Louisiana follows a “fault” system when it comes to issues of liability and insurance coverage after an accident. This means that a driver who is legally at fault for causing a car accident is liable (usually through an insurance carrier) for any personal injury or property damage resulting from the crash. In Louisiana, a person who has been injured in an auto accident can usually proceed by:
- filing a claim with his or her own insurance company
- filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance company
- filing a personal injury lawsuit
(Note: In no-fault car insurance states, an injured motorist must first exhaust his or her own car insurance policy limits or reach a statutory threshold of damages before pursuing compensation from another driver, regardless of who was at fault. Remedies are also limited in these states.)
Learn more about key Louisiana laws related to car accident claims and settlements, read Car Accident Laws in Louisiana.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Louisiana
Louisiana law requires that the owner of a motor vehicle carry liability insurance. This insurance is meant to provide financial protection in the event that the vehicle owner or anyone else is injured in an accident involving the vehicle. Under Louisiana law, the minimum coverage a driver is required to carry is:
- $15,000 for the injury or death of a single person (yourself, a passenger, another driver, pedestrian, etc.)
- $30,000 for the injury or death of multiple people in a single accident
- $25,000 for property damage (i.e. damage to a vehicle)
It should be noted that while Louisiana law requires only these minimum coverage amounts, it is usually a good idea to carry a car insurance policy that provides more coverage. If you are found liable for an accident where the costs (medical bills, car repairs, etc.) exceed the limits of your policy, then you may be held personally liable for the difference.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Louisiana
Louisiana requires that every car insurance policy sold in the state include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), unless the customer explicity declines UIM coverage in writing.
UIM coverage is a feature of your own policy that is intended to protect you if you are injured by an at-fault driver who has no car insurance at all, or has an insufficient amount of insurance to cover the damages caused by the accident.
For example, let’s say you’re in an accident where the at-fault driver has the state minimum of $15,000. But your damages -- medical bills and vehicle damage -- add up to $25,000. Assuming you have adequate UIM coverage, it would kick in to pay for the remaining $10,000.
Getting More Information
For more information on Louisiana’s motor vehicle insurance requirements straight from the government, check out the Louisiana Department of Public Safety’s Required Proof of Liability Insurance Prior to Registration of Vehicles web page.
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