Despite the circumstances, whether a person is at fault or not, they must always call their insurance company if they are involved in an accident. Whether the vehicle was found damaged while parked or in any other unfortunate incident, the individual must immediately contact their insurance company.
Why Must They Contact Their Insurance Company?
The insurance company needs to keep records of any accidents concerning the vehicle as it uses this to adjust premiums. In most cases, the insurance company may include a coverage policy that could be used to the person's advantage.
There are six common types of coverage options that are available on each insurance policy. People should know that some of these options can be a contingency for legal driving, depending on the state in which they reside.
Here are some of the common types of coverage options available to drivers around the country:
● Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
● Auto liability coverage
● Comprehensive coverage
● Collision coverage
● Personal injury protection
● Medical payment coverage
Auto Liability Coverage
The driver's auto-liability coverage policy generally covers any damages to a third party. This policy also covers property damages or potential injuries caused by the guilty party.
It is mandatory coverage and the minimum amount of car insurance a driver must have to be on the road legally.
Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage covers expenses if a driver is at fault and doesn't have enough coverage to settle the compensation. It is crucial to have this sort of policy when the accident is not the individual's fault.
However, the policy does come at an additional expense, so people need to put that into consideration.
Comprehensive Coverage
While comprehensive coverage is not mandatory, it compensates people for damages provoked by other circumstances besides a car crash. The person is protected against any naturally occurring hazard, theft, and fire with the comprehensive coverage policy.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage compensates individuals for damages sustained to their car if they were at fault for the accident.
Medical Payment Coverage
Medical Expense Coverage or MedPay is an additional insurance coverage made to cover medical expenses from car accident injuries. In most cases, MedPay covers several health insurance deductibles such as ambulance, emergency medical technician fees, and other costs related to medical emergencies.
Personal Injury Protection
Personal Injury Protection or PIP covers all health care and medical expenses for the passengers and driver in case of injuries caused by an automobile accident.
No-Fault Vs. At-Fault States
In layman's terms, no-fault means that an individual is not responsible for causing an accident, while at-fault implies that the person is accountable. This factor determines whether an insurance company is responsible for a payout or not.
Here is the list of the states that are all no-fault states:
● Michigan
● Florida
● New York
● New Jersey
● Kentucky
● Pennsylvania
● Hawaii
● Massachusetts
● Minnesota
● Utah
● North Dakota
Any other state not mentioned on the above list is considered an at-fault state.
Is Calling the Other Driver's Insurance Company a Good Idea?
Within an insurance policy contract, a sentence reads something along the lines of "Report all and any accidents your covered automobile is involved in." That is an instruction for the person to call their insurance whenever they are involved in an accident.
With that being said, it is not necessary to call the other driver's insurance company.
When a person informs their insurance of an incident, it protects them from a multitude of potential problems such as:
● An insurer denying them coverage for failing to tell the company in a considerable time
● At-fault uninsured drivers
What Victims Must Do After a Car Accident
● Call the police
● Contact their insurance company
● Take photographs of any damages to their automobile
● Document the accident to the best of their ability, including the location and time of the incident
These are essential steps to keep the person protected if the accident was not their fault.
Conclusion
St Louis MO vehicle accident attorneys at the Powell Law Firm have helped people with personal injury cases for over 20 years. The company is renowned for its ethical client-attorney relationships and 100 % confidentiality agreement.
Many people have been awarded fair compensation for personal injury cases, and the Powell Law Firm helps them do it.
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