New Hampshire Accident Victims May Be Able to “Stack” Insurance Policies to Increase Coverage

October 28, 2019

When injuries happen as a result of a New Hampshire car accident, there can be seriously large medical bills resulting in accident victims suffering a financial strain. In an ideal world, the at-fault driver’s insurance company would cover the costs incurred by the accident’s victims. However, while New Hampshire law requires drivers to have auto insurance, there may be times that the at-fault drivers are either uninsured or underinsured and therefore cannot pay fully for the harm caused. Currently, in New Hampshire, recent statistics indicate that about 9% of drivers don’t have any car insurance.

To solve this problem, New Hampshire requires that all drivers who purchase auto-insurance also purchase Uninsured Motorists Coverage of the same amount. This coverage will help drivers cover the costs of injuries that result from an accident with an at-fault uninsured or underinsured driver. It will also protect drivers from hit-and-runs, where the victim has no chance to discover who the at-fault driver is. However, what happens if a driver’s Uninsured Motorists Coverage is still not enough to cover all the costs?

Under New Hampshire law, accident victims may be entitled to “stack” their Uninsured Motorist Coverage limits if they purchased the insurance for more than one vehicle. For instance, a couple may purchase auto insurance, and thus Uninsured Motorists Coverage as well, for both of their vehicles and have coverage of up to $50,000 per vehicle. If the husband is then in a crash with an uninsured driver, and his resulting medical bills are $80,000, the $50,000 will not cover it all. Depending on his insurance policy, however, he may be able to stack the coverage from his wife’s car as well, which adds up to $100,000 and would allow him to cover the $80,000.

Not all insurance companies allow policy stacking. Insurance companies may prevent stacking, but only if they say so clearly and unambiguously in their policy. When accident victims and their insurance companies disagree about whether the policy prohibits insurance stacking, the victim may file a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgement that coverage exists. However, this can be a difficult process to navigate while dealing with the aftermath of an accident and potential lingering medical problems, and so New Hampshire accident victims unclear about their insurance policy are encouraged to consult with a personal injury attorney to discuss their case.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Hampshire car accident with an uninsured motorist, you may be eligible for monetary compensation beyond what your insurance company is telling you. Contact the dedicated attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates. At Peter Thompson, our attorneys have years of experience helping New Hampshire accident victims recover damages from other drivers and insurance companies, and we understand the complexities of New Hampshire insurance law. If successful, you may receive monetary compensation for damage to your car and property, past and future medical bills, and pain and suffering. Call us today at 800-804-2004, or fill out our online form, to schedule your free consultation.