Every driver in Hawaiʻi, including residents driving their own vehicles and tourists in rental vehicles, has to carry insurance to protect them from the likelihood of a crash. Drivers and their passengers can typically make claims related to any injuries and property damage expenses they incur because of a car wreck.  When you understand the basics of what insurance will cover in Hawaiʻi, you will have an easier time filing a claim and making other necessary arrangements to pay for your collision-related expenses. What do drivers need to know about basic insurance coverage after a crash?

What The State Requires.

Hawaiʻi requires both no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) and liability coverage. Your own policy will provide you with at least $10,000 worth of PIP coverage. This will pay toward any medical expenses you or your passengers have after a crash regardless of who is to blame.  Every driver also needs to carry liability coverage. The minimum for injury-related liability coverage is $20,000 per person and $40,000 per crash. Drivers can carry insurance policies with as little as $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Which Policy Pays?

The biggest question after a wreck is often who is to blame for the collision. The driver at fault for the crash because they did something negligent or violated a traffic statute will be the one who provides liability coverage.  You may need to use a combination of your personal injury protection coverage and the other driver’s liability protection if you suffered a significant injury and will require hospitalization or a lengthy leave of absence from work. In some cases, the person to blame for the wreck does not have the insurance required by law, in which case you would only have your own PIP for protection.  In a scenario where the combination of your personal injury protection and the other driver’s liability coverage is not enough to pay all of your costs, you may need to consider taking the other driver’s to court. A personal injury lawsuit can potentially cover any expenses that exceed the available insurance coverage.  Understanding what you can expect from car insurance will make it easier for you to handle the financial consequences of a recent motor vehicle collision.