MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

Massachusetts is one of the twelve states in the United States that have enacted “no-fault” automobile insurance. Under a no-fault insurance system, your own insurance company pays for or reimburses you for the cost of certain specific expenses arising from an automobile accident, regardless of who is at fault. The centerpiece of the no-fault system is known as “PIP”, which stands for Personal Injury Protection. Personal Injury Protection benefits are compulsory insurance coverage on all Massachusetts-insured cars and trucks. PIP benefits provide protection for you as an operator, for passengers in your vehicle, for others driving your vehicle with your consent, for household members and for pedestrians struck by your vehicle. PIP benefits that are available include: the payment of reasonable and necessary medical expenses, vehicle replacement services, funeral and burial expenses, and 75% of lost wages (up to a maximum of $8,000.00). If you examine your automobile insurance “Declaration Page” you will be able to determine the types of insurance you have purchased, the limits of your coverage, and the premium that you are paying for each of the specific coverages.

In Massachusetts, a certain amount of automobile insurance is compulsory and protections above the compulsory amount are classified as optional. Compulsory means that you must have these coverages and the amounts required by law to legally operate your car or truck.  The four compulsory coverages are: (1) Bodily injury to others; (2) Personal Injury Protection; (3) Bodily injury caused by an uninsured automobile; and (4) Damage to someone else's property. PIP appears as item #2 on the standard automotive insurance coverage selections page. The optional coverages available to Massachusetts motorists include: increased optional bodily injury coverage, collision, medical payments, substitute transportation, and towing. If you have never read your automobile  insurance coverage selections page, it is certainly beneficial for you to do so now, before you are involved in a motor vehicle accident.

For example, most people do not realize the benefits provided by uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages.  Many accidents are caused by negligent drivers who only carry the minimal amount of compulsory insurance for bodily injury.  In 2023, the compulsory amount of bodily injury insurance coverage is $20,000.00 per person and $40,000.00 per accident. This means that if one person is injured by a negligent driver, the maximum amount that person can recover from a driver who only has compulsory insurance is $20,000.00. If two or more people are injured in the same accident by the same negligent driver, the maximum amount of money that an insurance company would have to pay for the actions of a driver with only compulsory coverage is $40,000.00, regardless of the number of occupants injured by that driver’s negligence.   

To protect you and your family and avoid the unforeseen consequences of being injured by a negligent driver with limited insurance, Massachusetts insurance companies offer what is known as Underinsurance and Uninsured motorist coverages. If you purchase these coverages on your own policy before an accident occurs, you will have extra coverage above the compulsory limits that are required by law. The Massachusetts government website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/basics-of-auto-insurance offers a detailed explanation of the basics of purchasing automobile insurance. All too often consumers purchase insurance coverage without understanding what is required and what is prudent. The type and amount of automobile insurance that you purchase can protect you and your family in the unexpected and unfortunate event of a motor vehicle accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. You should understand your policy and coverages before you need to make a claim. If you are in an automobile accident, you should consult a lawyer to better understand and preserve your rights. 

CORSO LAW, LLC 
492 Winthrop Street, Suite 5
Rehoboth, MA 02769
Tel:  774-901-2677
Fax:  774-901-2678
www.corsolaw.com