Adequate Car Insurance a Must for Today’s Drivers

Many people are not aware of just how vulnerable they are to liability exposure, especially when it comes to driving. These days many Americans not only use their cars to get from point A to B, but most of us talk on our phones in the car, conduct business from our cars and sometimes work in a meal while we’re at it. Driving is completely routine until we have a near miss, or worse, get into an accident, sometimes resulting in injury to ourselves or others.

Because of the prevalence of car accidents, especially among younger drivers, it is important to have enough insurance coverage to protect you when you are at fault. Taking the time to review your insurance policy, noting that different policies cover you in different ways, will help to ensure that you have coverage when you need it the most.

Liability Coverage Policies cover liability and expenses when you are at fault in an accident. They provide money for the party that is struck, not the occupants of your car:

• A Body Injury Liability Policy will pay the medical expenses for people injured in a crash when you are at fault. A “20/50” policy, for example, describes the maximum dollar amount a policy will pay for a single person’s injuries, $20,000, and the maximum amount for all the injuries sustained by all the occupants of the other car, $50,000.
• A Property Damage Liability Policy pays for damage done to the other car if you’re at fault. Property liability sometimes is reflected as the third number alongside BIL, so a 20/50/10 liability package will cover up to $10,000 for damages to the other car.

Nearly every state requires car owners to carry some kind of liability insurance and will often have required minimum values you must carry. Of course, minimum coverage isn’t necessarily your best bet. Because the potential for a car accident is high, it is recommended that you carry the highest auto liability insurance limits you can afford. The premium for $250,000 per person/$500,000 per accident bodily injury liability limit typically does not cost much more than that of a $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident limit. For five times the coverage, paying a little bit extra will help you to handle the financial consequences of causing a car accident or having a teen driver involved in one.

Most people never expect to be involved in a car or truck accident, but the reality is that motor vehicle crashes are all too common. The number of cars on the road, drivers distracted on their cell phones and other factors contribute to the risks of an injury accident. When accidents do occur, the at fault party is liable for injuries and property damage suffered by the other party – having adequate insurance coverage is key.

If you or a family member has been injured in an Iowa car accident, contact the Des Moines Personal Injury Law Offices of John T. Hemminger for help. Our firm offers experienced representation to clients who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and bicycle and pedestrian motor vehicle crashes. We fight hard for clients and seek maximum compensation to help clients recover lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and future medical and rehabilitative care. Call today at 515-283-2116.