Auto Insurance Claims In Maine: Understanding No-Fault Laws

Maine is not a no-fault state for auto insurance. It is an at-fault or tort state, which means the person at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying for other people's injuries and property damage. In no-fault states, drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to pay for their medical expenses after a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. In Maine, PIP is not required. Maine uses a modified comparative (50%) negligence system, meaning drivers can't collect any damages from other parties if they were 50% or more at fault.

Maine is an at-fault state

Maine is an "at-fault" or "tort" state, which means that the person who is at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying other people's injuries and property damage resulting from the accident. In Maine, the driver deemed at fault for causing the car accident is also responsible for any resulting harm. From a practical standpoint, the at-fault driver's insurance company will absorb these losses, up to the policy limits.

Maine's minimum coverage liability limits are 50/100/25. The average annual cost of state minimum car insurance in Maine is $429, or about $36 monthly. The required minimum car insurance coverage for drivers to legally operate a vehicle in Maine includes the following:

• $50,000 for bodily injury liability per person
• $100,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 for property damage liability per accident
• $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $2,000 for medical payments coverage

Unlike in no-fault states, drivers in Maine can file lawsuits to seek compensation for even basic medical expenses after an accident. Maine uses a modified comparative (50%) negligence system, meaning drivers can't collect any damages from the other parties if they were 50% or more at fault. If they were less than 50% at fault, drivers can collect damages minus the percentage that they were at fault.

Maine requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, which pays for others' expenses after the policyholder causes an accident, such as damage to others' vehicles and their medical expenses. Maine also requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and medical payments (MedPay) coverage.

Being an "at-fault" / "tort" state helps keep Maine's insurance costs relatively low, compared to no-fault states.

Maine's minimum insurance requirements

Maine is not a no-fault state for auto insurance. Instead, it is an "at-fault" or "tort" state, meaning the driver at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying for other people's injuries and property damage. As such, drivers in Maine can file lawsuits to seek compensation for medical expenses after an accident.

Maine requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, which pays for others' expenses after the policyholder causes an accident, such as damage to others' vehicles and their medical expenses. Maine also requires drivers to have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and medical payments (MedPay) coverage.

• $50,000 for bodily injury liability per person
• $100,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 for property damage liability per accident
• $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $2,000 for medical payments coverage

The minimum required limits are a starting point, and you should consider whether this amount will adequately protect you. A serious injury or even lesser injuries involving more than one passenger can quickly exceed these limits. Many vehicles on the road today are worth more than $25,000, so it is essential to think about whether the minimum coverage will be sufficient if you cause a crash.

You can also add optional coverages to your policy, such as collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist property damage, medical payments, and rental reimbursement. These add-ons will enhance your protection beyond the state minimum coverage and provide financial security from various unforeseen events.

Medical payments coverage

Maine is an "at-fault" or "tort" state, meaning that the person at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying for other people's injuries and property damage. Maine drivers are required to carry liability insurance, which pays for others' expenses after the policyholder causes an accident, such as damage to others' vehicles and their medical expenses.

Maine also requires drivers to carry medical payments coverage, also known as MedPay, which is a type of no-fault insurance. MedPay covers the medical and funeral expenses incurred by the policyholder, named drivers, and their passengers, regardless of who was responsible for the crash. This includes hospital and ambulance expenses, nursing costs, and funeral expenses. MedPay also covers the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for other types of insurance, making it a good supplement to health insurance.

The state of Maine requires drivers to carry a minimum of $2,000 in medical payments coverage, which costs less than $10 per month on average. However, higher limits of $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, and more are available at a relatively inexpensive additional cost.

Uninsured motorist coverage

Maine is not a no-fault state for auto insurance. Instead, it is an "at-fault" or "tort" state, meaning the driver at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying for other people's injuries and property damage. Maine drivers are required to carry liability insurance, which pays for others' expenses after the policyholder causes an accident.

Maine also requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. UM coverage is included in every liability policy sold in Maine and is mandatory by law. UM coverage protects drivers and their property in the event that the person who caused the crash has no insurance coverage.

Underinsured motorist coverage, on the other hand, protects drivers and their property when the at-fault party doesn't have sufficient insurance to cover the costs of damages. For example, if the at-fault driver's policy has a $50,000 limit, but the damages amount to $75,000, the injured driver's insurer would pay the remaining $25,000.

In Maine, the minimum UM coverage is $50,000 per motorist and $100,000 per accident, which is one of the highest minimums in the country. UM coverage can be used in situations such as:

• Multiple vehicle accidents
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Extensive vehicle damage
• Costly medical bills

Maine's modified comparative negligence laws

Maine is not a no-fault state for auto insurance. Instead, it is an "at-fault" or "tort" state, which means the person at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying for other people's injuries and property damage. Maine uses a modified comparative (50%) negligence system, which means that drivers cannot collect any damages from other parties if they were 50% or more at fault. If they were less than 50% at fault, they can collect damages minus the percentage that they were at fault. For example, if a driver is found to be 30% at fault, they can recover 70% of the damages after the crash.

In a pure comparative fault system, no percentage of negligence will bar recovery for a plaintiff. However, in a modified comparative fault system, the plaintiff cannot recover damages if their percentage of negligence is greater than that of the defendant's. Both systems are more favourable to plaintiffs than contributory fault systems, where plaintiffs cannot recover anything if they had any degree of fault relating to their claims.

The way that fault is apportioned makes it critical for people involved in automobile accidents to not make any statements to insurance companies without legal counsel.

Frequently asked questions