Car accidents happen every day—and although Louisiana law mandates automobile liability insurance for all drivers, not all drivers comply with this requirement. Many drivers carry only the minimum coverage, which can be inadequate to cover your damages in a serious accident.
If you drive in Louisiana, you need to know exactly what insurance coverage is required and what options you have to protect yourself from uninsured or underinsured motorists. If you need more assistance, reach out to our Lafayette auto accident attorneys for help.
Louisiana Required Liability Insurance Coverage
Louisiana requires a minimum liability insurance coverage for every driver to help pay the medical expenses, property damages, and other damages sustained by someone harmed in an accident when you are at fault.
The minimum liability insurance coverage required by Louisiana law is what is known as 15/30/25. This means that for any accident, your insurance carrier will pay up to:
- $15,000 per person for bodily injury.
- $30,000 per accident for bodily injury when more than one person is injured.
- $25,000 per accident for property damages caused by the accident.
Unfortunately, these minimums are often inadequate if you are involved in an accident that results in severe injuries. If your insurance coverage is insufficient, you may be personally liable for any amount of damages above what your insurance company pays.
What Happens If I Don’t Have Proof of Insurance Coverage?
Louisiana motorists are required to carry proof of insurance coverage at all times when operating a vehicle. Penalties for driving without insurance coverage may include a fine, the suspension of your driver’s license, the impounding of your car, and the loss of your registration for six months.
Louisiana’s “No Pay, No Play” Law
Some states, including Louisiana, are known as “No Pay, No Play” states for automobile insurance coverage. This means that if you are uninsured and injured in an accident caused by someone else, you will be unable to recover the first $15,000 in bodily damage and the first $25,000 in property damage.
Additional Recommended Coverage
Consider adding optional insurance coverage to help protect yourself in an accident, depending on your circumstances. Common options include:
- Comprehensive coverage. This helps pay for damages to your vehicle caused by weather, theft, and other events that are not collision-related.
- Collision coverage. This type of coverage helps pay for damage to your vehicle caused by an accident with another car or a fixed object.
- Gap coverage. If you are driving a vehicle that has a loan balance, you may need gap coverage. This covers the difference between the balance you owe on your car and the amount insurance will pay for your vehicle if it is totaled in an accident.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP). PIP coverage pays for damages you and your passengers sustain in an accident, no matter who is at fault.
- Uninsured/Underinsured coverage. If a driver has no insurance or their insurance coverage is insufficient for your damages, having UM/UIM coverage helps protect you by paying your medical expenses. You may also purchase UN/UIM property damage coverage to pay for your vehicle damage when the at-fault driver’s coverage is insufficient.
Contact Anderson Blanda & Saltzman
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another party, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies often try to deny or devalue your claim. You need an experienced Louisiana car accident attorney to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The Anderson Blanda & Saltzman personal injury attorneys in Lafayette have been protecting the rights of car accident injury victims for decades and have a proven record of recovering maximum compensation. We want to help you get the justice and compensation you are owed.
Call (337) 233-3366 or complete the form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your car accident claim.