I got into a car accident in Davenport, IA where an insured motorist ran a red light and totaled my car. I did not have car insurance at the time which I got ticketed for since it is an Iowa law, but I was just switching policies. Will this make a difference in the at fault party’s insurance paying for my medical bills and my car damages?

Judith

Davenport, IA

The state of Iowa does not have a compulsory insurance law but does require motorist to be financially responsible for car accident damage or injury. This means that Davenport, Iowa motorists are not required to carry Iowa car insurance, but if they do not they will need to provide another form of financial responsibility such as a bond. According to Iowa law, motorists that choose to provide proof of financial responsibility with Iowa car insurance must be covered for bodily injury and property damage liability. The minimum amount of these coverage’s allowed is 20/40/15. This represents that you must carry $20,000 for bodily injury per person, $40,000 for bodily injury per accident and $15,000 for property damage per accident.

The Iowa Financial and Safety Responsibility Act law protects Iowa drivers by suspending the driving and registration privileges of any individual who has not been able to provide financial responsibility following an accident. It also makes sure that any individual who had his/her driving privileges suspended or revoked because of certain convictions, an unsatisfied judgment, or a violation of implied consent laws, will be able to financially compensate others for future damages or injuries that the driver may cause.

Even though you may be facing hefty penalties for being without insurance at the time of the accident, since you were not at fault, normally you would be able to make a claim with the at-fault party’s liability policy for your injuries and the car’s damages. I suggest you check with their insurer on how you would go about making your insurance claim.

What would happen to me if I got pulled over in Bend Oregon and I did not have car insurance?

Becky

Bend, OR

Failure to provide proof of car insurance to a police officer when requested, is a class B traffic violation in Oregon. The state of Oregon has a mandatory insurance law which requires every motorist to insure their car.

Driving without insurance in Ben Oregon can result in fines (averaging around $300), suspension of your drivers license and in some areas your car can be towed. If the court convicts you of driving without insurance, you will need to file proof of future financial responsibility (SR-22) with the Department of Motor Vehicle for three years or else your driving privileges will stay suspended.

If you are caught driving uninsured and are involved in an accident, your driving privileges will be suspended for a year. After the period ends on your suspension you will have to carry an SR-22 for three years.

My teenage daughter is required to have SR22 auto insurance. Can she also get full coverage on her car, and not just the liability that SR22 provides?

Jack

Lawrence, MA

Yes, your daughter should be able to obtain car insurance coverages above the SR-22 minimum limits the state is requiring her to carry on her car.

The SR22 limits are just the minimum she must get and maintain to comply with the state’s mandate to show proof of insurance with this financial responsibility filing. She can raise the liability limits and add full coverage meaning physical damage coverages of comprehensive and collision to his insurance policy. The state wants to make sure that she has proof of car insurance for at least the minimum coverages they are mandating her to carry however the state would not discourage an individual from obtaining more auto insurance coverages that would protect both the policyholder and those that she drives her car around.

Your daughter should talk to her insurance agent about carrying the required insurance for the SR-22 and the physical damages coverages that she wants to carry on her car. She should be able to get both types of coverages.

One of the best ways to lower your annual premiums is to have a higher deductible amount.. Like a $1,000, is what I carry personally.

Now, if you are a claim free and safe driver like I am, you could be saving a ton of money each year on your premiums.  People fail to realize that the deductible amount is only paid when they file a claim and their insurance company pays that claim.

Ask for discounts, you never know what you might be able to get and how much you can save by asking.  Some popular discounts can be given for:

1. Military personnel

2. Good grade students

3. Union membership and bank member affiliations

4. Safe drivers with no claims in last 7 years

5. Defensive driving school attendance

6. Clean credit history – used by many carriers to determine payment risk