Posts Tagged ‘Personal Injury Protection’

What types of coverage you really need November 11th, 2011

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If you’ve been driving a car for quite some time and took the job of learning about vehicle insurance more than just the procedure of renewing the policy you probably know that there are different types of coverage delivered with each policy a vehicle owner can purchase. And depending on the types of coverage and the exact amounts chosen the policy can be affordable, reasonably priced or expensive as hell. So, it’s evident that knowing what types of coverage are really necessary and which are not is very important. Let’s take a closer look at what your policy may carry.

The first and foremost element of any insurance policy is the third party liability coverage. Comprised of bodily injury and property damage coverage, third party liability is actually the only coverage type that is required by law. Each state has minimum requirements on the amount of property damage and bodily injury the policy should carry and it’s up to the buyer to set the maximum he or she can afford. Third party liability pays out in case of an accident cause by the policy owner and is used to cover the damage and injuries inflicted to the other party involved in the accident.

Collision and comprehensive coverage are two separate coverage types often bundled into one offer. These are one of the most popular coverage options due to their practical use. Collision coverage pays out for the damage inflicted to your car due to a collision with an auto or an object. Comprehensive coverage pays for various types of damage such as fire, theft, vandalism, natural disasters and so on. So anyone who’s looking for extended coverage on their vehicle will definitely benefit from having these included. Besides, when taking an auto loan you’ll be required to include comprehensive and collision coverage to your policy as part of your contract.

Personal injury protection might be a good option to consider if you have plenty of money to spend on auto insurance. This coverage option pays for the injuries taken by you or your passengers while you’re driving the insured vehicle no matter who is at fault in the accident. It partially acts as your health insurance plan only that it’s limited only to injuries inflicted while you’re in the covered car. Usually this coverage option is only chosen by people who have a good budget for auto insurance. Otherwise you don’t really need it since your health insurance plan will still cover you medical bills if you have one.

Uninsured or under-insured motorist coverage might be a very attractive option for those who drive in places with a lot of car owners without sufficient or any car insurance. In case of an accident caused by such a driver you normally don’t get any coverage since the other party doesn’t have the necessary third party liability insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage acts as the other party’s insurance policy and settles the bodily injury and property damage portion. Sure, it’s a very attractive feature for drivers who spend a lot of time on the road, however it comes for a price and isn’t really necessary for those who drive not as often.

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Auto Insurance Understood July 31st, 2010

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Insurance is considered one of the most complicated tasks.

People do not try to understand the working procedure behind it and that is why, on face, it looks thorny. However, if one starts from the basics, the clouds can be removed. If you are worried about auto insurance for your car and do not know how to get started then here is help.

It is better to what types of coverage are available for you before you look for any automobile insurance provider.

Every driver must own auto insurance because most of the states have made it mandatory. The insurance policy is decided on certain factors including what kind of automobile you have and what kind of benefits you are looking for.

The first kind of coverage is called the Liability. This is used for paying off the accidental injuries along with property damages to others involved.

The injury damages covered by this policy comprise pain, suffering, lost wages and medical expenses.

The property damages refer to the damaged automobiles and property. It also covers the court costs, if any.

Your state law decides the minimum liability coverage you must have.

Second is the collision auto insurance coverage. It covers the amount for your vehicle’s damages caused to collision with any object or vehicle. Third one is the comprehensive insurance policy.

It is used to cover the amount of the damage or loss of your vehicle in an automobile accident. The kinds of damages covered are losses caused due to theft, vandalism, flood, hail, wind and fire. Next type of auto insurance coverage is the medical coverage.

It is used to pay for the medical expenses irrespective of who is at fault, in case of an auto accident.

Another kind of auto insurance coverage available for you is the PIP. It refers to the personal injury protection that is compulsory in some states.

This kind of coverage covers the amount of medical expenses for the driver, again, irrespective of the fault. Uninsured motorist is another type of coverage that covers the damages of your vehicle hit in an auto accident, caused by a driver without liability insurance.

Under insured motorist is that kind of auto insurance coverage that covers the amount of damages of your vehicle when a driver without sufficient liability insurance is involved in an auto accident. Rental reimbursement is the last type of coverage that pays off for the damages of a rental car damaged in an auto accident.

In most cases, you have to pay allowance on daily basis for the rental car.

You can also find auto insurance policies that are a combination of two or more types of coverage. Before you choose any of the above coverage, you should first understand the laws of your state.

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Why liability auto insurance is mandatory in most US states April 22nd, 2010

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Looking around the US, all but three states mandate drivers to carry liability insurance. Some states have no-fault schemes. Others add in a requirement to buy a personal injury protection policy. As the healthcare reform bill was signed into law, many asked whether all insurance mandates were unconstitutional. This is a fun debating topic which sounds possible but will get nowhere. States have always had the right to impose conditions on people’s voluntary activities. If you want to drive, you have to carry liability insurance to pay compensation to anyone else you may injure. A more interesting question is the amount of the minimum requirements imposed by your state’s lawmakers.

Most of these minimums have not been changed for thirty and more years. For example, in 1972, Maryland set $20,000 for a person injured subject to a maximum of $40,000 for losses arising out of a single traffic accident. This was intended to cover medical treatment, loss of earnings while recovering, and so on. In 1972, the average annual salary was $12,000 and most hospitals charged no more than a few hundred dollars for treatment. Most new vehicles cost less than $4,000 to put on the road. You could easily buy a new home for less than $30,000. Looking back now, you wonder how we managed on so little money. Prices have risen fast for medical treatment. Injure the wrong person and the claim against you for loss of earnings is going to be frightening. Why should this matter?The liability coverage only pays out the minimum. You get to pick up the bill for all the other losses. So any savings or property you have may be taken to satisfy a judgment against you.

Should states increase their minimums? Many are thinking about doing so, but the politics of actually making new laws is difficult. During the recession, people are under financial pressure. Forcing them to spend more on vehicle insurance is not going to be popular among the poorer sections of the electorate. For the middle classes, there is the option to buy more coverage including an uninsured and underinsured policy. This is the American way. Those who have money can use it to protect themselves against losses. Those who are poor must take life as it comes.

In Maryland, the legislators have just increased the minimums to $30,000/60,000. This is curiously unreal. An increase to match the rate of inflation since 1972 should make the minimums $100,000/200,000. But, the political situation does not permit the lawmakers to restore the value of the minimums overnight. The answer was annual increases to inflation-proof the amounts. We would have arrived at $100,000 without anyone being too upset about it. But we have grown used to accepting the cheapest solutions even though millions of people across America actually lose money because of it.

Why millions of people? These are all the victims of bad driving who never recover anything more than the minimums and suffer major financial losses as a result. This is injustice on a massive scale. And it will never be cured because it would cost too much to make the necessary increases. The only people who come out of this smiling are the investors in the auto insurance industry. Their profits and dividends have been rising steadily despite the recession. To protect yourself, always get auto insurance quotes from this site to find the most affordable coverage. Insurance may be mandated but you don’t have to pay excessive premiums.

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Hawaii Auto Insurance April 4th, 2010

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According to a Honolulu Star Advertiser article, Hawaii occupies the seventh lowest position for auto insurance rates among all US states. So, getting the right Hawaii auto insurance can be an easy task, provided you know the state’s minimum liability coverage requirements, its insurance laws and regulations, and the coverage options that companies provide

Hawaii Auto Insurance: Laws and Regulations

Here is a peek into Hawaii auto insurance laws and regulations, and the coverage options that companies provide:

* Hawaii’s no-fault system: Hawaii uses the no-fault system of insurance, where the insurance company has to pay for the expenses arising from an accident, irrespective of who was at fault. This is in contrast to the tort system, where the driver who is at fault is responsible for paying the medical expenses and property damages resulting from an accident. The no-fault system helps reduce auto insurance fraud.

* Penalty for inadequate coverage: In Hawaii, different counties have separate departments for vehicle registration. However, those who do not have proper insurance coverage are penalized. While renewing vehicle registration, users have to show their inspection sticker. To obtain inspection, the proof of insurance is required; and not having this disqualifies one from having their vehicle inspected. This delays registration renewal, and not renewing before the expiry date attracts penalties.

* Liability coverage requirements: All registered vehicles in Hawaii must carry liability insurance that covers bodily injuries and property damage. While the minimum coverage for bodily injuries for a person in an accident is ,000, the coverage amount for property damage is ,000. The personal injury protection coverage for motorists helps pay for the medical or funeral expenses of drivers and passengers involved in the accident.

Besides the mandatory bodily injury liability and property damages coverage, insurance companies in Hawaii also offer:

* Comprehensive coverage that offers protection from unforeseen mishaps, such as the theft or destruction of your car, whether in fire, cyclone or earthquake. It offers refunds for car repair or part replacements up to the coverage limit.

* Medical coverage covers the medical expenses for the persons traveling in your car (other than the names mentioned in your liability policy) during the time of the accident.

* Underinsured and uninsured coverage protects you from financial losses in cases where an accident is caused by another person with no insurance coverage, or when someone hits your vehicle and flees.

Similarly, collision coverage pays for the repair and replacement costs of a car that is completely destroyed in an accident. You can also obtain rental car insurance while at Hawaii.

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