You were just in your first real accident, and it can be hard to handle all the costs that are piling up. Minnesota is a no-fault state for auto insurance, but it’s often difficult to know just what that means for your case.

Car crashes injured nearly 28,000 people in Minnesota last year. While these crashes cost the state millions to handle, the bills you’re facing might as well be that large. Minnesota is a no-fault state, but it’s essential to understand what that means for getting the help you need.

Simply complex

No-fault insurance is relatively simple on its face, but things can get tricky under the surface:

  • General principles: No matter who caused the wreck, your car insurance provider is usually on the hook for monetary losses like basic medical expenses and lost wages.
  • Benefits: You’ll generally file a claim with your own provider by filling out an application for benefits. Here you can outline what injuries and damage happened because of the accident.
  • Limits: There are upper limits on how much they’ll fork over for medical bills, and they’ll usually only provide a portion of your missed earnings.

Liable to a fault

If your situation meets specific requirements, you might be able to seek additional compensation through a personal injury suit. Pain and suffering, future treatments and lost earning capacity from an accident generally aren’t covered by your insurance. You may need to prove the other party was at fault to receive compensation for ballooning medical expenses, permanent injuries or an extended inability to work.

Understanding no-fault insurance can be difficult, especially when limits come into play, and fault actually can enter the equation. Circumstances can change from one accident to the next, so knowing exactly where your crash fits could ensure you get the recovery you deserve.