WV Car Insurance Coverage: What You Need And Don’t Need
Having car insurance in West Virginia is more than a good idea; it is the law. If you have a registered vehicle in the state and want to drive it, you must have an auto liability policy in place. West Virginia is an at-fault car insurance state, and your policy helps pay for the harm others suffer if you cause a crash through your negligent actions.
The notorious increase in car collisions in West Virginia has shifted the perception of car insurance policies, making them essential for drivers. It has also made both pedestrians and drivers aware of their liabilities when on the road and key for legal purposes when any car accident happens.
However, just having an insurance policy is not enough to satisfy the law’s requirements. Your policy must be issued by a company licensed to sell insurance in West Virginia. It must also meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements. If you do not know what these requirements are, you could end up purchasing a policy that provides too much or too little coverage, making it mandatory to understand the types of insurance available before purchasing any policy.
How Car Insurance Works In West Virginia
Suppose that you are involved in a car accident because another driver was careless. As a result of the crash, you sustain $5,000 in medical bills and another $2,500 in damage to your car. You may not have $7,500 in cash on hand to meet these bills. Instead, you file a claim for damages against the negligent driver’s policy.
That driver’s policy has limits specifying how much compensation the insurer will pay for certain losses. If the claim exceeds the policy limits, then the policyholder is responsible for paying any difference. However, if the claim is below the policy’s limits for the losses claimed, then the insurer will pay the claimed loss.
For example, suppose the at-fault driver’s insurance policy has a bodily injury limit of $25,000 per person and a property damage limit of $25,000 per accident. In this situation, the insurance company would pay your claim in its entirety because your claimed medical and repair bills are both below the policy’s limits.
However, suppose that you sustained severe injuries and incurred $100,000 in medical bills. Moreover, your $75,000 car was totaled in the crash. In this case, the insurance company would pay $25,000 toward your medical bills and $25,000 toward your totaled car. You would need to sue, file a claim against your insurance policy, or find some other way to make up the difference.
Minimum Policy Limits For West Virginia Car Insurance Policies
As a West Virginia driver, the law requires your car insurance policy to meet certain minimum requirements. While you may choose to have additional coverage beyond these minimums, you can face penalties if your insurance does not meet these basic requirements:
Bodily Injury Coverage
First, your policy must provide at least $25,000 in coverage for one person who is injured in a crash and up to $50,000 for multiple injury victims. These benefits would compensate injured individuals for their medical bills and expenses related to a car accident that you caused. A person harmed by your negligent driving could file a claim against your policy even if they have their own car liability policy.
For example, suppose that you strike a vehicle driven by a mother who is transporting her four children. All occupants of the mother’s vehicle are severely hurt. If you have a policy with the bodily injury minimums as limits, then the policy would pay one victim’s bills up to $25,000 and all victims’ expenses up to $50,000.
Property Damage
The minimum policy limit for property damage claims in West Virginia is $25,000 per accident. No matter how many vehicles are involved in a single crash, this limit represents the maximum amount of money your insurer will pay to compensate victims whose cars or other property is damaged by your negligent driving. These limits may seem high, but car repairs can be surprisingly expensive.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Even though car insurance is required by law in West Virginia, not all drivers on the road have a policy in force. They may have inadvertently allowed their coverage to lapse, or they might have been unable to afford the premiums. Whatever the case, these individuals are uninsured and likely do not have the resources to compensate you if they collide with your vehicle.
Uninsured motorist coverage protects against this specific type of loss. Your policy must compensate you at least $25,000 for one person and, at minimum, $50,000 for multiple individuals harmed by an uninsured motorist. This coverage is distinct from bodily injury coverage.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Suppose a driver has an insurance policy, but the limits of that policy are too low to meet the state’s minimum requirements. For example, their policy might only provide up to $10,000 in bodily injury benefits for one person. This driver is underinsured, and state law requires that your personal car liability policy protect you against these drivers, too.
In a crash caused by an uninsured motorist, you would first file a claim against the underinsured motorist’s policy and recover what benefits you can. Your underinsured motorist coverage would then pay for the difference between your expenses and the benefits you recovered from the underinsured motorist up to your policy’s limits.
In West Virginia, the minimum underinsured motorist coverage is at least $25,000 for one person and a minimum of $50,000 for multiple individuals.
All Other Coverage And Riders Are Optional
Your insurance agent may offer additional riders or coverage to you at an additional cost. For example, for an additional premium, your policy limits could be increased so as to cover greater losses. Alternatively, your agent might suggest paying for rental reimbursement in the event you must rent a car while yours is in the shop after a crash.
These and similar amendments and additions are not required. You can choose to add them to your policy if you like, but you do not need to have them to comply with the law.
Do Not Neglect Your Car Insurance Policy
Your car insurance policy is important and should not be overlooked. Besides keeping you from a costly ticket or administrative penalty, your policy helps insulate you against financial loss in the event of a wreck. Review your policy, and contact your insurance carrier if you have questions about whether your policy meets the state’s minimum requirements.