Q&A
Examination of insurance coverage adequacy in various scenarios
2:10:06
ยท
3 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers probes the adequacy of the proposed $50,000 PIP coverage in various scenarios, including multi-victim accidents and severe injuries. The discussion covers different types of insurance coverage and their applicability.
- Representatives explain the role of the Black Car Fund, liability insurance, and no-fault insurance
- Clarification is provided on coverage limits per person and for different parties (drivers, passengers, pedestrians)
- The council member raises concerns about coverage for severe, long-term injuries exceeding the proposed limits
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:10:06
Now in the instance where as the commissioner used the example earlier in terms of the Times Square crash, and there were about six victims in that crash that no one anticipated happening, Do you think that $50,000 would cover the six victims sufficiently?
Geoff Berman
2:10:26
First of all, there's the black car fund, which which covers, which which provides significant coverage for death or bodily injury.
2:10:34
So we're
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:10:35
The Black Car Fund insurance covers what exactly?
Geoff Berman
2:10:38
I don't wanna speak out of term, but I, what I know is that there's a hundred thousand driver dollar driver death benefit.
2:10:46
There's illness insurance.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:10:49
There's loss of wages insurance.
2:10:50
The passenger or a pedestrian that is involved in a crash, does that insurance fund cover them?
Freddi Goldstein
2:10:58
May I I can answer this.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:11:00
Please.
Freddi Goldstein
2:11:00
The black car fund is specific to the driver, so it would not cover injured, passengers or pedestrians, but the liability insurance would.
2:11:08
So there's a hundred thousand dollars per person available from that pot of insurance.
2:11:13
And I just wanna clarify that with the PIP reduction, the $50,000 would be available per person.
2:11:18
It wouldn't be expected to cover all six through $150,000 pot.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:11:22
Which is fine.
2:11:23
But if there's a severe injury and I think back to commissioner Curry, the the commissioner for the mayor's office for people with disabilities, and her injuries that were sustained from a crash within, FHB actually, those were long and enduring impacts that she received through that crash.
2:11:44
And so the doctor's visits well exceeded $50,000.
2:11:50
So what gets activated?
2:11:52
And I would argue it goes past a hundred and 50,000.
2:11:55
So what else is in the, you know, what else is are the drivers able to to use to be able to cover this so that it doesn't kick over to someone who, you know, were was a victim in it all.
Geoff Berman
2:12:11
If if I could, in in other states, including the rest of New York state, if somebody's injured and and passes away, a passenger or a pedestrian, you know, the the cost to their to their life and their medical injuries is no different than in New York City or certainly not four times much as so.
2:12:29
And so I think the problem here is if you're requiring people to buy a level of insurance that only applies to the outlier case and requiring the other 90 some percent of people to purchase excessive coverage.
Peter Mazer
2:12:42
And if if I may add one one thing to the to this mix.
2:12:47
The $200,000 coverage in PIP is not available to pedestrians.
2:12:52
It's only available to passengers, to, motorists and other vehicles.
2:12:56
Pedestrians are limited to $50,000 in PIP coverage.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:13:00
Thank you for that clarification.
2:13:02
Even though I I am focused on all, but thank you for that clarification.
2:13:07
Does liability insurance cover riders and pedestrians when the driver is not at fault?
Peter Mazer
2:13:21
Well, I'll answer that.
2:13:22
No fault is is exactly what it says.
2:13:25
It covers everybody that's eligible to be covered we irrespective of fault.
2:13:30
So if the if you're in a a cab and the other motorist is at fault, no fault will cover you.
2:13:38
If you're a pedestrian, whichever, car was involved in, you don't have to determine who was at fault.
2:13:46
Did the car go through a red light or did this car make a turn?
2:13:49
Did this car come too close to me?
2:13:50
If you're hit, you'll be covered and it doesn't really matter.
2:13:55
It doesn't we don't assess liability.
Kathleen Collins
2:13:58
That's the
Peter Mazer
2:13:59
point of no fault.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:14:00
And the panel before this panel were a panel that included drivers, that were clear that they did not feel this would be helpful.