Louisiana Auto Insurance Minimum
Reader’s Question:
What automotive liability insurance coverage does Louisiana impose?
Andrew
Shreveport, LA
Having an automotive insurance policy entails many benefits, especially if your policy covers the minimum required by the state of Louisiana. Being a driver, you are expected to be responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those people around you (your passengers, fellow drivers and pedestrians). With liability automotive insurance, you get an assurance that damages to these people and to yourself are financially covered. This is a good way of protecting your assets because in effect, you are passing the financial responsibility to the automotive insurance company by letting them take care of the expenses brought about by the accident.
If you have a collision and comprehensive coverage, your automotive insurance will protect your vehicle from expenses brought by accidents, vandalism, or theft. This also serves as a financial responsibility guarantee to the institution where you borrowed money from to buy your vehicle. This coverage is most beneficial to those whose vehicles have high market values.
The Louisiana state law suggests that if you want to drive a motor vehicle, you should be able to present proof that you have the resources to cover any damages that you may cause to others. This proof of financial responsibility must cover 10 thousand dollars for the bodily injury claim of one person, 20 thousand dollars for the bodily injury claims of two or more persons (for one accident only), and 10 thousand dollars for the vehicle or property damage claims of the other party. This is referred to as the 10/20/10 minimum automotive liability coverage of Louisiana.