Getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere could be one of the most frustrating things ever until you get in an accident. Then the flat tire situation feels like a relaxing vacation in Ibiza.

Road accidents are terrible and very common. In 2019, there were six million passenger car accidents in the US, out of which four million caused serious damage to the car and the passengers. This is why the auto insurance market is booming, and so is some confusion.

With the rise in the number of vehicles and more people getting auto insurance for the first time, there are a lot of questions that come to mind regarding what auto insurance policies cover. For example, if you get in an accident, will your auto insurance cover your passengers’ injury treatment? This article will explain in detail everything you need to know about your insurance policy’s coverage for your passenger.

Liability Insurance

It is mandatory to have liability insurance if you want to drive legally in almost all the states. Liability insurance covers the cost of repairs and medical treatments for the other people involved in an accident that is your fault. The person at fault cannot claim their liability insurance.

So if you get in an accident with another car that causes damage to their car (property) and injuries to the passengers of the other car, they can claim your liability insurance policy and get the money for repairs and treatments.

In special cases, when someone else is driving and you are in the passenger’s seat, you can claim the driver’s liability insurance to get coverage for medical treatments. You’ll have to prove that it was the driver’s fault first.

What if you are driving the car with your friends and family and unfortunately your car gets in an accident. If the accident is not your fault, you can claim the liability insurance policy of the driver at fault and it will cover the medical treatment for all the passengers in the car.

Every liability insurance comes with a minimum coverage limit mandated by the state. Different states have different minimum limits. It means that your liability coverage must be able to provide that amount of money to cover the damages to the car, and medical treatment for the individual and every passenger in the other car. But what happens if the driver at fault either does not have liability coverage or the minimum coverage limit is not enough to cover the medical treatments?

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

It is a well-known fact that medical treatment in the US costs a fortune. It is very likely that if you get in an accident, the other driver who’s at fault might not have enough liability coverage limit to cover the cost of treatment for all the passengers in your car. This is where uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage comes in.

UM/UIM insurance coverage works as an add-on coverage. If the driver at fault does not have adequate liability coverage to pay for the treatment of every passenger of the car. But do note that UM/UIM insurance would not cover all the passengers in the car. Each passenger must have this coverage to claim it.

Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Your Passengers?

Now coming to the question most people are looking for; does your auto insurance policy cover your passengers? The answer is no, none of your policies will cover your passengers for any damage at all. Your liability insurance will cover other car’s damages and could be used by your passengers in special cases.

But none of your insurance policies will cover your passengers. Each of the passengers must have an insurance policy to cover the medical treatment costs. Let’s see what insurance policies cover accidental damage for each individual.

Personal Injury Protection Insurance

Personal Injury Protection insurance is a mandatory coverage in twelve states in the US, but you can opt for it in any state and it will be worth it. This policy is also called the No-Fault policy because it does not matter whose fault the accident was, you will be covered for the injury.

Personal injury protection insurance does not cover damages to the car. It is only for bodily injury. So in case you are driving the car and all the passengers in the car have a personal injury plan, each passenger can claim their policy and get the money for medical treatments.

This is what makes PIP insurance so important. It is your only way to cover yourself against accidents like these.

MedPay

Being in the No-Fault States makes it compulsory to have PIP insurance, but for people who do not live in these states, and where people cannot find good and affordable car insurance rates, their medical insurance policy is the only way of getting themselves covered against road accidents. Make sure the medical insurance you get covers road accidents and you’re good to go.

When in an Accident

If you get in an accident as a passenger, the first thing you need to do is make sure you are alright. Get out of the car, and call 911. It is important to get the medics and the cops involved as soon as you can. After you have made sure everything is okay, call your insurance company and take pictures of the accident scenes. If you are not in the condition to do any of these things, it is alright. You can still make a claim after the treatment.

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