In Connecticut, a driver must carry two types of liability coverage: property damage liability and bodily injury liability. By carrying these types of liability, the driver is protected if he or she causes an accident that results in injury or death of another person. It also protects the driver from having to pay for damages that may have occurred as the result of an accident that is his or her fault.
In addition to being required to carry these forms of liability insurance, Connecticut drivers also car what is referred to as “first party benefits.” These benefits include compensation that the driver receives in the event of loss of income, medical expenses, and accidental death.
Connecticut is also a tort state. As such, Connecticut law mandates that the driver is responsible for any physical injury or property damage that may occur as the result of an accident. Therefore, a driver may wish to carry more than the minimum requirement in order to avoid being responsible for payment of other costs that may incur as the result of an accident. Those that do not pay the expenses that arise will face high penalties, including the possibility of losing driving privileges.
Connecticut law requires a minimum liability coverage of 20/40/10. All auto insurance companies in Connecticut must abide by these minimums. In accordance with this formula, drivers in Connecticut must carry injury liability insurance of at least $20,000 per person with at least $40,000 per accident. All Connecticut drivers also must carry $10,000 of coverage for property damage.
Bodily Injury Liability, which is referred to as BI for short, must be in place for $20,000 per person involved with the accident and with a total of $40,000 per accident. This insurance covers the expenses associated with injury or death in an accident that is the insured driver’s fault. This insurance includes paying for the injury or death of the other driver as well as passengers in any involved vehicle and any pedestrians that may have been involved in the accident.
Property Damage, or PD, insurance is meant to cover the expenses associated with damaged property. This may include paying for damage to be repaired as well as for property to be replaced. This coverage must be at least $10,000 in order to meet the state minimum requirements.
The state of Connecticut also requires that every driver carry uninsured and underinsured motorist protection of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. This coverage protects the driver if he or she is hit in a hit-and-run or if the driver is hit by someone that does not have insurance. It also covers the driver if he or she is hit by someone that does have insurance, but that has a policy that is not high enough to cover all of the injuries in the accident.
In order to register a vehicle in Connecticut, drivers must prove that they are properly insured and have met the minimum requirements of the state. There are many ways the driver can prove that he or she has the required coverage, including showing his or her insurance card or the actual policy.