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What type of car insurance coverage should I have?

After spending over 35 years helping car accident victims after accidents to seek compensation for their injuries, attorney Charlie Contrada has seen some unfortunate outcomes for individuals simply because of the car insurance coverage they had. The outcome of certain injury cases was significantly affected by one simple line item on a car insurance policy, so in an attempt to prevent future car accident victims from suffering financially, Contrada & Associates is providing a comprehensive review of the different components included in a car insurance policy, from a car accident attorney’s point of view.

Different Types of Car Insurance Coverage

Below you will find a list of the general components of a car insurance policy. Attorney Charlie Contrada hopes that by sharing insight into the importance of having full coverage, including the various auto insurance components, will help drivers and passengers to be more prepared in the event of a car accident.

  • Liability Coverage – If you are the driver who is deemed at fault in an accident, liability coverage will cover the damages to the other person(s) involved in the crash. This is a basic type of insurance coverage and is mandated in every state. Liability coverage helps you to pay the damages that the injured individuals of the accident require as well as damages to property. There are, however, different limits set to each component of liability coverage, making it extremely important to review with your insurance agent to ensure that you will be financially able to pay damages in the event that you cause an accident. Liability coverage does not pay for damages to your own property or costs for your own injuries.
  • Medical Payments Coverage – This coverage, also referred to as medical expense coverage, can help you to cover medical expenses incurred by you, as well as your passengers or family members in an insured vehicle. Medical payments coverage does not depend on who is at fault in the accident. It can help you to cover your co-pays and deductibles, and can be extended to passengers when health insurance cannot cover it. This is also special in that it can cover you or a family member who is injured in another car or as a pedestrian.
  • Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage – If you’re in an accident and the other driver is at fault, but they don’t have car insurance, Uninsured motorist coverage will act as if they insured the at-fault driver. Underinsured motorist coverage can also be utilized if a driver does have insurance, but not enough to cover your claim. In attorney Charlie Contrada’s opinion, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage is the most important coverage to protect you and your family.
  • Collision Coverage – This type of car insurance coverage will cover the cost to fix or replace your car if it is damaged in an accident. It not only helps if you hit a moving or stationary object, but also if someone hits your car while it is parked. There is a deductible associated with collision coverage, requiring you to pay out a certain amount until it is covered by the insurance company. The older your vehicle, the less you may need collision coverage.
  • Comprehensive Coverage – Not all vehicle damages are from accidents. Comprehensive coverage protects you if your car is damaged due to severe weather, vandalism, falling objects, broken windows, and even damage from an animal. This coverage also comes with a deductible and the amount depends on how much your vehicle is worth, as well as how much you’re willing to spend for coverage.
  • Towing & Rental Coverage – This type of car insurance is unique in that it doesn’t help pay medical bills or property damage, but it does help you to transport your vehicle after an accident, as well as cover rental costs of another vehicle. This insurance can also be utilized during times of need, for example if the other individual’s insurance company has not moved forward with the process, but your need for a vehicle to drive is immediate. Towing insurance is on a “per incident” basis so you have an allotted amount of coverage for the times that it is needed. Rental car insurance usually has a limit of time or amount of money that is covered. It is important to review with your agent to understand your policy coverage.

Purchasing Car Insurance Coverage

As an attorney who has seen how many car accident victims must cover their own expenses, attorney Charlie Contrada finds it extremely important for motorists to review their car insurance policy face-to-face with an agent. Shopping by price is not recommended as it is likely that the coverage purchased will keep a driver legal, but not protected in the event that they are actually involved in an accident.

Attorney Charlie Contrada believes that the advertisements for car insurance on television are misleading. Too many drivers are shopping by price, making a few clicks online during the process, and not even discussing their options with an insurance agent. If you would like more guidance regarding the type of car insurance coverage you should purchase, call attorney Charlie Contrada at 419.841.4000 for advice that will protect you and your family.

 

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Attorney Charlie Contrada has been practicing law since 1979, focusing his career on personal injury, car accident, and mesothelioma cases. Over the years, Charlie has helped thousands of clients throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to receive the settlements that they deserve.

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