According to Wisconsin state law, all motorists must carry insurance on their vehicles. If you do not have auto insurance, you could face a fine up to $5,000. Further, if you are in an accident and are uninsured, your driver’s license can be suspended, you may have to pay for damages and injuries you caused and you will have to purchase auto insurance before your license is reinstated.

In Wisconsin, drivers are required to carry the following minimum amounts of coverage:

  • Liability — $25,000 per person or $50,000 per occurrence
  • Property — $10,000
  • Uninsured Motorist — $25,000 per person or $50,000 per occurrence
  • Underinsured motorist and medical payments coverage are optional

We’ve met with many people who, having been in an accident, tell us they “have full coverage.” Indeed, they may have the minimum required by law — but according to the Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ), those minimums may not be enough. The costs associated with an accident can vary greatly and may include ambulance fees, ER visits, hospitalization, post-accident physician visits, physical therapy and lost wages. If you are uninsured or underinsured, an accident can have a serious impact on your livelihood.

The WAJ recommends the following minimums:

Liability Insurance — $100,000 for one person or $300,000 for all persons. This protects you from injuries you cause to people when using your car, including your passengers and those in the other vehicle. The policy will pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering of others up to your plan’s limit. You are responsible for damages above that limit.

Property Damage Liability Insurance — $50,000. This pays for damages to the other car and property such as homes, light poles, signs, etc. It does not cover damages to your car or damages to someone else’s car that you are driving.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage — $100,00 per person or $300,00 per occurrence. This covers you and your passengers if an uninsured motorist harms you. It also covers you if you are a pedestrian harmed by an uninsured motorist.

The WAJ also recommends considering the following optional coverages (some of which may be required if you take out a loan to purchase the vehicle).

  • Collision Insurance ­— Pays for damages to your car no matter who caused the accident.
  • Comprehensive Insurance — Pays for damage to your vehicle due to fire, theft, vandalism, etc.
  • Medical Payments Coverage — Pays medical and funeral expenses for your and your passengers no matter who caused the accident. These policies can help you pay your deductibles and for services that may not be covered, such as ambulance service, dental care, chiropractic care.
  • Underinsured Motorist Coverage — Protects you (as driver or pedestrian) and your passengers if you are harmed by a motorist whose insurance will not cover all of your medical bills and accident-related expenses.

As you can see, the Uninsured coverage and Underinsured coverage is the insurance that helps you and your family when you’re hurt by another driver. Make sure that the coverage you buy for your family under these areas is AT LEAST equal to, if not more than, the liability coverage you buy to protect the other driver.

If you have questions, please contact us at 715.359.31388.