A Decision Most Drivers Make Without Fully Understanding It
When Pennsylvania drivers first set up an auto insurance policy, they’re asked to choose between limited tort and full tort coverage. Many people select an option quickly without realizing just how much that choice affects their rights after an accident. Yeager Insurance Agency works with drivers throughout Wilkes-Barre, PA who are often surprised to learn what this decision actually means once a claim is involved.
What Limited Tort Actually Limits
Choosing limited tort typically results in a lower premium, but it comes with a significant tradeoff. Under limited tort, a driver’s ability to sue for pain and suffering after an accident is restricted unless the injury meets a serious threshold, such as death, dismemberment, or permanent disfigurement. Medical expenses are still covered, but the option to pursue compensation for pain and suffering becomes much narrower.
What Full Tort Preserves
Full tort coverage costs more, but it preserves a driver’s full right to sue for pain and suffering after an accident, regardless of how severe the injury is. This option gives drivers more legal flexibility if they’re injured by another driver, without the same threshold restrictions that limited tort imposes.
Why This Choice Is Easy to Overlook
- The decision is often made quickly during the initial policy setup process
- Many drivers don’t fully understand the tradeoff until after an accident occurs
- The difference in premium can seem small compared to the difference in long-term legal rights
- Family members listed on the same policy are generally bound by the same tort selection
Why Revisiting This Choice Matters
Life circumstances change, and a tort election made years ago may no longer reflect what a driver actually wants today. Reviewing this choice periodically, rather than assuming it’s set permanently, helps ensure a policy still aligns with a driver’s priorities. Yeager Insurance Agency helps drivers across Wilkes-Barre, PA understand exactly what their tort election means before they need to rely on it. To learn more, visit our auto insurance page.
