A New Jersey appeals court ruled Thursday that injured motorists who opted for the $15,000 minimum in personal-injury-protection benefits in their insurance policies may recover medical expenses exceeding that amount.

In a published ruling, the three-judge Appellate Division panel said the statutes limiting PIP recovery apply only to copayments and deductibles.

“We are satisfied the language references the litigation of minor medical expenses, such as copayments and deductibles … not all medical expenses,” said Appellate Division Judge Amy O'Connor in two consolidated cases, Haines v. Taft and Little v. Nishimura.