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4 Types of Insurance Every Illinois Motorist Should Have (Part A)

Illinois car insurance laws place a minimum requirement of $20,000/$40,000 bodily injury and $15,000 property damage insurance on all drivers of motor vehicles. They also require a minimum of $20,000/$40,000 for underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage.

These minimum limits are in place to help protect drivers who are injured in a car accident so that they might recover compensation for their damages. These limits may not be enough, however, in the event of a serious injury, and a Chicago car accident lawyer can help you evaluate your options when the insurance companies aren't offering enough assistance.

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance in Illinois

The first type of Illinois car insurance a driver is required to have is Bodily Injury Liability insurance. This covers bodily injuries or death caused by the driver's actions. If the driver at fault for your car accident did not have enough BIL insurance to cover your injuries, lost wages, and suffering, you may be left wondering how you'll pay the difference.

The required BIL amounts in Illinois are a minimum of $20,000 per person, up to $40,000 per accident, which is sufficient if you're the only person hurt and your damages are less than $20,000. If multiple people were hurt by the at-fault driver, all injured parties seeking claims have to divvy up the $40,000 per accident limit, usually based on a first-come, first-served basis.

If your damages are more than the policy limit of the at-fault driver, or another injured party has taken up the accident policy limit before you could, you're going to be out of luck without filing a personal injury lawsuit. If this is a danger you'd like to avoid, you should contact a Chicago car accident lawyer.

Property Damage Liability Insurance in Illinois

The Illinois car insurance minimum requirement for Property Damage Liability is $15,000. This coverage provides for the damage done to your car or any surrounding property such as fences, buildings or trees. If the at-fault driver in your car accident neglected to have this coverage or damages to your vehicle or property exceed their policy limits, you may be looking at your car as a total loss.

There are two more important insurance types to consider when making sure you're legally covered by your Illinois car insurance. Read on to learn more about uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and how a Chicago car accident lawyer can help your case.

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