Mississippi House Bill HB1327

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Automobile liability insurance; provide motorists noncompliant with may not recover loss in accident with compliant.

Impact

If enacted, this bill would significantly impact how liability is determined in motor vehicle accidents involving uninsured drivers. By establishing that noncompliant motorists cannot collect damages, the law aims to create a financial incentive for drivers to maintain required liability insurance. This could potentially lead to a decrease in the number of uninsured drivers on the roads, thereby resulting in fewer accidents and reduced insurance costs for compliant drivers. Furthermore, it could ease the financial burden on the insurance system by limiting claims from high-risk drivers.

Summary

House Bill 1327 addresses the rights of motorists who do not comply with the Mississippi Motor Vehicle Safety-Responsibility Law. Specifically, the bill stipulates that noncompliant motorists, which includes uninsured drivers, waive their right to recover economic or noneconomic losses from individuals who are in compliance with the law in the event of an accident. This legislation seeks to incentivize responsible insurance practices and hold uninsured drivers to higher accountability for their actions on the road.

Contention

The bill is not without contention, as it introduces potential challenges regarding fairness in the legal recourse available to accident victims. Critics argue that this legislation may disproportionately affect financially vulnerable individuals who struggle to maintain proper insurance coverage. Additionally, concerns are raised about cases where accidents are caused by compliant drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In such cases, the bill's provisions might limit the ability of passengers in noncompliant vehicles to seek compensation for their losses, which some view as an unfair penalty for being in a vehicle with an uninsured driver.