if you're hit by a driver with no insurance
- Applies to hit-and-run accidents
- Usually part of your auto insurance policy
- **Critical coverage for pedestrians**
#Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage
- Applies when driver's insurance is insufficient
- Kicks in after driver's limits exhausted
- Usually part of your auto policy
#Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
- Pays your medical expenses regardless of fault
- No deductible typically
- Part of your auto policy
- Quick payment while claim proceeds
#Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Required in "no-fault" states
- Covers medical expenses and lost wages
- Part of your auto policy
- Pays regardless of who caused the accident
No-Fault States
In no-fault states (Florida, Michigan, New York, etc.), your own PIP insurance may be primary:
- Covers your injuries first
- Regardless of who was at fault
- May limit your ability to sue driver
Umbrella Policies
Some drivers carry umbrella policies that provide additional coverage:
- Extra liability above standard limits
- Often $1,000,000 or more
- Important for serious injury cases
Steps to Take
1. **Identify all applicable policies**
- Driver's liability insurance
- Your health insurance
- Your auto insurance (UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP)
- Any umbrella policies
2. **File claims appropriately**
- Report to driver's insurance
- Notify your own insurance
- Consult attorney before recorded statements
3. **Don't accept quick settlements**
- Full extent of injuries may not be known
- Initial offers typically too low
- Consult attorney first
- Applies when driver's insurance is insufficient
- Kicks in after driver's limits exhausted
- Usually part of your auto policy
#
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
- Pays your medical expenses regardless of fault
- No deductible typically
- Part of your auto policy
- Quick payment while claim proceeds
#Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Required in "no-fault" states
- Covers medical expenses and lost wages
- Part of your auto policy
- Pays regardless of who caused the accident
No-Fault States
In no-fault states (Florida, Michigan, New York, etc.), your own PIP insurance may be primary:
- Covers your injuries first
- Regardless of who was at fault
- May limit your ability to sue driver
Umbrella Policies
Some drivers carry umbrella policies that provide additional coverage:
- Extra liability above standard limits
- Often $1,000,000 or more
- Important for serious injury cases
Steps to Take
1. **Identify all applicable policies**
- Driver's liability insurance
- Your health insurance
- Your auto insurance (UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP)
- Any umbrella policies
2. **File claims appropriately**
- Report to driver's insurance
- Notify your own insurance
- Consult attorney before recorded statements
3. **Don't accept quick settlements**
- Full extent of injuries may not be known
- Initial offers typically too low
- Consult attorney first
- Required in "no-fault" states
- Covers medical expenses and lost wages
- Part of your auto policy
- Pays regardless of who caused the accident
No-Fault States
In no-fault states (Florida, Michigan, New York, etc.), your own PIP insurance may be primary:
- Covers your injuries first
- Regardless of who was at fault
- May limit your ability to sue driver
Umbrella Policies
Some drivers carry umbrella policies that provide additional coverage:
- Extra liability above standard limits
- Often $1,000,000 or more
- Important for serious injury cases
Steps to Take
1. **Identify all applicable policies**
- Driver's liability insurance
- Your health insurance
- Your auto insurance (UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP)
- Any umbrella policies
2. **File claims appropriately**
- Report to driver's insurance
- Notify your own insurance
- Consult attorney before recorded statements
3. **Don't accept quick settlements**
- Full extent of injuries may not be known
- Initial offers typically too low
- Consult attorney first
Some drivers carry umbrella policies that provide additional coverage:
- Extra liability above standard limits
- Often $1,000,000 or more
- Important for serious injury cases
Steps to Take
1. **Identify all applicable policies**
- Driver's liability insurance
- Your health insurance
- Your auto insurance (UM/UIM, MedPay, PIP)
- Any umbrella policies
2. **File claims appropriately**
- Report to driver's insurance
- Notify your own insurance
- Consult attorney before recorded statements
3. **Don't accept quick settlements**
- Full extent of injuries may not be known
- Initial offers typically too low
- Consult attorney first
Key Takeaways
- Multiple insurance policies may cover your injuries
- Uninsured motorist coverage is critical for pedestrians
- Your own auto insurance may apply even on foot
- No-fault states have special rules
- Never accept a quick settlement without legal advice
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