Every motor vehicle registered in Maryland is now required to carry a minimum of $30,000 coverage for each claimant and a $60,000 combined total for any one accident or incident. This not only protects motorists in the event that they cause an accident that result in a personal injury or wrongful death to another person, but also ensures that individuals injured in Maryland motor vehicles have additional coverage through uninsured motorist coverage in the event the accident was caused by a vehicle that does not have insurance.

The legislation was approved in March 2010, rising the minimum Maryland auto insurance requirements for the first time since 1972, despite dramatic increases in the average costs of medical care for personal injuries from Maryland accidents over the past thirty years.

While $30,000 of insurance coverage will still be insufficient compensation for a large number of Maryland accident injuries, raising the floor from 20/40 to 30/60 is a step in the right direction. In addition, motorists can (and should) purchase higher insurance for Maryland cars to protect themselves, their riders and household family members in the event they are involved in an accident with a vehicle that only has minimal limits.

The legislation, House Bill 825, increases the minimum required insurance for cars in Maryland from $20,000 to $30,000 for any single person and from $40,000 to $60,000 for the combined total for any one accident.

Motorists can (and should) purchase higher insurance for Maryland cars to protect themselves and ensure that they have more coverage in the event they are involved in an accident with a vehicle that only has minimal limits. However, many vehicles only carry the minimum required coverage, leaving many Maryland personal injury victims without adequate insurance coverage for their injuries.

Automobile insurance coverage not only protects motorists in the event that they cause an accident that results in a personal injury or wrongful death to another person, but it also provides coverage for their own injuries in the event that they are involved in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist of underinsured motorist.

While it is the opinion of our Maryland accident lawyers that the minimum insurance coverage in Maryland should be even higher, raising the floor from $20,000/$40,000 to $30,000/$60,000 would be a step in the right direction. The minimum insurance for Maryland automobiles has not been increased since 1972, while the cost of medical care associated with auto accident injuries has dramatically increased over the past three decades.

The House is scheduled for a final vote on this legislation tomorrow morning, so take this opportunity to email or call your elected official to show your support for this legislation.