As personal injury lawyers in Maryland and the District of Columbia for multiple decades, we have handled innumerable car and truck accident injury cases.
Often we hear our clients say " I have full coverage" in an optimistic manner that suggests they anticipate fair compensation including payment of their medical expenses, lost income and ample pain and suffering.
Sadly, this optimism is often misplaced. Full coverage isn't sufficient coverage. To quote Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride " You keep on using that word. I do not thonk it means what you think it means."
Which is to say full coverage in Maryland can be as little as $30,000.00 in liability or uninsured motorist's coverage and 0 dollars in PIP or personal injury protection coverage. Obviously many car and truck crash cases produce medical expenses and lost wages that far exceed $30,000.00.
Zero PIP is literally nothing and many people perceive they have " full coverage" but really have grossly insufficient coverage for anything other than a minor crash. Similarly the Maryland minimum limit of property damage insurance is $15,000.00
One can imagine a crash with a late model expensive vehicle causing vastly more than $15,000.00 in repair damage.
In an era when insurers advertise "only get what you need" it can be a race to the bottom because " need" as defined by the Maryland State Legislature is a very low bar indeed.
So do yourself and your family a favor, look to spend a little more and provide protection for everyone including other drivers and pedestrians with whom you might have an accident.
