Fear of more uninsured motorists in South Dakota scuttles auto insurance proposal
Industry warns of unintended consequences if coverage rates increased
Lawmakers on the House Transportation Committee rejected an effort Tuesday to require South Dakota motorists to purchase higher limits on their auto insurance policies.
Legislation brought by Rep. Carl Perry would have increased the minimum amount of liability insurance from $25,000 to $75,000 for bodily injury of one person per accident, $50,000 to $75,000 for bodily injury to two or more people per accident, and from $25,000 to $75,000 for property damage.
The numbers, Perry said, were meant to open a dialogue on South Dakota’s minimum requirements for auto insurance. Motorists are required to have insurance that meet those minimum coverage limits under state law.
The state’s minimum limits don’t go far when a person is injured in an accident and faces large medical bills, Perry said. Nor does the minimum for property damage when it’s common for new pickup trucks to cost $75,000, he contends.
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