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