Written on Aug 19, 2015 10:00:00 AM
5 Questions to Ask About Your Car Insurance Coverage in Florida
Topics: auto accident, personal injury, car insurance
Buying car insurance may seem like a large oversight and an annoyance, but it doesn’t have to be! Car insurance is, by design, made to protect you and your family against drivers and elements that can cause you harm while on the road. Choosing the right personal injury protection and coverage varies for everyone—but do you know what questions to ask?
From property damage to bodily injury liability, it’s important that you wise up to coverage mandated by your state. In Florida, you must have personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage on your auto insurance policy; it’s required.
If you have a vehicle, chances are, you’ve had to purchase car insurance for it. When you renew your auto insurance policy, make sure you think about these key questions while reviewing your coverage.
Questions to Ask About Your Car Insurance Coverage
#1: Do You Have Bodily Injury Liability?
While it’s not mandatory to have in all states, it is imperative that you have bodily injury liability coverage on your policy. This covers costs associated with a car crash that you caused, including the other person’s injuries and damages. If you have assets you wish to keep, it would be wise to keep this high, as it will avoid any extended legal ramifications in case a lawsuit happens.
#2: Are You a High Risk to Insure?
Wondering why your costs may be high for your car insurance policy? It may be because of the “risk” you pose to the company, or the likelihood of making a claim. Generally, this can include the elderly, teens (males in particular), or high-risk zip codes. Do your due diligence and shop around to see who will offer you the best rate.
#3: What is Their Customer Service Like?
Does your insurance company have 24 hour claims service? Is there a toll-free number and ability to file a claim online? How about emergency roadside service that is also 24/7? These are important questions to ask to get a feel for how your insurance company will handle your claim in the event of an accident or roadside problem. If you can’t count on them in your time of need, then why do you have a policy with them?
#4: What are Your Deductibles?
Do you have $1,000 or $500 deductibles? This can affect you when a car accident happens and your car is out of commission. Sometimes, circumstances warrant you having to pay your deductible up-front before repairs can occur, even if the accident wasn’t your fault. Think about whether it’s worthwhile to have your policy be cheaper with a higher deductible, or vice versa.
#5: Do You Have Enough Coverage to Protect Your Family?
Coverages such as uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can cover costs associated with everyone in the vehicle at the time of impact. If the driver that hit you was uninsured, your UM acts as proxy coverage to help your family with injuries and car expenses. It’s an unfortunate reality that many drivers are uninsured in Florida.
The Takeaway
If nothing else, ensure you have enough coverage to protect you and your family. It’s not worth cutting corners on insurance premiums to sacrifice adequate care for your children or spouse. While we can’t give you specific advice on your policy, we can speak from experience, and many who have been in accidents wished they would have shelled out a little extra money to protect themselves.
If you have general questions about how a claim would work with your policy, make sure you contact a licensed insurance agent or a qualified personal injury attorney in your area.