Choosing A Car Accident Insurance Policy

by: Mark Dacanay

Everyone who drives a car needs car accident insurance policy. In most states, it is actually required by law. The problem arises with what kind of car accident insurance policy you should get.

Car accident insurance policy is based on different factors like age, gender, model of car and of course the type of coverage you are looking for.

Before deciding on a car accident insurance policy, the first thing you need to find out is what coverage you need. Some of the coverage may be required by law while others are optional.

Here are some basic types of coverage you can get:

• Liability – This covers the expenses for injuries and property damages other people sustained after an accident including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. It also pays for damages to property and to the vehicle. This will only cover those costs if you are at fault

• Collision – Pays for damages to your car that is caused by a collision with another vehicle or object.

• Comprehensive – Pays for loss or damage that is not a result of a car accident. This includes loss as a result of fire, flood, vandalism or theft.

• Medical Coverage – Pays for your medical expenses regardless of who is at fault as long as injuries are caused by a car accident.

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Required by some states, it pays for the medical expenses of the insured driver for injuries that are caused by a car accident.

• Uninsured Motorist – Pays for the damages to your car if the one at fault has no liability insurance.

• Underinsured Motorist – Pays for the damages to your car if the one at fault has insufficient liability insurance.

• Rental Reimbursement – Pays for the damages to a rented car that was a result of a car accident.

After you understood the types of coverage, you can consider these factors to decide what kind of car accident insurance policy you need.

• Know your state laws – Know what car accident insurance coverage is required in the state you live in. For the record, 47 out of the 50 states require all drivers to have liability insurance and fifteen states require all drivers to also buy PIP.

• Know your options – Know what type of coverage you need. That is the key to choosing the right car accident insurance policy.

• Know how much are you able to spend on insurance – After you examined what is required by law and your actual insurance needs, the first thing you need is liability coverage. It is not recommended to purchase the minimum coverage because if you are the cause of a car accident, it might be insufficient. For the other types of coverage, examine how much more can you spend for insurance after getting sufficient liability coverage.

• Know your car – Ask yourself, if your car was totaled or was stolen, will you be able to replace it? If not, then you may need comprehensive and collision coverage.

• Know about your other Insurance – A lot of people do not realize that other types of insurance like health and homeowner’s insurance may cover damages caused by car accidents.