Car Insurance Pitfalls to Avoid

Car Insurance Pitfalls to Avoid

In today’s technology driven world, you might assume that most consumers would be educated when it comes to auto insurance, but it appears that such is not the case. In fact, many consumers begin looking for product information after making this important purchase rather than before.

Liability limits

Many agents will offer reduced limits in order to offer a low price. Don’t fall for it! Bodily Injury Liability (BI) is what pays for the other driver’s injuries if you are in an at-fault accident. 25/50 won’t cut it, especially if more than one person is injured or worse yet – killed. What most consumers do not realize is the savings for these lower limits is not that significant. Every driver should carry at least 50/100 or better yet 100/300. In today’s economy it is very easy to rack up more than $25,000 in medical expenses after a visit to the emergency room or short hospital stay. When you consider all the tests you’ll be subjected to and bills from three different specialists, the final bill can become staggering. One should also consider that you could be charged with an at-fault accident when it really is not your fault – like hitting someone from behind when they slam on breaks to miss a squirrel!

Property Damage Liability

Car Insurance Pitfalls to AvoidThe same advice applies with this coverage as well. Property Damage Liability (PD) is what pays when you hit someone’s vehicle or other property. $25,000 won’t cut it! Most vehicles on the road today cost much more than $25k and what happens if you hit 3 of them? In Florida the required minimum is $10k. There are bicycles out there that cost $10k! Think about this for just a minute – you lose control of your car on a back road in Florida and take out 3 mature orange trees. That tree owner is going to want the price of replacing those trees plus the value of the oranges they would have produced over their lifetime. As another example, imagine you manage to crash into a nice lady driving an expensive rental car. Your policy has to pay to repair the damage to the car AND LOSS OF RENTAL INCOME WHILE THE CAR IS UNDER REPAIR! If you have $10k or $25k limits, you will most likely be paying out of pocket.

Uninsured/Under insured Motorist Coverage

This very important coverage happens to be an optional coverage. It will pay for injuries to you or damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured or under insured driver. When you consider the minimum limit requirement in most states, and the inability of the state to track insurance for every driver, your chances of being hit by an uninsured or under insured are a compelling reason to purchase this coverage. Also, in most cases, a personal injury attorney will not accept your case on a contingency if you do not have this coverage.

Buying insufficient insurance coverage to save a little money on your monthly payment will in most cases come back to haunt you and your family. It is every vehicle owner’s responsibility to make certain that their insurance policy will respond favorably when a simple error results in unintentional property damage and injuries. For an honest assessment of your existing auto insurance policy don’t hesitate to contact us.

What Does an Auto Insurance Policy Cover

What Does an Auto Insurance Policy Cover?

What Does an Auto Insurance Policy CoverIn every U.S. state, if you own a vehicle, you must purchase liability insurance that will pay for injury expenses and property damage expenses if you are in an at-fault accident. The state where you reside will also set minimum acceptable limits. More often than not, these minimum limits fall short of being practical and the vehicle owner can be at risk of paying out of pocket in the event of a moderate to serious loss. Personal auto insurance is written as a package policy which can be built based on the consumer’s needs.

Bodily Injury Liability

This is part of the mandatory coverage required in each state. The coverage pays for injuries caused by the at-fault driver up to the limits selected. Most states have low minimums which can fall short of being practical. The suggested amount to carry is $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. The limits are listed and spoken about as 25/50, 50/100 or 100/300 as recommended.

Property Damage Liability

This is also part of a state’s mandatory coverage. Most states require only $25,000 which will fall short if your at-fault accident involves a more expensive vehicle or if the accident involves more than one vehicle. The suggested amount to carry is $100,000.
This coverage limit is the 3rd number listed such as 100/300/100.

Personal Injury Protection

This coverage is only offered in states that have some type of “No-Fault” law. It is designed to pay up to the limit of the policy for the insured’s injuries no matter who is at fault in the accident.

Uninsured/Under insured Liability

This is an optional coverage offered to protect the not at-fault driver if the at-fault driver is uninsured or under insured (carries a lower limit policy). In many states it can be purchased for bodily injury and property damage.

Medical Payments

What Does an Auto Insurance Policy CoverThis is also an optional coverage but should be purchased by every driver. This coverage acts as an “accident insurance policy” that pays up to the limit if you or any other occupant of your car is injured in an accident. The limit applies per person, not per accident. It is often used to fill the gaps created by deductibles and copays.

Comprehensive & Collision Coverage

Although considered optional, if your vehicle is financed, the lender will require this coverage since it is designed to cover the vehicle which is used as collateral for the loan. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle that was caused by an event other than a crash such as theft, vandalism or hitting an animal. Collision coverage pays for the cost of repairs as a result of an accident with another vehicle.

Other Optional Coverages

Other optional coverages to consider are roadside service reimbursement and rental reimbursement.

When considering your purchase of an auto insurance package that is right for you, ask the agent as many “what-if” questions as you can think of to give yourself the opportunity to protect yourself and your vehicle adequately. We will be glad to assist you in analyzing your auto insurance coverage and see if it is covering all the “what ifs” adequately.