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What Does the “No-Fault” in No-Fault Insurance Mean?

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"No-Fault" refers to the 1975 statute regulating the insurance you must have to operate a motor vehicle in Minnesota. It allows those involved in an accident – regardless of who caused it – to quickly recover costs for medical bills, lost wages and other economic losses. Before No-Fault, people waited months, even years, for payment of benefits.

"No-Fault" does not mean the end of claims and lawsuits. Sometimes insurance companies will dispute paying No-Fault benefits. In this situation, you may need to pursue an arbitration against the insurance company (usually your own) to clarify the obligations of each party. In addition, you may need to file a claim against the insurance company of the person responsible for the accident. This happens when damages are more serious as a result of any of one the following:

  • Death;
  • Permanent injury or disfigurement;
  • More than $4,000 in medical expenses; and,
  • Disability lasting for more than 60 days.
If the person responsible for your accident is uninsured, the lawsuit or claim may need to be filed against the uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy.
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