An Act relative to motor vehicle liability insurance requirements
By Mr. Brownsberger, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 678) of William N. Brownsberger for legislation to increase motor vehicle liability insurance requirements. Financial Services.
S.678 increases the minimum motor vehicle liability insurance coverage requirements in Massachusetts to better protect individuals injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents.
Currently, in order to register a motor vehicle in Massachusetts, an owner must carry a minimum level of automobile liability insurance. This bill updates those minimums to better reflect the costs of medical care and property damage today. Specifically, it raises the required coverage for bodily injury or death caused by a motor vehicle accident from $20,000 to $100,000 per person, and from $40,000 to $200,000 per accident if more than one person is injured or killed.
Under current law, if a driver negligently causes a crash and only carries the minimum required insurance, their insurer is obligated to pay no more than $20,000 for injuries to a single person—even if the victim’s medical bills and other losses far exceed that amount. If multiple people are injured in the same accident, the maximum total payout is capped at $40,000. These outdated limits leave many accident victims undercompensated and vulnerable to financial hardship. By increasing the minimum liability coverage to $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident, this bill ensures stronger protection for all individuals injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents, whether they are drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists.
Additionally, the bill raises the minimum required property damage liability coverage—from $5,000 to $20,000—to ensure sufficient compensation for damage to vehicles, structures, and other personal property.
By modernizing Massachusetts’ minimum insurance requirements, S.678 promotes fairer outcomes for accident victims, reduces reliance on the public safety net, and holds negligent drivers more accountable for the harm they cause.
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