Automobile liability insurance companies provide policies to meet the special 

 conditions imposed by the motor vehicle financial responsibility laws of the vari- 

 ous states, at least up to the amount of the basic coverage required in the state 

 where the policy is issued. Higher limits are available to motorists who wish 

 to protect themselves against judgements that might be higher than the minimum se- 

 curity required to be posted in their own or other states. Since Massachusetts 

 has only 5/10 statutory requirements and svirrounding states of Connecticut, Maine, 

 New York and Vermont have higher requirements, higher limits would be desirable 

 for many, if not all, i.iassachusetts motorists for proper insurance protection. 



Most liability policies list as optional coverage: 



(3) Medical payments 



Under medical coverage, payments are made to anyone v/ho is injured or killed 

 while lavffully entering, riding in, or alighting from an insured automobile. The 

 standard payment is usually $^^00 to each injured person, to defray medical, hospital 

 and nursing costs. In event of death, the payment may be applied toward funeral 

 expenses. The amount of medical coverage may be increased with the payment of an 

 additional premium, lledical benefits are not authorized if the injured person 

 was acting in the course of his employment at the time of the accident and was 

 covered by T:orkmen's compensation insurance. 



Under certain conditions, the automobile liability policy covers any liability 

 of an owner for the negligence of another person whom he permits to drive. 



Principally because a car is no\r often used by many people, both inside and 

 outside the family, automobile liability insurance attaches to a specific car and 

 follows it v/hether it is operated by the ovmer or is in legal use of a peri.iitted 

 driver, except when there is a change of ownership. In i/Iassachusetts insurance 

 is required as a condition of obtaining registration plates. In some other states 

 vrtien an insured car is traded in on a nevf one, the insurance on the old car applies 

 to the new car for a period of 30 days. Any accident within 30 days is covered 

 automatically. The insurance will lapse at the end of 30 days unless transferred 

 to the new car. 



Premium rates vary according to the amount of coverage, the liabilities in- 

 cluded, the ages of the drivers, the use of the vehicle and the place of principal 

 garaging of the car or truck. As mth other types of insurance consult your insur- 

 ance agent for details as to policy , rates and coverage . 



This article does not cover questions and coverages of policies issued to 

 provide insurance for damage to the motorist ' 3 car and death or injury to him. 

 Content of this series of articles has been approved by insurance company repre- 

 sentatives as an educational service. 



L, D,- Rhoades 



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