Some people in Maryland regularly walk to the corner store because it feels wasteful to drive. Other people jog or run on the shoulders of public roads as a form of exercise. Pedestrians technically have the right to share the road with motor vehicles and bicycles. Unfortunately, drivers in Maryland do not actively watch for pedestrians the way that they should. Drivers may strike pedestrians even if they cross at marked locations or walk on the shoulder facing into traffic the way the law requires.
Pedestrians involved in collisions caused by motor vehicles often end up in the hospital. They can sustain major injuries. Unfortunately, many of them learn the hard way that Maryland insurance requirements are not adequate for the costs generated in pedestrian collisions.
What does Maryland require?
Many drivers choose to carry coverage based on their personal liability rather than state regulations. They may invest in more coverage so that they don’t have to worry about a lawsuit if they ever cause a crash. There are also many motorists who simply buy the lowest amount of insurance they can legally carry.
In Maryland, motorists typically need to have both personal injury and property damage liability coverage. Property damage coverage requirements are usually adequate for the losses cyclists suffer. Every driver should have at least $15,000 worth of coverage, which is more than enough to replace even the most costly performance bicycle.
Sadly, the same is not true of the bodily injury insurance requirements. Maryland has two different minimum requirements. Drivers who cause crashes that injure multiple people need to have a minimum of $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage available for the hurt parties.
If the crash only involves injury to one person, which is typical in a pedestrian crash scenario, the coverage amount is far lower. The injured pedestrian may only have access to $30,000 worth of coverage available to them. That may not be nearly enough to cover their hospital expenses, let alone their lost wages and long-term reduction in earning potential.
Lawsuits can help close the gap
Injured pedestrians may have the option of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against an unsafe motorist. Negligence or illegal habits make a lawsuit an option.
Injured pedestrians can request full compensation for the cost of their current and future medical care as well as the income they didn’t earn while in the hospital and the reduction in earning potential they experienced because of the wreck. In tragic scenarios where families lose a loved one because of a pedestrian crash caused by a car, it may be possible to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
Personal injury litigation can take months, if not years to resolve, but it can provide more comprehensive financial support than insurance after a pedestrian crash. Understanding the limits of liability insurance can help those injured by a pedestrian crash caused by a driver’s negligence.