Looking For PIP Auto Insurance Coverage?
Reader question:
Hi, I’d like to know if I can give my medical bills to my own auto insurance company, where I have PIP auto insurance coverage, even if the vehicle insurance company of the at fault driver has already agreed that my medical bills will come out of the settlement that they give me?
Margeret
You should play it safe, Margeret.
I want to encourage you very much to walk on egg shells when you are dealing with an insurance company about any issue, especially when it comes to medical bills and PIP auto insurance coverage. When you are already medically covered by your own auto insurance company, but the at fault driver’s company is also ponying up money, then you are in a very hazy situation. In this case I would recommend that you hire a car accident injury lawyer to help you with your PIP auto insurance coverage claim.
When you’re hiring a lawyer, be careful of who you get. There are many who put out cheesy ads on TV but give no help at all. I can tell you from experience. Instead, either ask friends or relatives who have been in similar situations for recommendations, or you can call your state’s bar to get suggestions from them. Most lawyers who deal in this area of business are specialized, experienced, and often offer consultations for free, which would allow you to pursue your case without the worry of too much additional cost.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Do You Need a Cheap Non Owner Auto Insurance Policy?
Reader question:
How much does a non owner auto insurance policy tend to cost?
Greg
Thank you for your question, Greg.
Naturally, this price will vary depending on what vehicle insurance company you go with, but I would say that the typical non owner auto insurance policy costs slightly more than a regular car owner auto insurance policy. The reason for this lies behind the fact that it is a specialty policy and does not have a vehicle attached to it, and a vehicle is normally a very big factor in the insurance score of a person that determines how high or low their car insurance premium will be. A person with a non owner auto insurance policy will be using various vehicles, all with different safety and theft ratings.
Just like with a regular vehicle insurance policy, though, you can get discounts and cheap car insurance rates on your non owner auto insurance policy. The way to do this is much the same. You raise your deductible, you get a good driver’s discount, and you purchase all of your insurance policies with the same company so long as it is possible. Non owner auto insurance does not have to be expensive, and it is well within the reach of many who cannot afford to own a car.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Cheap 17 Year Old Car Insurance
Reader question:
Can you let a 17 year old drive your car even if they aren’t included on your car insurance policy?
Margeret
It depends on your situation, Margeret.
I’d like to know under what circumstances the teenager is driving your car. First of all, does the teenager live with you, is he or she your child, etc.? If the teenager is considered part of your household, that is to say, if they live with you, then you should add them to your policy as soon as they get their driver’s license. This means a big hike in the price of your auto insurance premium for the 17 year old car insurance coverage, but it is much better than what the repercussions would be if the 17 year old ever had to make a claim and had not been listed on the policy.
Everybody who is driving has to have motor vehicle insurance. If the 17 year old does not live with you, then yes, that kid will be covered if he or she drives your car, because any friends or relatives who drive your vehicle are covered, regardless of age. So if you little your little brother borrow your car to run an errand, he will be covered.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Woman Car Insurance – Do Females Really Get Lower Rates?
Reader question:
Why is a woman car insurance coverage much cheaper than that of a man?
Allen
It is only for a certain period of time, Allen.
There is a period in a young person’s life when driving is new and risk is high, among both genders. I can tell you from experience driving with male and female friends who are young and only have had their driver’s license for a few years, that none of them are bastions of driving talent. I can also say that between me and my husband, we’re both insurance and probably should be forced to travel on bicycles for the safety of humanity. Okay, don’t get scared; I’m kidding. However we, as well as many others, are in that age group under twenty five where car insurance companies decide that you need to be charged so much more because of the high risk factor. Funny thing is, his half of the premium is more than mine.
The reason that men end up paying more than the woman car insurance premium, typically, is because not only do they fall into the young high risk car insurance policy holders group, but the group of young males is high risk as well. This is called big numbers rating, which means that the insurance company is determining how much you pay based on the rate that people in your demographic make car insurance claims. While most car insurance companies glean this information from their own data and are won’t to have different results when it comes to things such as more expensive vehicles and areas, the under twenty five male is pretty much a global pariah of the insurance biz. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find good car insurance coverage like a woman car insurance buyer would. It just means that it will cost about two hundred percent more than it would if you were female.
You might be wondering why you are getting punished for a claim you never made. Yes, it is true that even if you have a record for driving and motor vehicle insurance claims that is squeaky clean, you will still end up pying more into the system based on the group that you are a part of, even if that squeaky clean record does take some of the edge off of it. The reason for this is that the car insurance companies aren’t the police. They can’t charge you after you’re guilty because if they did then they would go out of business instantly. The amount that you would receive in the event of a bad accident and a claim is often a lot more than the amount that you pay into the system with your car insurance premium. The car insurance company that you are with needs to cover that difference.
So what you end up getting is a system in which people are separated into different groups, and all are throwing their money into a big pool. The pool needs to equal the same amount of money, but not everybody can give as much as everybody else because you can’t penalize someone who only drives five hundred miles a year for the claims of someone who has three DUI charges. So, the people who have fewer risk factors end up throwing less into the pool than those who have more risk factors, and anybody can retrieve money from the pool, so long as their car insurance claim is approved. That’s how the system works.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
SR22 Car Insurance – Can I Insure a Commercial Vehicle?
Reader question:
I live in Kansas, and I wanted it to know if it’s likely that my employer will still cover me with commercial car insurance while I’m doing business, even though I have an SR22 form for drunk driving?
Nick
That’s a great question, Nick.
First of all, I find it very unlikely that you would even be able to be hired by a job for which you are required to do any more than a completely negligible amount of driving for a good, long time after you were required to file your first SR22 form after a drunk driving conviction. The most common number that I could throw out is ten years, although in many cases a company that requires driving will not hire you ever again after you have been convicted for drunk driving, especially, for example, a trucking job. There is already a big problem with the lack of safety among commercial vehicles on the roads, so employers are more cautious, at least in this area.
Secondly, as to whether or not your employer will insure you if you have an SR22 form filed, I really doubt it. It is possible that this could happen, but it would be entirely the decision of your boss or whoever is in charge of this aspect of your job. If your employer allows you to drive for business reasons under their own vehicle insurance policy, then they are taking on a substantial amount of risk. This could result in a rise in vehicle insurance premiums in the company, and could thus cause problems with your employment.
I would suggest that if you do find yourself in this situation, the best option for you, and most likely the only option that you have available, is for you to go and get a non owners car insurance policy. These types of policies are widely available, cheaper than normal, and will cover any car that you drive but do not own. It would be the perfect option for driving for business reasons if you have an SR22 form, or even if you don’t and your employer simply does not provide insurance.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
High Risk Car Insurance Companies – Which Ones Are Best?
Reader question:
Where do I find a high risk motor car insurance company? And what do I do if I can’t?
Miriam
That’s an excellent question, Miriam.
The first thing that I would do in your situation is try to get in tough with your state department of insurance. The first thing you might want to do is ask how popular the assigned risk pool for your state is. The answer for that right there might give you an idea of what your chances are of finding a high risk motor car insurance company that will accept you. If the assigned risk program has a lot of people in it, then it might be tough for you to get a policy without it. However, if the pickings are pretty slim among the assigned risk policy holders, then you probably have a fighting chance. Knowing that, it’s time to move to a different part of the department of insurance’s website.
Some of the DoI’s websites are more helpful than others. Oregon has an excellent one, whereas the one where I am from (Texas) is ridiculous. What most do have, though, is a list of insurance companies that are licensed by the state. If the website for your state does not have one of these, then you should call up the department and find out where you can get one. Never get a policy or so much as a sandwich from a car insurance company not on this list.
Some of the names on the list might clue you in that they could be of some service, such as those that indicate that they serve high risk customers. Keep track of these so that you can get quotes from them later. I would also suggest that you give a glance at the Progressive website, or even just get some instant car insurance quotes from a more general site and compare your Progressive quote to other quotes. Progressive is one of the big time motor car insurance companies that is well known for taking care of high risk drivers. If they operate in your state, definitely check them out.
Now, if all else fails, you just go back to step one. The assigned risk pool. This alternative is a little costly, especially with the high car insurance prices in many areas, but considering that car insurance is require by law, many people don’t have much of an option. I do want to stress that before you consider this, check out all of your options. Look online, get rate quotes from plenty of websites, ask friends. Assigned risk pools are the last resort, and expensive, so you don’t want to join one unless you absolutely have to.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Cheap Liability Car Insurance Coverage In Florida
Reader question:
Do I need to get uninsured motorist Florida car insurance coverage if I live in Tampa? I just need cheap liability coverage.
Charlie
Glad you asked, Charlie.
Uninsured motorist protection is not a required part of Florida car insurance coverage law, so really it all depends on your options and your priorities. The first thing that you need to consider, before you take in to mind any extenuating factors, is that no matter where you are, no fault state or no, there will be people driving without car insurance. Depending on what state you are in, it might not even be necessary to get extra coverage because of this, but this is still something that you should keep in mind.
First of all, in Florida they only offer one kind of uninsured motorist coverage, and that is for bodily injury. This can be a good idea to carry if you don’t have anything else that would cover the bodily injury of a victim of an accident caused by you if that victim did not carry car insurance coverage. However, it also provides protection for yourself in this area, and that is where it begins to become redundant. In Florida, you are already required to carry personal injury protection coverage, and then most people have health insurance on top of that. It is very unlikely that your health insurance coverage and your personal injury protection would run out after one accident, making it to where you need even more coverage.
One thing that you might consider when thinking about getting uninsured motorist coverage is the possibility of getting a pain and suffering benefit. This might not be possible if you do not have this type of car insurance coverage.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Car Insurance Liability Coverage For Seperated Couples?
Reader question:
My husband and I are separated, and I have a question about his car insurance liability coverage. Is there a way that I could limit it so that it doesn’t apply to me?
Nina
I’m glad you asked, Nina.
Unfortunately, when one spouse gets into a car accident and or has a lawsuit brought against them, it usually ends up that both spouses are liable and end up sitting together in the court room while they lose everything they own. This is one of the reason that many couples in this day and age are signing pre nuptial agreements before they get married, so that they can retain their solvency against their spouse’s debts. The problem is, though, that such agreements only apply to wealth accrued and debt from before the marriage itself, so after marriage it is much more difficult.
The best advice that I could give to you at this moment is to get in touch with a lawyer to see what your options are should your husband be the cause of an accident while the two of you are separated. It is possible that, depending on what state you live in, your lawyer could set up something for you that would make it to where you do not have to take part in any of the repercussions of your spouse’s car insurance liability claims.
Failing that, the most foolproof way to get out of this situation is to go ahead and get a divorce. While the two of you are still married, if in name alone it does not matter, you are still economically tied and thus share an often joint culpability for many financial matters. The way to sever this tie is to start the divorce proceedings. While you should never rush into something like that, it is a thought.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
I Just Want Liability Only Car Insurance – How Much Is It?
Reader question:
Right now I’m purchasing a car through a finance company. At what point am I able to get rid of the comprehensive and collision car insurance coverage and take it down to the minimum personal injury and property damage liability?
Isabel
That’s a good question, Isabel.
It really depends on what it says in your vehicles contract. For most vehicles, and probably all vehicles, which are purchased with the add of a financing institution such as the car dealer ship or a bank, extra coverage for comprehensive and collision, and sometimes gap coverage, is required until you have finished paying of your loan from the financial institution and they no longer have the risk of you ending your payments with them when the car has not been entirely bought. There are some dealer ships and banks that are more strict about this than others, but for the most part the best idea is for you to understand what your contract says and, if you have any questions, for you to just call up your dealer ship or where you got the loan from and ask what the policy is in regards to dropping your car insurance coverage for your new vehicle.
For the most part, though, in order for you to get rid of your extra required coverage on your vehicle, what you must first have is the pink slip noting that you have paid your new vehicle off completely, and a title in your hand allowing that you are the sole owner (unless you have a co signer, of course) of the vehicle in question. If you don’t have this, then you are in essentially a joint agreement between yourself and the financial institution that financed your purchase of the car. What’s yours is theirs and what’s theirs is theirs. If you decide to drop youtr coverage before the time comes up, they could either be surprisingly nice, or they could assert their ownership and repossess this car. Most financial institutions will try to get you to get insurance on your own first, because it is a lot more beneficial to them if you keep making payments on your car than it is if they have to sell it for a very depreciated price, so you probably wouldn’t have it repossessed right away.
Consider that it is not only in your vehicle insurance company’s interest, or in the financial institution financing your car’s interest that you have insurance on your new vehicle, but also in yours. It protects your health, your vehicles, and most importantly, your finances and credit report. While it’s good to have liability for the case of you causing an accident, the same important must be put on the other cove rages, because you can be in just as big a problem for having no insurance on a vehicle that you still haven’t paid off.
If you really are having a hard time trying to pay your car insurance coverage premium, then you should try alternative ways of making your bill smaller. You can try raising your deductible and asking for discounts, as well as getting instant online car insurance quotes from different companies.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
How Do I Prove To My Car Insurance Company I am Not At Fault For The Accident
Reader question:
How do I get car insurance accident proof that it was the other person’s fault, and not my own?
Jackie
Thanks for asking, Jackie.
What many people do not realize is that there is no set algorithm for determining who is at fault when it comes to car insurance accident claims. It is mostly based on common sense, and the decision goes to whoever’s argument and evidence shows that they are correct and not culpable for the accident. You don’t need mathematical logic to win a controversial car insurance claim. The only thing that you are required to know are the laws of driving, and how that affected your car accident and how the other driver ignored these same laws. Many car insurance claims, even those in which both of the drivers are shirking responsibility and blaming the other, can be won with a simple argument pointing out the obvious. It isn’t that hard to know what to say, but some people might need help knowing how to say it, which is where you would hire a car insurance accident claims lawyer.
The biggest factor in a person winning a disputed negligence case for a car insurance accident claim is that, even if the insurance company does not believe that they are right, it may think that it is possible that someone else will think they are, and so they rush to end the whole situation and get the claim taken care of. Car insurance companies mostly exist to help their own customers, and while come are extremely helpful with car insurance claims when the claim maker is not a customer of that company, I’d say that most try to obstruct and give you the lowest balled figures, which your own car insurance company probably does too, but to a lesser extent. When a reasonable argument is made for who was negligent in a certain car insurance claim case, and the insurance company realizes that their own position will probably not hold up in court if a lawsuit is filed, they will probably go ahead and approve the claim. So you don’t need hard cold facts. You just have to be convincing.
I find that the best way to send proof for your case is through letters to the adjuster instead of over the phone, or through emails, if the car insurance company allows that particular means of communication when dealing with claims. This might be because I like to communicate more in writing than over the phone, but it could hold true for many other people too, I think. The reason for this is that you can get all of your ideas down on paper without being interrupted, you can attach any information that the adjuster wouldn’t otherwise be able to see over the phone, and, most important of all, you can edit. The editing is a big one, considering that saying something stupid over the phone when you’re having to act partially on impulse could get you into a lot of trouble with your claim. At least when you write a letter of evidence to your adjuster, you would never get caught saying something like,
“While I was backing up at the stop light, he hit me in the rear!”
While I would suggest admitting negligence in a case where you caused someone to hit you from behind, I hope you can see the point I’m trying to get across. If you feel, though, that you can’t succeed either in the form of the letter or over the phone in proving the negligence of the other driver, then you should hire a car accident lawyer. An attorney would be able to navigate the system and also knows what claims adjusters want in order to prove cases.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
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