The 219th legislative session ended at midnight on Jan. 10, 2022. The session was extremely productive for insurance consumers and the victims of accidents. The new bills passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor included the following:

  1. S-1559/A-1659, which provides a cause of action for bad faith in the delay and denial of uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.
  1. S-4251/A-6133, which allows certain persons not yet appointed as administrator of an estate to file a lawsuit for damages under the Wrongful Death Act.
  1. S-4233/A-6229, which limits fees charged to patients and authorized third parties for copies of medical and billing records.
  1. S-771/A6195, which expands Workers' Compensation coverage to parking areas provided by an employer.
  1. S-1559/A3444, which requires automobile insurers to disclose policy limits of automobile insurance and umbrella policies.
  1. S-2300/A-3999, which creates a rebuttable presumption that an essential worker who contracts COVID at workplace is eligible for Worker's Compensation benefits.
  1. S-2732/A-4134, which clarifies the effective date of the "Hand and Foot" bill.

The 220th legislative session started at noon on Jan. 11, 2022. There are still many areas in which the automobile insurance laws can be amended to protect the legal rights of accident victims. I suggest that the Legislature consider the following, as a start.

First: Policy Limits

The State of New Jersey adopted its compulsory automobile insurance laws in 1972. The laws require the owner of every automobile requested in the state to maintain liability insurance for bodily injury in the minimum amount of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. N.J.S.A. 39:6A-3. In addition, the insurance laws require every automobile liability policy to include uninsured motorist coverage of $15/30,000. N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1.