Archive for the ‘Car Auto’ Category
Car Insurance Claims in California
By law, every driver is required to prove financial responsibility in case of a car accident. There are several ways to do this: Make a cash deposit of $35,000 with the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles; Get a self-insurance certificate also from the California DMV; Obtain a $35,000 surety bond from a company licensed in California; and finally to purchase car insurance coverage. Most people opt for the last option.
For car insurance in California, the minimum liability requirements by the state is represented by 15/30/5. The first two numbers refer to personal liability limits and the third to property damage limit. This means that $15,000 is the limit per person per accident and $30,000 is the limit for the coverage for all the persons involved per accident. $5,000 is the limit for the coverage for the car/s involved. If the costs exceed these numbers, then the person deemed responsible for the accident will have to pay the difference in damages. Keeping the minimum requirements for an insurance policy may be good if you are a safe driver, but an accident can occur at any time, and you could end up paying dearly. Now you know why insurance companies often offer policies exceeding the minimum requirements of the state. It is to increase the coverage for claims when something unexpected happens. It is wise to consider all options and consult a California insurance agency when shopping for a policy.
If an accident does occur, your insurance company has 15 days to acknowledge your claim and send you the forms necessary to process the claim. The insurance company also has 40 days to either accept or deny your claim after it was filed. Once accepted, the company has 30 days to settle the claim. You also have the freedom to choose the repair shop where you can take your car; this is good because it allows you to shop and compare repair costs and get the best service for your vehicle.
Full Coverage Auto Insurance
Car Insurance, as the name suggests is insuring a car against the risk of financial liability, physical damage, accidents, theft, etc. There are several types of coverage options provided by numerous companies based on certain criteria. The premium varies from vehicle to vehicle and person to person depending on the type of car being insured, the value of the car, the age, history of insurance provider with respect to vehicle protection claims, gender, place, etc.
In the United States, different states have different rules pertaining to automobile insurance; however, minimum liability insurance is a must in most of the cases. The liability insurance covers the damages done to the individual and or property of the other party involved in an accident. The minimum and maximum coverage depends on the policy opted by the owner form vehicle insurance companies and might differ.
Full coverage automobile insurance covers most of the aspects and scenarios barring some which are not covered. Full coverage auto insurance not only covers the liability insurance, but also covers the comprehensive and collision ones. Comprehensive coverage safeguards the car from theft and willful damage because of vandalism; whereas the Collision insurance covers the physical damage occurred due to collision with other cars or objects. Full coverage package is highly recommended as it insures the car against the risk of all financial liabilities and other damages caused due to natural calamities or disasters. Apart from this, if the car is procured on a loan, a full coverage is recommended as it reduces the risk for both the owner and lender. However, it is highly recommended to evaluate the variety of cheap auto insurance options available from various companies.
How To Successfully Deal With an Auto Accident
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, whether the traffic collision was head on, rear-ended, t-boned, or side swiped, there are several things you must be aware of in order to protect your interests financially and physically. In the event of a car accident, a lot of people panic or get flustered, and important details that will be necessary later when dealing with insurance companies or lawyers, will be missed. By keeping these key considerations in mind, you can save yourself a lot of time and trouble.
Remember to keep an emergency kit in your car. An emergency kit should contain essentials such as a basic first aid kit with bandages, cotton balls, and rubbing alcohol for minor wounds. More important to the typical crash, it should contain a reliable pen (perhaps a gel-roller pen or ball point) and paper for taking notes, a cheap camera for taking pictures (you never know what may happen to your phone in the event of a crash- it could be dead or get broken, so keep a cheap camera handy as backup), and a card with a list of any allergens or medical conditions that first responders should be made aware of. In addition, another good idea is maintaining a short list of people to call In Case of Emergency (ICE) in the event that you are incapacitated and your phone is not working.
Be mindful of the other traffic around you, and stay off of the road. If both cars are operable, move them off the road, onto the side of the road, out of harm’s way. If either person’s car has been damaged beyond the ability to move them, it is recommended that the drivers stay in their vehicles, safely strapped in. Put on the emergency flashing hazard lights, and if you have cones, traffic triangles, or flares, make sure to use those to warn other drivers of your presence.