PA Auto Insurance: Income loss
Required minimum coverage under Pennsylvania law:
- Not required
Our law firm’s recommended minimum coverage:
- $1,000 per month
- $5,000 maximum
PA auto insurance law does not require you to carry income loss coverage at all. You have to choose to carry income loss coverage to guarantee that you can collect your lost wages as they grow. If you are employed, we recommend that you select coverage of at least $1,000 per month for up to five months, or $5,000 total.
However, if your income is greater than $1,000 per month, the ideal coverage would equal your actual after-tax wages. This is the best way to protect yourself from any undue financial hardship should you become disabled as a result of a car accident.
If you do not carry Income Loss coverage, you may not be able to collect money for your lost wages unless and until your case has been settled. This may be the case even if you are not at fault for the accident.
EXAMPLE:
You earn $1,000 a month and are hurt in a car accident that you caused. Because of your injuries, you are out of work for three months. Unless you had specifically chosen Income Loss coverage on your car insurance policy, you could not collect lost wages from your insurance company. If you had chosen income loss at the $1,000 level for five months, you would be eligible to receive $1,000 per month in lost wages for up to five months or $5,000 in total coverage.
