What Does the Insurance Company Owe You?
People often find that they have no idea what coverages they have when they’re in an accident. For car accidents in Pennsylvania, by law you’re going to have a minimum of $5,000 in medical benefits, although you can buy substantially more to cover catastrophic injuries that you might sustain. You have the option of buying rental car coverage, comprehensive coverage on your car, uninsured motorists coverage, and underinsurance coverage. You will have a minimum of $15,000 in coverage for personal injuries that you cause in an automobile accident and you usually have coverage for property damages you might cause in an accident.
Medical Coverage for Auto Accidents
It is the law in Pennsylvania that every automobile insurance policy must carry at least $5,000 in coverage for medical benefits to pay for any medical treatment you may require following an automobile accident. You don’t need referrals to doctors; you can choose who you want to see and the bills will be paid by your insurance company. Many automobile insurance policies have limits that exceed $5,000 for medical treatment, so you should check your policy to see what
coverage level you bought. Your bills will be paid without regard to who caused the accident. Even if you caused the accident, your medical bills will be paid by your auto insurance company.
Rental Car Coverage for Auto Accidents
You have the option to buy rental car coverage. If you bought rental car coverage and your car is damaged in an accident, you have the 101 right to get a rental car for your use while your car is being repaired. If you do not have rental car coverage and someone else causes damage to your car in a crash, their insurance company will pay for a rental car for a reasonable amount of time following the accident.
Wage Loss Coverage for Auto Accidents
Wage loss coverage is optional in Pennsylvania. If you have wage loss coverage, and you are unable to work due to injuries sustained in a car accident, your insurance company should reimburse you for your lost earnings. Often wage loss coverage is low; $1,000 per month for a maximum of five months is common. These limits may not fully compensate you for your losses; you should check your limits to see if your insurance coverage is sufficient for your needs should you be injured in a car accident. If you lose more earnings than the insurance covers, your attorney will add your excess lost earnings to your claim (and to your lawsuit, should it be necessary for you to sue for damages).
