| If youre fortunate, or depending on how you look | | | | normal manner. When all of a sudden she felt a |
| at it, unfortunate to live in one of the twelve | | | | bump and heard a scream. At first she thought |
| states that are under a non-fault auto insurance | | | | she ran over her cat who would occasionally |
| system, you can cause an accident, yet your | | | | escape. She opened her car door and found half |
| insurance company wont pay for the other | | | | of a body. Scared half out of her mind, she shut |
| parties damages. | | | | the car off and ran into the house and |
| If you live in a No-fault state (DC, FL, HI, KS, KY, | | | | immediately called 911. |
| MA, MI, MN, NJ, NY, ND, PA, UT) that means you | | | | The driver was too scared to go outside at that |
| live in a state that both requires drivers to carry | | | | point. As far as she knew, the half body, |
| insurance for their own protection and places | | | | belonging to one of her neighbors, was still under |
| limitations on their ability to sue other drivers for | | | | the car and the driver was certain the injuries |
| damages. Your auto insurance company will pay | | | | were serious. Her left rear wheel had crossed her |
| for your damages (up to your policy limits), | | | | body from her thigh on one side on the diagonal |
| regardless of who was at fault for the accident. | | | | to above her pelvic region. The driver later |
| Any other drivers involved will be covered by | | | | learned that some strong man from across the |
| their auto insurance policies. Since all are required | | | | street came over and picked up the car so she |
| to carry insurance, in theory, there should be no | | | | could get out from underneath. |
| uninsured motorists in those states. Stop laughing; | | | | The neighbor announced that she was feeling fine |
| the term in theory was used! | | | | and didnt want to go to the hospital. But the |
| These states opted for the no fault insurance | | | | police and ambulance didnt feel the same way so |
| system because it guarantees every driver | | | | they took her the four blocks to the hospital. |
| immediate medical treatment in the event of an | | | | Turns out the neighbor was sunbathing behind her |
| accident. Further, it's intended to reduce the legal | | | | car and somehow the driver didnt see her when |
| and administrative fees associated with insurance | | | | she walked to her car. She ended up with no |
| claims. Again, in theory, this should equate to | | | | broken bones, no internal injuries; just a tire track |
| lower premiums. Unfortunately, often times the | | | | from her right thigh across to her left stomach. |
| liability issues that still remain will actually drive | | | | The driver felt absolutely terrible, accepted full |
| premium costs up. | | | | responsibility, wanted to do everything and more |
| However, because no state is pure no fault, | | | | to make it up to her. The next day, the driver |
| drivers can always be held financially responsible | | | | phoned the insurance company to explain to them |
| for the cost of injuries they cause in certain | | | | what had happened. They asked her two |
| circumstances thats the loop hole. Some states | | | | questions. #1 Does she drive? (yes) and #2 Does |
| allow injured parties to sue if their injuries meet | | | | she own a car? (yes). The insurance company |
| certain standard for severity, while others allow it | | | | informed the driver that due to No Fault insurance |
| when total costs reach a certain dollar level. | | | | the neighbors own car insurance would have to |
| Below is a classic case of a no-fault situation. | | | | cover the medical costs. The driver was clearly at |
| Neighbor lived in a four-plex apartment building. It | | | | fault, yet the drivers insurance wouldnt cover the |
| had a 4-stall garage along with a 4-stall wide | | | | damages even though it was her fault. |
| driveway. Because the driveway was so wide it | | | | The driver went as far as to tell the neighbor to |
| was second nature for the tenants to pull out of | | | | sue her since it was her fault and she felt totally |
| their parking spots and turn around in the | | | | responsible. The neighbor merely responded, It |
| driveway instead of backing into the street. | | | | was just an accident. The lesson here - next time |
| One Sunday afternoon, one of the tenants | | | | lay on the grass, instead of the drive way to |
| decided to go visit a friend. She got into her car | | | | sunbathe and risk the doggy doo. |
| and began backing out of the driveway in her | | | | |