Minnesota's No-Fault automobile insurance law can be very confusing. In a nutshell, if you are injured in an automobile accident, your automobile insurer pays for your health related bills. The other driver's insurer, if that other driver is at fault, pays for your permanent injuries.
But, what happens when someone from out-of-state is driving through Minnesota and gets in an accident? Moreover, what if the insurer from the out-of-state is not licensed to sell insurance in Minnesota? The Minnesota Supreme Court spoke to this recently in Founders Insurance Company v. Yates. In Yates, the insured vehicle was driving through Maplewood on a snowy December day in 2013. The vehicle was involved in an accident and the owner/driver received around $20,000 in medical care. The driver's insurer refused to pay for the benefits, arguing it is was not licensed to sell insurance in Minnesota and therefore could not provide the state required insurance benefits.
In a refreshingly simple opinion, the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed the reading of the statute requiring "every" insurance policy "wherever" issued to provide Minnesota No-Fault Benefits for accidents occurring within the borders of Minnesota.
Insurance coverage issues are difficult and can lead to surprising results. If you or your business are in a coverage dispute with your insurer, call me to discuss your situation and let's work to get you covered.
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