Understanding the Difference between Limited and Full Tort Auto Insurance

Spring is finally here. The snow and cold weather are now in the rearview mirror, and you are driving along with the windows down and your favorite band turned up loud. You’re in a good mood until the unexpected happens.

The traffic light turns yellow, and the driver of the car in front of you slams on the breaks, deciding at the last second not to go through the light. Thankfully, you are paying attention and can stop in time to avoid hitting the indecisive driver’s vehicle. Unfortunately, the driver behind you wasn’t as vigilant. The next thing you know, your car is slammed from the rear in a big crash that results in your receiving whiplash and damage to your vehicle.

At the Law Offices of Rovner, Allen, Rovner, Zimmerman & Nash, we represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians and anyone involved in an auto accident. When choosing a personal injury or worker’s compensation lawyer in Philadelphia from our firm, you are making the decision to go with experience and reputation.

We use our 40-plus years of practice to both secure favorable legal results for our clients and educate them on various aspects of the law. With that being said, knowing the difference between limited and full tort is important. Many law firms will not even handle cases where you have limited tort insurance.  At Rovner, Allen, Rovner, Zimmerman & Nash we will fight for you regardless of whether you are full tort or limited tort.  So, how do these legal options affect you after you’ve been in an accident?

Limited Tort

Limited tort offers you savings on your monthly car insurance bill, but it often isn’t worth it in the long run when you want to seek reimbursement for your pain and suffering. For just a little savings you give up thousands of dollars of your rights against the person that is at fault.

With limited tort insurance, the person that is at fault does not have to pay for your non-economic damages like pain and suffering unless you sustain what is called a serious injury.  Only serious injuries are covered under limited tort. These instances include if someone was killed, suffered a serious impairment of a bodily function or sustained a permanent or serious disfigurement. Insurance companies will fight these cases by claiming that your injuries do not meet the threshold.

Often your insurance company will trick you into getting limited tort insurance by telling you that it is “full coverage.”  Full coverage just means that your insurance meets the state requirements; it does not give you the right to recover for your non-economic injuries without argument.   Limited tort insurance only benefits the person that is at fault in allowing them to cause you harm and damage but not have to pay for it.  In New Jersey, this same concept is called the Limitation on Lawsuit or Limitation on Right to Sue policy.  The exceptions and ways to overcome the limited right to sue or verbal threshold in New Jersey is a bit different than in Pennsylvania but our lawyers will be able to review and explain your situation.

Full Tort

With full tort insurance, you have the right to seek damages from the person at fault for all pain or suffering, regardless of how significant that pain or injury may be.  Full tort insurance costs a bit more but gives you the most protection.  In New Jersey, this is called no limitation on lawsuit or no threshold.

Your choice of getting limited tort or full tort comes down to the level of protection that you want. No matter what type of insurance you have, one of our lawyers will thoroughly review your claim and will explain all of your insurance options and fight for you to receive just compensation.  Remember that once an accident occurs, you cannot change your insurance choices.  Make the best choices now, before an accident happens, and call us if you have questions or need your policy choices reviewed.

You can find out more about the differences between these thresholds and full and limited tort by contacting the Law Offices of Rovner, Allen, Rovner, Zimmerman & Nash at 215-259-5958 to receive a free consultation from a personal injury or worker’s compensation attorney in the Philadelphia region.