• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Parker Scheer

Experience Trial Attorneys

Request a free consultation, 7 DAYS a week
BOS: (617) 886-0500


NYC: (212) 897-2223

  • Home
  • Attorneys
    • Eric J. Parker
    • Barry Scheer
    • Susan Bourque
    • Debora Concepcion
    • Ryan Kelly
    • Heather Boutet
    • Vincent Tofani
    • Lisa Scalisi
    • Legal Support Staff
      • Amanda Benjamin
      • Ashley R. Foster
      • Nicole J. Hadaya
      • Caroline A. Ottoboni
      • Haley Dionne
  • About Us
    • Reviews
    • Case Results
    • In The News
    • Blog
  • Our Practice
    • Personal Injury Lawyer
      • Medical Malpractice
      • Car Accident Lawyer
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Rideshare Accident Lawyer
      • Dog Bite Lawyer
      • Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
      • Nursing Home Abuse
      • Birth Injuries
      • Burn Injury Lawyers
      • Construction Site Accidents
      • Negligent Security
      • Injuries from Wooden Porch or Deck Collapse
      • Product Liability
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • MBTA Accidents
      • Wrongful Death Attorney
      • Food Poisoning
      • Sexual Harassment
      • Aviation Injuries
      • Slip and Fall Accidents
    • Business Litigation
    • Real Estate Law
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Criminal Defense
  • Contact Us
    • Where We Practice
Call
Contact
Blog
  • Home
  • Attorneys
    • Eric J. Parker
    • Barry Scheer
    • Susan Bourque
    • Debora Concepcion
    • Ryan Kelly
    • Heather Boutet
    • Vincent Tofani
    • Lisa Scalisi
    • Legal Support Staff
      • Amanda Benjamin
      • Ashley R. Foster
      • Nicole J. Hadaya
      • Caroline A. Ottoboni
      • Haley Dionne
  • About Us
    • Reviews
    • Case Results
    • In The News
    • Blog
  • Our Practice
    • Personal Injury Lawyer
      • Medical Malpractice
      • Car Accident Lawyer
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Rideshare Accident Lawyer
      • Dog Bite Lawyer
      • Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
      • Nursing Home Abuse
      • Birth Injuries
      • Burn Injury Lawyers
      • Construction Site Accidents
      • Negligent Security
      • Injuries from Wooden Porch or Deck Collapse
      • Product Liability
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • MBTA Accidents
      • Wrongful Death Attorney
      • Food Poisoning
      • Sexual Harassment
      • Aviation Injuries
      • Slip and Fall Accidents
    • Business Litigation
    • Real Estate Law
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Criminal Defense
  • Contact Us
    • Where We Practice

27 Feb 2023

Parker Scheer Examines Auto Insurance -Part 1: Bodily Injury to Others

Auto Insurance, Are You Really Covered?

In Massachusetts, auto insurance is highly regulated.

This means that the types of coverage, or coverage “parts” provided by the “Standard Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy” are the same for everyone in non-commercial automobile policies. 

Everyone who purchases automobile insurance coverage is required to have a minimum amount of coverage in case they injure one or more persons. The minimum coverage is referred to as “compulsory coverage,” that is, the coverage that all drivers must maintain to legally operate a motor vehicle on public roadways. What differs from person to person, is whether the insured driver elects to purchase “optional bodily injury coverage” (Part 5), and how much optional bodily injury coverage they choose to purchase.

In all, there are 12 parts to each auto policy: four are compulsory and eight are optional.

Many drivers believe that if they have all four (4) compulsory parts of the “Standard Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy,” they are “fully insured.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

In this series, we will review each of the twelve parts of a Massachusetts automobile policy and provide – based on decades of experience in personal injury law and motor vehicle related cases – our thoughts on the most important things to consider when purchasing auto insurance.  

Let’s begin with Part One of the Massachusetts personal injury policy coverage list.

 

Part 1: Bodily Injury to Others

In Massachusetts, an individual driver is legally obligated to purchase no less than $20,000/$40,000 of automobile insurance coverage for injuries and/or losses they may cause because of the negligent operation of their motor vehicle (or someone using their vehicle with the permission of the owner). The reason the coverage has two amounts ($20,000/$40,000) is because Massachusetts requires all drivers to have at least $20,000 for each person injured and at least $40,000 in the event two or more persons suffer injuries and losses. This is known as a “split limit.” Several coverage categories of the standard Massachusetts auto policy are expressed as split limits. 

As mentioned, many drivers who cause an accident often believe that by having the compulsory bodily injury coverage of $20,000/$40,000 they are “fully insured,” that is, until they learn (the hard way) that this is simply false. In fact, purchasing just $20,000/$40,000 of bodily injury coverage is actually the “minimum” amount of coverage you can purchase to legally operate your motor vehicle on a public roadway. 

If you cause injuries or losses to another person or persons as a result of your negligence, the cost of medical treatment plus any resulting lost income by the injured party, can rise to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. In the event you are found liable for the accident and the verdict is well beyond your policy limits you may be looked-to, personally, to make up the difference between the coverage limits you purchased and the amount the jury awarded to the injured person(s). Coming up with those additional funds may, if required, mean that you have to sell or remortgage your home, or perhaps even file personal bankruptcy. 

To help reduce personal exposure we strongly recommend that you purchase the highest optional bodily injury coverage you can afford, which we will discuss in greater detail in Part 5 of this series. 

Connect with a Parker Scheer personal injury attorney.

Primary Sidebar

CALL US 7 DAYS 617-886-0500

Injured? Contact Our Offices For A Free Consultation

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sort by Category

  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Community Outreach
  • Criminal Defense News
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Product Liability
  • Uncategorized

Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury
  • Workers’ Compensation
  • Real Estate Law
  • Criminal Defense
  • Business Law & Litigation

View All Practice Areas

Client Testimonials

M. S. 

I went to Parker and Scheer two years ago when I was hit riding my bicycle in NYC. This was a difficult and helpless time. Surgery was required and I didn’t have health insurance. I had never been through anything like this before and didn’t know where to turn...

Read More
Andrea K.

Eric Parker saw the potential in my case and explored it in detail with patience and professionalism. He and his team achieved the outcome I was hoping for, and I can recommend Parker Scheer with absolute confidence.

Read More
T.G.

I was referred to Parker|Scheer after my daughter was seriously injured in a car accident in November 2010. Deb and the firm of Parker|Scheer were nothing short of spectacular. If I ever need legal representation again, I would use them in a minute.

Read More
Client Review on Avvo.

Great Lawyer – Attorney Tofani was referred to me through friends and was highly recommended. I found myself in a tough situation with no prior criminal history and not sure what to expect. Attorney Tofani was kind, professional and experienced in the system.

Read More
A.Q.

I have worked with Eric Parker and Barry Scheer for over a over 15 years. I have recommended them to friends and family without disappointment. When you know that you have someone you can call on a moments notice, for any legal matter, it is a comfort...

Read More
Matt S.

My case was very unique. Through his hard work and excellent skills, Attorney Tofani achieved the bestpossible outcome. I highly recommend Attorney Tofani.

Read More

View All Testimonials

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Meet Our Boston Attorneys
  • Leave Us a Review

Connect With Us




BOSTON OFFICE

1 Center Plaza, Suite 420, Boston, MA 02108

PHONE : (617) 886-0500

boston injury attorney

NYC OFFICE

445 Park Ave. Floor 9 New York, NY 10022

PHONE : (212) 897-2223

@ 2020 Parker Scheer LLP. All rights reserved | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service