This coverage handles medical expenses for injuries you cause to others, including emergency room visits, surgeries, and ongoing treatment. While $25,000 might seem like adequate coverage, it gets depleted quickly with serious injuries. A single overnight hospital stay can cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
Add in one MRI, pain medication, and several follow-up appointments, and you have already reached your coverage limit. At this point, you become personally responsible for any additional costs.
Here’s just one example of a common scenario spiraling (using made-up but realistic numbers): You rear-end someone at a stoplight, causing them whiplash and a concussion. The initial ER visit costs $3,000. They need physical therapy twice a week for six months at $100 per session ($4,800), regular appointments with a neurologist ($2,000), prescription medications ($1,200), and multiple imaging scans ($8,000).
Their lost wages from missing work add another $10,000. The total quickly reaches $29,000. With only $25,000 in coverage, you might need to pay $4,000 out of pocket, plus any future medical expenses they might have.
