Many people think that no-fault insurance only pays benefits when someone is injured in a car crash. However, in reality no-fault policies cover a lot more injuries than just those suffered in a crash.
So long as a person’s injury arises “out of maintenance or use of a motor vehicle,” that person is entitled to no-fault benefits.
What Is Considered Vehicle Maintenance?
“Maintenance” of a vehicle can include a wide variety of things, like putting gas in the tank, replacing an alternator, changing the oil, or even washing the windows. Thus, if a person is injured inflating her tires or changing the windshield wipers, he or she would be entitled to no-fault benefits.
What Qualifies As Vehicle Use?
“Use” of a vehicle means much more than merely driving a car. No-fault applies when the injury is “a natural and reasonable consequence” of the vehicle’s use. Thus, Minnesota courts have held that injuries suffered when getting in or out of a vehicle are covered under no-fault policies. This means that if a person slips and falls on ice getting into or out of a vehicle, that person’s injuries would likely be covered by his or her no-fault policy.
How Can We Help?
At Tarshish Cody, PLC law firm, we understand how complicated it can be to know if your injury is one where no-fault insurance comes into play. Whether no-fault coverage applies depends on the specific facts in each case. For this reason, it is important to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney if you or a loved one was injured and that injury has anything to do with a motor vehicle.
We welcome your call today at 612-808-8999 (or fill out the free Case Evaluation Form) to help you through the legal issues of your auto injury case. Our personal injury attorneys have handled many no-fault auto insurance cases and have helped our clients recover the compensation they deserved.
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