Craig L. Fishman Automobile Accidents Law Blog on Lawyers.com

The Difference Between Limited Tort And Full Tort Auto Insurance Options

Monday, April 13, 2009 by Craig L. Fishman

Many people do not understand the difference between the limited tort and full tort options offered by their auto insurance company:

Limited tort prevents you from receiving compensation for pain and suffering if you are injured in an accident, unless you have a serious injury—legally defined as a serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement. This was intended to save you 15% on your insurance premium in return for giving up the right to make a claim for whiplash injuries. However, insurance companies looking to minimize their liability have argued that a variety of injuries—like broken bones or small facial scars—are not serious injuries. So, many victims of reckless drivers have been prevented from seeking justice. Limited tort not only puts you and your family at risk in your own car, but it applies when you or your children are injured as passengers in someone else's car, or even as a pedestrian.
While there are four exceptions to limited tort, including being injured by a driver convicted of DUI, the best choice is to select full tort. Full tort costs a little more, but it could mean thousands of dollars to help you through a difficult time in your life if you are injured by a careless driver.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection is optional in Pennsylvania, but should be purchased to provide ease of mind for you and your family. This coverage protects you even if you are in a crash caused by a driver who is not insured or not adequately insured.

We recommend full tort coverage and stacked uninsured/underinsured coverage of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per occurrence.

For more info about auto insurance claims in Pittsburgh, click here...

Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman

429 Fourth Avenue
Law & Finance Building
Suite 1600
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Phone: 412-391-7610
Fax: 412-288-0217

Other Areas of Personal Injury Law We Help With: Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Drunk Driver Accidents, Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries, Wrongful and Accidental Death, Defective Products, Medical Malpractice, Legal Malpractice, Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse, Slip and Fall Personal Injuries, Dog Bite Injuries, Injuries to Children, Pain and Suffering, and Civil Rights Litigation.