Statutory Text
§ 1714. Ineligible claimants.
An owner of a currently registered motor vehicle who does not have financial responsibility or an operator or occupant of a recreational vehicle not intended for highway use, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, motorized pedalcycle or like type vehicle required to be registered under this title cannot recover first party benefits.
Definition of Key Terms:
First Party Benefits
These are benefits that a person receives from their own auto insurance company regardless of which party is at fault during an automobile accident.
Importance of Section 1714 for Pennsylvanian Drivers:
This section is critical to Pennsylvanian drivers as it emphasizes the need for financial responsibility. An absence of requisite insurance could preclude the recovery of first-party benefits in the event of an accident.
Significance of Section 1714 for Pennsylvania Attorneys:
For attorneys, this section is integral as it outlines who can and cannot file for claims. It serves as a guiding beacon during litigation proceedings, ensuring that attorneys can effectively advise their clients about claim eligibility based on their insurance status and vehicle type.
Advanced Analysis:
The language of section 1714 is restrictive, emphasizing non-recovery of first-party benefits for certain category of owners, occupants and operators. The phrase "does not have financial responsibility" underscores the importance of having insurance coverage.
The specific inclusion of "recreational vehicle not intended for highway use, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, motorized pedal cycle or like type vehicle required to be registered under this title" is particularly interesting, as it broadens the scope of ineligible claimants from just car or truck drivers to other types of vehicle operators as well.
Furthermore, the reference to section 1713 in this segment serves to underline prohibition of certain drivers from claiming medical benefits, income loss benefits, or accidental death benefits. It impacts not just the direct victims, but also the indirect victims or any third-party victims.
Section 1714 espouses a didactic and cautionary tone, aimed at all drivers in Pennsylvania to undertake financial responsibility. The specific language use, orientation of defined phrases and context of law signifies the seriousness of owning a vehicle and the risks and responsibilities that come with it.
The analysis reveals its fundamental objective - persuading vehicle owners/operators to possess financial safeguards, thus making it essential to understand the gravity and importance of Section 1714 in Pennsylvania's Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (MVFRL).
