The state of Massachusetts requires drivers to carry four types of insurance, although purchasing only the minimum necessary may not do much good in the case of a severe accident. Basic mandated coverage is as follows:
- Personal Injury Protection covers repairs, medical expenses and lost wages for you, passengers, authorized drivers and pedestrians
- Property Damage covers damage to property other than your own if you or an authorized driver is at fault
- Bodily Injury to Others only covers accidents that occur in Massachusetts and pays the expenses for injury or death to any victims outside of your car
- Bodily Injury Caused by Uninsured Auto covers you, passengers or authorized drivers if an unidentified or uninsured driver is at fault
Most insurance companies offer additional coverage as well, such as bodily injury outside of the state, collision and underinsured motorists coverage.
If you are involved in a collision with a motorist who is either uninsured or underinsured, the at-fault driver may not be able to pay for all of your medical, repair and replacement expenses. Unfortunately, drivers who do not carry enough auto insurance probably do so because they cannot afford the premiums, so filing a lawsuit against them may not ultimately be fruitful.
However, it is vital to have all the details of your accident and injury reviewed because multiple parties are often liable for accidents. For example, if the negligent motorist who caused the accident does not own the vehicle involved, the owner is usually accountable if he or she authorized the use of the car. Other liable parties might include a mechanic who did faulty work or a manufacturer for a defect if either was a factor in the accident. If the responsible driver were drunk at the time of the collision, Massachusetts Social Host and Dram Shop Law would hold the individual or business that overserved the motorist liable for events that take place resulting from intoxication.
