Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
Partly. Pennsylvania is a "choice" no-fault state. Your own policy pays your medical bills (at least $5,000) whoever caused the crash, and you choose "full tort" (no limits on suing) or "limited tort" (cheaper, but you can sue for pain and suffering only for a serious injury). If you do not choose, you have full tort.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (5)
How does Pennsylvania car insurance work?
“pain and suffering-unless the injuries meet one of the exceptions in the law. With full tort, you have unrestricted rights. If you fail to specially elect limited tort, you will be deemed to have elected full tort.”
Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Automobile Insurance Guide
What is Pennsylvania's minimum car insurance?
| Coverage | What Pennsylvania requires |
|---|---|
| Injury to one person | $15,000 |
| Injuries in one crash | $30,000 |
| Damage to property | $5,000 |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Medical benefits coverage pays medical bills for you and others on your policy. The minimum is $5,000. |
When can you sue in Pennsylvania?
A serious injury means death, serious impairment of a body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.
Other choice no-fault states
Questions
How much insurance does Pennsylvania require?
At least $15,000 for injury or death of one person, $30,000 for more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage.
What if you were partly at fault in Pennsylvania?
If you were partly at fault, your money is cut by your share of the blame, and you get nothing if your fault is greater than the fault of the people you are suing.
When can you sue after a crash in Pennsylvania?
Only if you chose limited tort: you can recover pain-and-suffering damages only for a "serious injury" (death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement) or another exception in the law. With full tort, there is no limit.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (5)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Automobile Insurance Guide, checked 2026-11-09. “pain and suffering-unless the injuries meet one of the exceptions in the law. With full tort, you have unrestricted rights. If you fail to specially elect limited tort, you will be deemed to have elected full tort.”
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services, checked 2026-11-09. “You are in compliance with the law if you have liability insurance in the following amounts: $15,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident $30,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident”
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department, checked 2026-11-09. “Medical Benefits: This coverage pays the medical bills for you and others who are covered by your policy. The minimum limit is $5,000.”
- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, 42 Pa.C.S. 7102, checked 2026-11-09. “shall not bar a recovery by the plaintiff or his legal representative where such negligence was not greater than the causal negligence of the defendant or defendants against whom recovery is sought”
- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, 75 Pa.C.S. 1702, checked 2026-11-09. “"Serious injury." A personal injury resulting in death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement.”