Auto Insurance Claim in California For Hit And Run Accident
Reader’s Question:
I am from Laguna Niguel, California. I usually parked my car on the road that is in front of my house. However, just yesterday it was hit. I am confused on what type of auto insurance coverage would pay for the damage on the car. Is this kind of accident be covered by my uninsured motorist coverage or not?
Elisa
Laguna Niguel, CA
I am sorry to hear that Elisa. I hope there was not too much damage on your car.
Going back to your question, from what I know, this kind of auto insurance claims would fall under comprehensive policy. This policy pays for damages made on your vehicle that resulted from non-related collision accident like for example fire, windstorm, theft, hail, etc. On the other hand, uninsured motorist coverage pays for the damage if you got into an accident with another driver who is not insured or does not have sufficient auto insurance.
I would suggest you contact your auto insurance agent as soon as possible to inform your insurer of this accident. Your car insurance company would send its claims adjuster who would determine on the damages made on your car and the loss that would be covered by your insurer.
Will My Auto Insurance Policy Cover Legal Expenses
Reader’s Question:
In case I get into an accident and want to sue the offender, how much of the legal fees is usually covered by auto insurance? Are there any litigation limits imposed?
Anthony
Portsmouth Virginia VA
That is an excellent question, Anthony, and one that few people stop to consider before they buy auto insurance. Most would just opt for minimal cost; hence, providing only for minimal liability coverage.
Most insurers in Virginia would be able to offer you limited or full tort coverage. While both enable you to sue for medical expenses in case you are injured, it is only under full tort coverage that you can sue for psychological trauma or other non-monetary damages. If you choose the cheaper option of limited tort coverage, legal fees will only be insured if you sue for monetary damages. It is important to remember that while you may pay lower premiums for less liability coverage, whatever your insurance does not cover, is what you have to pay for out of your own pocket.
I suggest that you look into the available auto insurance coverage more carefully. You can do this online from this site just by writing down your zip code on the blank box. You should get free quotes from at least three different insurers, using the same coverage and liability limits. As cost varies among companies, you can choose the lowest premium available for the coverage that you feel you need. Other facts about insurance in Portsmouth may be accessed through links within this site, as well.
Tags: auto insurance premium, car insurance quotes
Will Insurance Cover Personal Items in A Car That Was Stolen
Reader’s Question:
My friend parked my vehicle in a parking lot and was stolen. My friend is not on my car insurance. I reported this to the police. I have expensive personal items inside the car as well. Am I going to get anything from my car insurance even though a friend was driving the vehicle. I have a full coverage on the car in Florida.
Franz
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Your friend driving your car will most likely not have any bearing on if the car insurance pays you since the vehicle was parked in a parking spot and stolen. I suggest that you call your car insurance carrier in Florida to know exactly how you will be covered if your automobile will not be recovered.
With regards to the personal items inside of the vehicle, generally car insurance policies have limited coverage for personal items inside of a stolen automobile. You will have to speak to your insurance carrier about what is specifically covered under your car insurance policy.
You will likely be able to place a claim through your homeowners or renters insurance policy for the personal items that are not covered by your car insurance policy. What you need to do next is to report the incident to the insurance company of your homeowners or renters coverage.
Tags: auto insurance, comprehensive insurance coverage
Not Happy With Body Shop My Insurance Company Referred
Reader’s Question:
My car insurance company here in Owensboro, referred me to a repair shop but the outcome of the repair was unsatisfactory. Can I still have my insurance provider cover for redoing the repair work if I’m not happy with it?
Nguyen
Owensboro, KY
You should try to speak to a manager first to try and resolve this issue. Explain exactly why the job is unsatisfactory and what they need to do to fix it. Tell them that you expect the issue to be resolved appropriately and that you have confidence in their capability based on the recommendation of your car insurance company there in Owensboro. Be firm but polite, you’d be surprised how well this works but if you happen to find yourself dealing with particularly difficult service people then you should definitely seek the assistance of your car insurance company in resolving this issue.
Speak with your car insurance agent about the issue or talk to the claims adjuster. As an insurance policy holder they are responsible for making sure their recommendations are doing the necessary work to repair your vehicle. Find out if your insurance providers guarantee the quality of their repair shop referrals and argue about how the bad quality of the repair undermines your safety as well as diminishing the monetary worth of your car.
If all else fails try to get in touch with your state’s insurance division to see what further courses of action you can take. You may even want to have a lawyer represent you to protect your asset.
Will Minor Accident In Massachusetts Increase Car Insurance Rate
Reader’s Question:
If I am involved in a minor accident and I did not make a claim will it still affect my car insurance rate in Boston, Massachusetts? The reason why I’m asking this is because my car insurance company found out about this wherein I am at-fault. Now, I’m afraid that they will set higher car insurance rates for me now.
Brad
Boston, MA
Every car insurance companies have different guidelines that they follow in setting the auto insurance rates. Though you have not made the claim, the fact that your car insurance company found about the bender fender still speaks something about your driving history, much more that you are found to be at-fault. As you see Brad, having involved in an incident like this, no matter how minor it is, might be seen by your auto insurance company as a warning that you are somewhat risky to be insured.
However, it’s a general practice in a car insurance industry, that when a policyholder is involved in a minor violation, it doesn’t necessarily result to an increased car insurance rate right away. Usually, they “forgive” first time offenders. However, succeeding traffic violations would surely result in higher insurance rates at the time that you renew your car insurance policy.
To get more information about the impact of an accident on your car insurance rate, ask your insurance agent in Boston, Massachusetts. He or she would be able to explain to you your car insurance company’s guidelines relating to minor incidents.
My Auto Insurance Company Says My Car Is Total Loss
Reader’s Question:
What does a rolling total mean? I heard this from a cousin who was discussing about his car insurance coverage to my dad. He has car insurance in Arkansas.
Brooke
Fayetteville, AR
That is an interesting question.
To give you a clearer idea on what a rolling total is, let me first define what a total loss mean. Auto insurance companies define total loss as referring to cars that seem impossible to repair. This also refers to vehicles that are way too costly to be fixed, which means the cost of repairing them would amount to or more than the value of the vehicle itself.
Rolling total on the other hand is a slang term that is used to describe a car that is still operational but should be destroyed. This car should be taken off the streets. Such kinds of vehicles are cars that are totaled by car insurance companies. However, you must remember that this does not necessarily mean that it only refers to totaled out cars. This may also refer to cars that look aged or vehicles that work badly.
I wouldn’t suggest that keeping such kind of car is a good idea at all. And since you seem interested with car insurance stuff, why don’t you try shopping around for car insurance rates in Fayetteville, Arkansas to see if you’re paying more on your car insurance premium. You can start by just entering your zip code here.
Does Comprehensive Auto Insurance Cover Engine Damage
Reader’s Question:
While driving to school, my teen daughter found that there is a smoke coming from the back of her car. Her car engine had seized up. She’s under my car insurance policy. Is this covered by my comprehensive car insurance coverage in Anderson, Indiana?
Rebecca
Anderson, IN
Indiana State Law defines comprehensive auto insurance policy as one that covers damages to your vehicle in an event of non-related car accidents happened. There are several reasons that are considered non-accident related like damages resulting from fire, theft, and glass breakage.
Going back to your question, it does not seem though that car engine seizing is listed as one of the reasons that would be covered by your car comprehensive policy. Smoke coming out from you car’s daughter appeared to me as a car engine trouble. For this, I would suggest getting a mechanical breakdown insurance or MBI. This kind of policy is designed to protect policyholders from costly repair bills. Oftentimes, a deductible is involved with this however, once you paid the deductible then MBI would cover car repairs involving all mechanical parts of your vehicle excluding wear and tear and maintenance.
Contact your car insurance agent in Indiana to get more information about adding mechanical breakdown insurance on your auto insurance policy. You can also start shopping around through websites to compare car insurance rates.