What Is Louisiana’s “No Pay, No Play” Law?

If you’ve been involved in a Louisiana car accident, you could be hurt, facing thousands in medical bills and other costs, and unsure of where to turn. Of course, if the accident wasn’t your fault, you could be rightfully angry as well—you deserve remuneration from the other party for your injuries and damages. And here at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, we’re dedicated to helping you win the compensation you deserve to help you heal.

However, if you don’t carry auto insurance yourself, under Louisiana’s No Pay, No Play Law (LA R.S. §32:866), you could forfeit your right to collect anything from the other party. Under No Pay, No Play, if you’re in a car crash but don’t have a current insurance policy, you cannot recover damages even if the other driver is at fault.

Exceptions to Louisiana’s No Pay, No Play Statute

Louisiana’s No Play, No Play law doesn’t apply under every circumstance. The few exceptions where No Pay, No Play doesn’t apply include the following:

• Your damages meet or exceed $25,000 in property damages
• The cost of your personal injuries meets or exceeds $15,000
• The other driver intentionally caused the accident
• The other driver fled the scene of the accident
• The crash occurs while the other driver is committing a felony offense
• The other driver is convicted or pleads “no contest” to a charge of driving while intoxicated
• You’re from another state that does not require liability insurance

These exceptions are designed to apply only in limited, extreme circumstances, and you should not rely on them to save you from carrying insurance. Besides, auto insurance is useful in a number of other ways as well, and having a policy is a good way to ensure you’ll be covered in the case of an accident.

The Importance of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Even with the No Pay, No Play law, many Louisiana drivers still opt out of carrying insurance. If one of these drivers causes your car accident, you can be left in a lurch when they’re unable to pay your damages.

That’s why every insurer in Louisiana is required to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which is usually packaged together in plans. Drivers aren’t required to purchase this coverage, but it’s a good idea to have it so that you’ll be covered in case the other driver doesn’t carry insurance.

Basically, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) allows you to file a claim with your own insurance company if the other driver in your accident doesn’t carry insurance themselves. Then you can get help to pay for your medical expenses, property damage, and other expenses as a result of your accident.

Car Insurance Is the Best Way to Ensure You’ll Receive the Compensation You Deserve

The experienced car accident lawyers with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys have decades of experience fighting for the rights of car accident victims in our state. If you were hurt or your vehicle was damaged in a car accident, give us a call to get us on the case. We’ll provide you with a free consultation about your case and get started right away.