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AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
We all think that auto insurance is to pay for damages to our vehicle, and it is, but the more important reason to have insurance is to protect you in event of a lawsuit due to an accident. Your assets can be taken and even future wages can be attached in a serious claim with bodily injury.
How much coverage do you need?
There is never enough coverage. If you have an accident with a school bus, for example, and many children are permanently injured you can’t have enough coverage. You should obtain coverage amounts at least in excess of your assets and amount of income expected. You can also obtain an excess liability policy, also called an umbrella liability policy, for amounts of $1,000,000 and up which pays in addition to the coverage on the auto policy. For example if you have an auto policy with $500,000 per person bodily injury coverage and an excess liability policy for $1,000,000 you have a total of $1,500,000 coverage.
Bodily injury coverage is for what you do to someone in another car. If you hurt them this is bodily injury. This is usually the most severe damage to cover. If the other party is paralyzed or has other serious injury, for example, the amount of coverage can be used up rather quickly.
Property damage coverage is for the property damage you do. For example, you hit an expensive car doing severe damage to it and then end up doing damage to a building. All of this is covered under the property damage part of the coverage.
Medical payments is a coverage for you and/or your passengers. This is a “no fault” coverage meaning this coverage amount is paid to take care of immediate bills regardless of your negligence. This is paid before any health insurance pays. If the medical bills are more than the medical payments coverage amount, the claim will go to the bodily injury portion of the policy.
Other Than Collision or Comprehensive coverage is for things that happen to your vehicle that are not a collision. This is fire, theft, windshield or glass breakage, hail, hitting an animal on roadway, etc. This is for your physical damage to your vehicle. You pick a deductible for this coverage or decide not to have it.
Collision coverage is for physical damage to your own vehicle by striking an object. If you hit another car, a tree or something else, this is a collision claim. You pick a deductible or decide not to have this coverage.
Towing or Road Service pays for your vehicle to be towed, lockout, etc. This is an optional coverage.
Rental Car Reimbursement covers your expense to have a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop being fixed due to a covered claim or waiting 30 days in case your vehicle is stolen. This is an optional coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist covers you for YOUR injuries caused by a driver with no insurance or insurance in amounts less than what you cover for bodily injury.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage covers your vehicle’s collision if hit by a driver without insurance, subject to a $250 deductible and if you have no collision coverage on your vehicle.
The staff at Datweiler Insurance is most happy to discuss your auto insurance questions and find the coverages to best fit your needs.
