Car crashes happen for all sorts of reasons. Drunk driving, distraction, fatigue and even bad vehicle maintenance can all lead to major car wrecks. Even responsible drivers can wind up hurt in a crash caused by someone else without the same skill or experience.
The government in Hawaii requires that all drivers maintain liability coverage on their vehicles and also no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) for themselves and their passengers. How much will insurance pay for after a crash leaves you with big bills?
You will have coverage from two different policies
Fault plays a big role in coverage after a wreck. If the other driver caused the crash, you potentially need to make a claim against your own policy in addition to theirs. If they only carry the least amount of insurance required by the state, they will have $10,000 in property damage coverage to help you pay to fix or replace your vehicle.
After you make a claim against your own PIP coverage, which is typically $10,000, you can then make a claim against their bodily injury liability coverage, which should be at least $20,000 or possibly $40,000 if more than one person got hurt.
Only after you have made a claim against the other driver’s coverage and your own PIP coverage can you then make a claim against any underinsured motorist coverage that you carry. In a situation where the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance, you may have to consider taking them to court to recoup your losses.
Knowing what insurance will cover can help you better protect yourself after a motor vehicle collision.