| North Dakota has certain insurance requirements which must be upheld if
you wish to legally operate a vehicle within the state. Failure to
provide insurance to a requesting officer will result in a direct
suspension of the guilty party's Drivers License, and additional fines
may be added, on a per case basis. The following policies are required
for your insurance to be considered legal.
Bodily Injury Coverage
North Dakota requires that you have a minimum of $25,000 for one
person, and $50,000 per accident coverage for bodily injury or death.
If the other party sustains any injuries, Bodily Injury Insurance
covers the costs of the medical bills, wage loss [if applicable] and
pain and suffering. Bodily Injury Coverage also pays the costs of a
lawyer or representative should the other party choose to sue you. It
is important to remember that Bodily Injury Coverage only covers the
costs of the other parties injuries, and therefore you should ensure
that your policy has some coverage added for your protection.
Property Damage Coverage
North Dakota requires that you have a minimum of $25,000 coverage in
the case of property damage. Property Damage Coverage envelops any
disturbance to vehicles or physical property as a direct result of an
automobile accident. The amount of property damage coverage awarded
will be dependent upon the value of the property, replacement or repair
cost, and in some cases, sentimental value. This type of coverage also
pays for your attorney should the other party sue you.
No Fault System
North Dakota runs on a No Fault System, which means that your insurance
company will cover the necessary costs, regardless of fault, until
those costs reach a specified limit. While this type of system does
slightly hinder your ability to sue the party whom you feel is
'guilty', the benefit is that your assets will be covered regardless of
the situation.
A licensed insurance agent will be able to clearly explain the minimum
requirements for driving legally in North Dakota, and will be able to
construct an appropriate insurance package based on your specific needs
and budget. In addition, your insurance agent will be able to help you
decide whether you need specific coverage added to protect you in the
winter when travel is not advised, but sometimes necessary. |