Louisiana’s an at-fault state for car insurance, so you pursue compensation for your accident-related injuries and losses by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. However, if you are uninsured, the Louisiana “No Pay, No Play” law could limit your financial recovery.
Louisiana has one of the country’s harshest legal systems for dealing with uninsured drivers. Its “No Pay, No Play” system punishes uninsured drivers for accidents that weren’t even their own fault. If you were involved in a car accident and are uninsured, it’s crucial you understand how this law might affect your car accident claim.
What Is the No Pay, No Play Law?
Louisiana law requires all drivers to maintain auto liability insurance in the event of a crash to cover damages they cause to someone else. The minimum amounts are:
- $15,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $30,000 for bodily injury to more than one person in an accident
- $25,000 for property damage
Failing to maintain this mandatory insurance can result in fines of up to $1,000.
Louisiana’s No Pay, No Play statute also states that if you are involved in a car accident while you don’t have the mandatory minimum liability car insurance, you cannot collect the first amount equivalent to the minimum liability insurance policies you should have in place. Therefore, you would be responsible for the first $15,000 in medical expenses and the first $25,000 in property damage repair costs. This rule applies regardless of fault, so even if the other driver was clearly at fault, you would suffer the consequences. Fortunately, there are a few exceptions.
Exceptions to the “No Pay, No Play” Law
- The strict No Pay, No Play consequences do not apply if a collision occurred under any of the following situations:
- The uninsured vehicle was parked and not in operation at the time of the car crash.
- The other driver is cited for drunk driving.
- The other driver intentionally causes the collision.
- The other driver flees from the accident scene.
- The other driver is committing a felony or escaping at the time of the accident.
An experienced car accident lawyer can review the circumstances surrounding the accident that injured you and determine if you qualify for an exception.
The No Pay, No Play Law and Insurance Claims
Insurance companies are familiar with Louisiana car accident laws they can point to in order to minimize their liability. Insurance companies may try to blame the accident completely on you. Or, they might imply you are lying about your damages.
Not getting full compensation for your car accident claim could leave you without the use of your vehicle if you can’t afford to pay for the repairs out of pocket. You could also be saddled with expensive medical bills you were not expecting.
If you are involved in a car accident in which the No Pay, No Play law is at issue, you need to speak with an experienced attorney today.
Contact The Thibeaux firm for a Free Consultation
If you need help with your car accident claim, contact Omar Thibeaux, The 25% attorney. Because we charge less for our legal services, more will go into your pocket at the time of recovery. Contact us today to take advantage of a free case review.
