Auto insurance » Medical Expenses

Colorado Auto Insurance Minimum Coverage Requirements

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:03:42 +0000

Are you aware of the Colorado auto insurance minimum coverage requirements? The minimum levels of auto insurance coverage requirements are set by CO lawmakers. Driving without the required insurance is a very serious matter and can result in penalties and unwanted hassle.

Bodily Injury Liability

As a Colorado driver, you must have at least $25,000 in individual bodily injury liability insurance in place. This type of insurance pays for the medical expenses of a person injured in an automobile accident where you are considered the at-fault driver. Your policy must also have a cap of at least $50,000 to pay the medical bills for two or more people injured in the same accident.

Property Damage Liability

The property damage liability portion of your policy pays for damage caused to objects, such as the other driver’s vehicle, a mailbox, a fence, or a shed. The minimum level of coverage required by law in CO is $15,000.

Please keep in mind that the minimum levels of insurance coverage set out here are just that. Drivers in Colorado do have the option of buying more coverage if they want to. Before you make a decision about what level of coverage to buy, you will need to keep in mind that if you at the at-fault driver in an accident, you will be responsible for paying for damages above your policy limits.

It makes more sense to insure your vehicle properly and not take the chance that you will have to consider tapping into your savings or liquidating your assets after an accident. Your insurance company or agent can help you to figure out how much coverage you should have in place.

Find Colorado Auto Insurance Coverage Today

Now that you know what the Colorado auto insurance minimum coverage requirements are, why don’t you get take the next step and make sure you have enough protection for your needs? Spend a few moments comparing rates from some of the top companies and you can be on your way to the best Colorado car insurance in a jiffy!

By: James J. Robinson

What Type of Car Insurance Should I Have?

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:32:52 +0000

“What type of car insurance should I have?” is a common question. Here’s a brief outline of what you should have and how to get it at the best rate possible.

What Type of Car Insurance Should I Have?

Most states require you to have a minimum amount of liability insurance, which includes:

* Bodily injury liability coverage which pays your legal fees and claims made against you when you, a family member, or someone driving your car with your permission, injures or kills other people.

* Property damage liability coverage which pays your legal fees and claims made against you when you, a family member, or someone driving your car with your permission, damages someone else’s property.

A few states also require you to have uninsured motorist coverage which pays for medical fees and property damage expenses for you, your family, and your passengers when you’re hit by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.

These two types of insurance are all you’re required to carry. However, if you’re in one of the categories below you should consider purchasing the following coverages:

If you drive a late model car – you should carry collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays to repair your car when you’re involved in an accident no matter who was at fault, and comprehensive coverage pays to repair your car when it’s been damaged by fire, vandalism, theft, or acts of nature.

To save money on collision and comprehensive coverage, get the highest deductible that you can afford to pay. Raising your deductible from $250 to $1,000 can save you up to 50% on your insurance premium.

You may also want to purchase personal injury protection coverage which pays medical expenses for you and your passengers when you’re involved in an accident. It also pays medical expenses for you and your family when you’re injured in someone else’s car or when you’re walking or riding a bicycle.

If you drive and older car – consider dropping your collision and comprehensive coverage altogether, especially if your car is worth less than the cost of your insurance plus your deductible.

If you have more than one car – insure both cars with the same company. Doing this can save you 5% to 15% on your yearly premium.

If you’re shopping for a car – buy a safe, low maintenance, low profile car, like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, to save big bucks on your auto insurance. Cars that cost a lot to repair or that are favorites of thieves cost a lot more to insure.

If you’re a teenager or a student – keep your grades up, take a driver’s education course, and keep a clean driving record to keep your rates low.

Comparison Shop to Get the Best Car Insurance Rate

Comparing rates from different companies is by far the best way to get the best rate on your car insurance.

By: Brian Stevens

NJ Auto Insurance Requirements

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:45:40 +0000

When shopping for policies, residents of the Garden State have to keep NJ auto insurance requirements in mind. This heavily populated region is subject to more accidents than a rural area and the state has specific guidelines for drivers to follow if they plan to drive in New Jersey.

There are certain documents required by the state. These include a New Jersey Insurance Identification Card. The card is issued by your car insurance company and you have to one for each vehicle that is covered under the policy. This is a very important document for drivers to keep with them when they operate their vehicles.

The New Jersey Insurance Identification Card needs to be presented in order for a vehicle to be inspected. Police will ask for the card if you are ever stopped for a traffic violation or in a spot check. This card is also required if you are involved in an accident. Failing to present the card can lead to fines.

Driving without insurance can also lead to hefty fines as well. This is a serious infraction that should not be taken lightly. Operating an vehicle that is not insured is considered a crime and it has significant ramifications including possible community service, insurance surcharges and suspended license in addition to the fines.

Minimum NJ Auto Insurance

Many people simply want enough coverage to keep them driving legally. There are three types of mandatory coverage required by the state of New Jersey. Each one is designed to protect you as a driver. They also serve to protect other drivers who may be involved in an accident.

Liability insurance pays for damage is for property. Basically, you are covered for damage that you may cause in the event of an accident. Liability does not address medical expenses. This kind of coverage simply addresses damage to property and the costs of repairing or replacing the property.

Personal injury protection pays for medical expenses if you are injured in a car accident. This kind of coverage also pays for medical bills for other people covered on your policy. This coverage is often referred to as “no fault” insurance because it pays for medical expenses if you did not cause the accident.

Although everyone should have car insurance, many people brave the roads without it. The state of New Jersey requires drivers to keep uninsured motorist coverage. This protects drivers in the event of being in an accident with another party that does not have the proper NJ auto insurance coverage.

By: James Hyder

New York Auto Insurance Policies

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:39:08 +0000

New York auto insurance policies are necessities for drivers in this state. It is very important to be cognizant of the importance of keeping your motor vehicle coverage current on a continuous basis. An updated policy is one of the most important aspects of owning a vehicle, especially in the state of New York.

The NY Department of Motor Vehicles features the Insurance Information and Enforcement System. This system, also known as IIES is designed to detect uninsured vehicles. The system is quite valuable to the state and it is also a very formidable obstacle against driving without insurance.

Those who have vehicles registered in the state of New York are required by law to report to the Department of Motor Vehicles if they have any important information about their car insurance policies. This includes cancellations, new policies and renewals for all policies.

Once the information is entered into the system’s database, the IIES tracks the insurance information for each registered vehicle. If there is a change, the IIES will be notified immediately. There is little chance of getting away with driving uninsured if you are a resident of the state of New York.

New York Auto Insurance Requirements

People who drive in this state are required to have three basic types of insurance on their vehicles’ policies. These three forms of coverage are designed to protect everyone involved in an accident, including the person who is at fault. Without this coverage, many drivers may find themselves in dire straights.

No-Fault, or Personal Injury Protection is a must in this state. This coverage pays for medical expenses and lost wages for people involved in accidents. Liability is designed to pay for damage done to property in the event of an accident. Uninsured Motorist protects you if you are involved in an accident with a person who does not have adequate insurance coverage.

With these three types of insurance, drivers have the peace of mind in knowing that they are driving legally and that they have some support if they are involved in an accident. However, it is always wise to seek more benefits in your New York auto insurance plan.

By: James Hyder

Cheap Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:32:08 +0000

Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, is home to some 13 million people. And obviously, the more people there are in a state, the more drivers there are as well. There will also be a higher demand for auto insurance policies. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state so drivers need to be extra careful when it comes to their auto insurance.

A Crash Course

Make sure that you do not insure yourself and your vehicle only for expenses that you can already afford. This is the reason why you secured a policy in the first place. They serve the purpose of covering large expenses that come as a result of vehicular mishaps, fire damages, or losses due to theft.

When it comes to the budget, this can give you a pain in the neck. You obviously want to get cheap auto insurance that covers a lot. Do not in any way misconstrue the term ?cheap auto insurance.? Such a policy in Pennsylvania does not immediately stand for less coverage benefits. You can get the best benefits while paying low premiums.

Types of Auto Insurance

1. The Full Tort System. With this policy, the aggrieved side holds all rights to file a suit against the other party. In such case, the driver has the right to take legal action and claim pain, loss, medical expenses, damages done to the car, and the like. The premiums for this category generally have higher rates.

2. The Limited Tort System. With this type of policy, the injured party is given leeway in filing for economic damages and medical expenditures. This policy, however, does not cover the claims for emotional suffering and pain. As a result, the premiums cost less.

Driving in Pennsylvania becomes much more secured when your automobile is protected by insurance. Before deciding to procure a policy, it would be wise to shop around first for auto insurance quotes from various insuring firms. Get connected with different online brokers and inquire about their auto insurance premiums and the coverage they provide.

By: Jennifer Bailey

Get a Low Cost Auto Insurance Quote in Florida

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:12:10 +0000

Looking for a low cost auto insurance quotes in Florida? Here’s how to find the best quotes with the best companies.

Florida Auto Insurance Requirements

If you own a car in the state of Florida you are required to carry auto insurance, even if your car is inoperative. The minimum amount of insurance is:

1. $10,000 Personal Injury Protection – this coverage pays for expenses due to injuries regardless of who was at fault. PIP coverage applies to you, relatives who live in your home, passengers in your car, and anyone who drives your car. You are also covered if you’re hit by a car while walking or riding a bicycle.

2. $10,000 Property Damage Liability – this coverage pays for damages you or your family cause to other people in a car crash.

If you were involved in a prior auto accident you may be required to carry Bodily Injury Liability coverage in addition to the above coverages. This coverage pays for expenses due to injury or death to others when you, or family members living with you, cause an auto accident. It also pays for legal expenses if you’re sued by the injured party.

Additional Coverage

In addition to the required auto insurance coverage you may want to get the following coverages:

* Collision coverage – pays for damages to your car by another car or an object, regardless of who was at fault.

* Comprehensive coverage – pays for damage done to your car by vandalism, theft, fire, hail, and causes other than a collision.

* Uninsured/Underinsured coverage – pays for medical expenses and property damage costs for you, your family, and your passengers when caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.

Get a Low Cost Quote

The easiest way to get a low cost Florida auto insurance quote is to comparison shop for insurance online. There are a number of sites where you can get quotes from different companies, compare quotes, then choose the best quote. Some of these sites even have a toll-free telephone number and a chat feature where you can talk with an insurance expert and get answers to you questions. (See link below.)

By: Brian Stevens

Auto Insurance

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:01:54 +0000

Auto insurance can make all of the difference in the world in the unfortunate event of an accident. Not only does it cover property damage, but auto insurance offers other protections as well.

For example, liability coverage will cover damage you cause to other vehicles in an accident, and it can also cover others’ medical expenses.

The type of policy you have will determine the dollar amount of coverage you receive in these areas. The cost of the policy will be affected by the level of protection you buy, and other factors such as your age, and driving record.

Given the importance of auto insurance, it’s a good idea to shop carefully when looking for appropriate coverage.

The policy itself is a contract that specifies your obligations, as well as the financial commitment of the insurer. The amount you pay for a set term of coverage is called the premium. Generally the premium of your auto insurance is fixed for the term of the policy barring unforeseen events, such as an accident.

State requirements for auto insurance vary from state to state and from individual to individual. Speaking to an insurance professional will help you make a decision based on your particular needs.

The premium for auto insurance is directly connected to 6 levels of coverage. These levels include comprehensive, collision, uninsured/underinsured motorist, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, and medical payments (also known as personal injury protection).

Comprehensive protection covers losses that are not a direct result of an accident. For example, comprehensive would come in handy if you sustained damage to your car due to a hailstorm.

Some drivers choose not to carry comprehensive, especially if they are driving an older vehicle of little monetary value. Also the deductible (the portion of an expense you pay out of pocket)may exceed the value of some older cars.

On the other hand, if you purchase a new car, especially with a loan, you may need to incorporate comprehensive in your policy.

Collision coverage appropriately covers your automobile in the event of a collision. This protection covers damage even if it’s determined you’re at fault in the accident. The cost of collision coverage will be affected by the deductible. Generally speaking, the higher your deductible the lower the premium for your auto insurance.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage covers you in the event that you are in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. This protects you as well as any other designated driver of your car. This coverage can be invaluable if you sustain significant injury. This type of coverage may also cover you if you are a pedestrian and a driver hits you.

Property damage liability covers damages you cause to another vehicle. It also covers damages you might cause to other property. If for example, you take out the neighbor’s fence going around a corner, property damage liability coverage will cover this.

Bodily injury liability coverage is particularly important. This helps protect you financially in the event that you cause an accident and cause injury to other people.

Medical payments coverage (personal injury protection) is a type of coverage that protects you and the occupants of your car for medical related expenses.

Auto insurance will help you and those you love if a mishap occurs. Finding the right auto insurance policy will help make your driving experience safer and more pleasurable.

For more information, see Make-Getting-Insurance-Easy.com/auto-insurance

By: David S

Auto Insurance 101

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:05:11 +0000

Auto insurance, as the term suggests, is insurance that you can purchase for your vehicle (cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, etc.). It provides protection against losses incurred as a result of vehicle accidents. While the product seems simple, there are many different types of auto insurance policies available for purchase. Depending on the policy that you choose, your coverage levels and types will vary. Broadly speaking, these are the types of auto insurance programs on the market today:

Coverage:

o ‘Comprehensive coverage’ (Comp) – This kind of insurance insures your vehicle against the cost of purchasing a new vehicle if it is stolen or destroyed in a fire.

o ‘Collision coverage’ (Coll) – This kind of insurance insures your vehicle against the cost of repairing the vehicle following an accident or the cost of purchasing a new vehicle if it is damaged in an accident beyond economic repair.

Protection:

o Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – This insures against the cost of medical expenses and lost wages related to the use, ownership or maintenance of a motor vehicle. This insurance is mandatory in some U.S. states.

o Medical Payments (MP) – insures against the cost of medical expenses for bodily injury sustained in an accident beyond any expenses that may be covered by PIP.

o Legal liability claims against the driver or owner of the vehicle following the vehicle causing damage or injury to a third party.

While ‘Liability insurance’ covers only legal liability, ‘comprehensive insurance’ covers PIP, MP, as well as legal liability. In the United States, liability insurance covers claims against the policyholder and any other operator of the insured’s vehicle. If, however, any other operators live at the same address, they must specifically be covered on the policy. For rented vehicles, most rental car companies offer insurance to cover damage to the rental vehicle.

While comprehensive insurance covers most aspects of damage which can affect the car itself or the driver, there is one risk associated with buying a new car is not covered even by comprehensive insurance – once the car is bought, there is a sharp decline in its value. During this period (immediately after a car is bought), in which the remaining car payments exceed the value of the vehicle and thus the compensation the insurer will pay for a ‘totaled’ (destroyed, or written-off) vehicle, customers may consider purchasing ‘GAP insurance’. GAP insurance was established in the early 1980’s to provide protection to consumers based on buying and market trends.

By: Chris Tolamalu

Insurance – Understanding Car Insurance

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:24:53 +0000

Buying car insurance can be a very big expense on the household budget, especially if you have teenage drivers in the family. Add in the fact that every state has different liability requirements and things can get quite confusing pretty quick. It’s good to know what is required and what everything in a car insurance policy means. So let’s take a quick look at what an auto insurance policy really is.

Liability

This is what protects you in the event you cause an accident and hurt someone else, or damage property. Every state has there own liability requirements. Be sure to check what your individual state requires. Let’s take an example of a policy with a liability limit of 100,000/300,000. The first 100,000 is the limit that the policy will pay for any one persons medical expenses. The next figure, 300,000, is the limit the policy will pay for all medical expenses for anyone in the accident.

It is important to note that liability coverage will not pay for any injuries or damage to your own vehicle.

Property Damage

This is the total amount that your insurance policy will pay for property that you damage if it is determined that you caused the damage. Generally, most policies have $100,000 as a property damage limit. You can increase that if you wish to. With the price of cars and property these days, it may be a good idea to increase that limit up to $250,000.

Comprehensive

This insurance coverage pays for damages done to your car. This includes theft, storm damage, fire and vandalism. This coverage will have a deductible attached. The rate for this insurance coverage goes down as the deductible goes up. This coverage will also be required on any loan you may have on the vehicle.

Collision

Collision coverage will pay you for damages down to your own vehicle in the event an accident is deemed to be your fault. If your vehicle is totaled out in an accident the insurance company will pay you the actual cash value of your vehicle. This could be less in some cases than what your vehicle is worth. Collision coverage is also required by finance companies on any loan against your vehicle.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage will pay you in the event of an accident that is not your fault and the other party has either no insurance coverage, or not enough insurance. No matter what the law states, there will always be those who refuse to carry insurance. That makes having this insurance coverage vitally important.

Optional Coverages

There are many different optional auto insurance coverages that you can purchase on your auto policy. Some of these include emergency road service and rental car coverage. Both of these services can be a big help to you in the event of a claim.

By understanding the various auto insurance coverages you’ll be able to determine what exactly you need for your particular situation. In the long run this will help save you money and give you peace of mind.

By: Michael Russell

Understanding Auto Insurance Jargon

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:12:31 +0000

When reading through an auto insurance policy, it can seem almost impossible to understand. This is because there are various words that we do not use in our everyday language. Actually, those words are not really used outside of the insurance industry or outside of a conversation involving insurance. If you don’t have an understanding of those words, then it can seem as if someone is speaking a foreign language to you. That is why you should learn some of the insurance jargon that is thrown around because insurance happens to be a large part of your life.

Without insurance, you do not have any type of protection in case you are in a car accident. If you don’t have protection, then you can be sued. Being sued means you’ll have to pay for any damages sustained in an accident if the accident was your fault. Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, you still have to worry about your medical bills, replacing your car and the medical expenses of anyone in the car with you. This in itself makes it obvious why auto insurance is a necessity. Luckily, states mandate that people must have a minimum amount of auto insurance.

Basic terms

There are really only five basic terms that you need to know when talking about car insurance. Those terms are:

- Liability coverage
- Physical damage coverage
- Medical coverage
- Emergency assistance coverage
- Unattached equipment coverage

A few of these may look a bit familiar to you, but there are a couple of them may not. We frequently hear the terms liability coverage, physical damage coverage, and medical coverage when talking about car insurance and reading our policies. What we don’t hear much of is emergency assistance coverage and unattached equipment coverage. These are, of course, not as important as the other aspects of your coverage, but that does not mean that they should be ignored since they are great add-ons to your policy.

The most common of the terms you will hear is liability coverage. Liability coverage is the part of your policy that covers damages caused by you in the case of an accident. You should always make sure this coverage is enough to cover damages. If not, then you may have to pay an out of pocket expense to the person who was the victim in the crash. Medical coverage covers you and any passengers within your vehicle as a result of a crash. Physical damage coverage will help you repair or replace your vehicle.

As for the two terms that are a bit different, emergency assistance coverage is like a type of roadside assistance. Adding this to your plan provides you with tow service so that you’re not stranded on a highway in unfamiliar territory. Lastly, unattached equipment coverage provides coverage for that equipment that is not a permanent attachment to your car. That may include something such as a satellite radio system. If you have expensive attachments on your car, you want to make sure that you insure those as well so that you don’t have to pay for their replacement or can have those items repaired by your insurance.

Having an understanding

Knowing these terms is the first step in understanding some of the confusing but important terms that you will see and hear. If you don’t understand them, you cannot understand what type of home and car insurance coverage you have or even how it works. Knowing how it works helps you determine if what you have is adequate enough for your particular needs.

By: Amy Nutt