Unsurprisingly, our smartphones are the most common of driving distractions. From reading and sending texts to looking up directions, many drivers divide their attention between their driving and their cellphone – often, unsuccessfully.
An accident can leave your head spinning, no matter how minor it is. The actions that you take in the moments following a collision are important for ensuring that the situation is resolved as quickly and as soon as possible. In some cases, filing a police report is an essential part of settling a claim, especially if you or the other driver will be seeking compensation for damage to a vehicle.
Debunking Common Auto Insurance Myths. The auto insurance industry can be confusing, and a lot of misinformation gets passed around. Not only can this make it difficult to understand your insurance coverage, but it can also end up costing you money.
Knowing when to file a claim and understanding how it could affect your monthly premium is essential in making the best decision in the event of an accident.
This also applies to damage that occurs after the accident. While you may consider the damage from the accident and the damage from the tow truck to be all one incident, your insurer will view it differently.
If your friend was hit by an insured driver, the process will be simple enough. The at-fault driver will file a claim with their insurance company, who will pay to get your vehicle back to pre-accident condition. If the collision was bad enough to cause an injury, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance could also cover medical bills, lost wages and any other expenses associated with the accident.
While vehicles are safer than ever and roadways are engineered to prevent accidents, the fact is that traffic fatalities claim thousands of lives per year. Despite arguments that the majority of posted speed limits are outdated, and unrealistic, numerous crash tests show that higher speeds greatly increase a driver’s risk of serious injury or even death.
No one wants to be victims of property damage resulting from rioting, and fortunately, auto insurance companies already have provisions for this risk in their coverage options. In fact, there is no need to purchase separate riot, vandalism and civil commotion coverage; if you have comprehensive auto insurance, you most likely have this coverage.
Do you have car damage that needs to be repaired or parts that need to be replaced? You may assume that the repairs will be done using OEM parts, which means “Original Equipment Manufacturer”, but this isn’t always the case so make sure to review the coverages you have in your auto insurance policy.
Gap insurance is optional auto insurance coverage that covers the difference between the actual cash value (ACV) and the amount owed on the loan of your car if your car is totaled or stolen. Standard auto insurance covers the current depreciated value of your car.