The introduction of automobiles gave Americans new-found freedom to go where they wanted when they wanted. Despite the availability of various forms of mass transit in today’s society, utilizing a motor vehicle to go from place to place is still the preferred mode of travel for many. Of course, owning and driving a car is expensive. In addition to the costs of fuel, maintenance, and repair of the vehicle, drivers must have automobile insurance to protect themselves and others in case of an accident, which can occur frequently and without warning. The cost of automobile insurance in New Jersey has been a strain on the budgets of our residents and has only gotten worse over the years. In response, the state has made a few changes to the laws governing this area, which took effect in 2019. Let’s review some of these changes to New Jersey laws.
Navigating New Jersey Laws
Automobile insurance and personal liability laws are not governed by federal law. Every state in the nation has its own laws which govern this area. New Jersey is one of several states referred to as a “no-fault” state. In no-fault states such as New Jersey, drivers are required to buy personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This PIP insurance is used to cover the medical expenses and lost wages of the injured parties without any need to determine who was at fault in the accident. Unfortunately, the cost of this PIP coverage has been increasing dramatically the last few years, prompting New Jersey law changes 2019 meant to help alleviate the problem.
New Jersey Law Changes 2019
Under New Jersey law, up to $250,000 in medical expenses for a person can be covered under a PIP policy. The changes in state law that took effect in 2019 are meant to prevent fraud and abuse of the system by reducing overbilling in this area. The 2019 laws will pace a limit on how much a provider can bill for certain treatments and procedures. It is hoped that placing these limits on reimbursement will reduce the medical costs and the resultant pressure to push insurance rates continuingly higher. Under the new laws 2019, the reimbursement for certain procedures, including surgery, will be limited and will vary depending on the location where the surgery was performed.
New Laws 2019 – What You Need to Know
Despite these new laws 2019 changes, New Jersey drivers are still likely to see higher insurance premiums in 2019. Any saving from these changes is likely to show up further down the road. In addition, some experts fear that the changes will affect the availability of care for victims of auto accidents, as some providers may decide to stop treating accident victims due to the reduced reimbursement being provided by law. It will take time to see if these fears are substantiated.
2019 Laws – Protecting Your Rights
If you are injured, you need to seek expert legal guidance right away. Because of the sensitive nature of your claims, make sure you speak with an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney today at the Law Offices of James C. DeZao, P.A. Our firm is here to assist you with your case and help you claim the compensation you rightly deserve – including for any future medical costs you may face. Call us today at (973) 358-6134 for a free consultation.