Do You Understand Your Auto Insurance Coverage?

Most basic auto insurance policies cover:

·         injuries that you, the policyholder, cause someone else (bodily injury liability)

·         treatment of injuries to you and passengers in your car (personal injury protection)

·         damage you may cause to someone’s property (property damage liability)

·         damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car (collision)

·         reimbursement to you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, hail, flood, vandalism, or contact with animals such as a deer. (comprehensive)

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional coverage in many states and often misunderstood or ignored by policyholders.  This coverage will reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.  Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss.  Injury Board member, Rick Shapiro, explains why uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is so important.

Most states have minimum liability limits; some states have minimum limits as low as $10,000 (my state, Michigan, has minimum liability limits of $20,000). If the defendant is otherwise uncollectable (and most are), your serious injury will be capped at the limits of the at-fault driver’s policy proceeds, as little as $10,000. If you are seriously or catastrophically injured or killed, this is seriously inadequate compensation.

Lawsuit Financial urges you to check your policy or call your agent today to determine if you have either or both of these valuable coverages. If you don’t, buy as much of this coverage as you can afford. You will be glad you did if ever find yourself the unfortunate victim of a negligent uninsured/hit & run driver or an under-insured driver.