Jump To Navigation

Blog Topic

Protecting Yourself Before a Motor Vehicle Accident

No one wants to think that it will happen to them, but we all want to be prepared for the worst. You may not always be able to prevent a car accident from happening, but you can take steps now to prepare you for what is "just around the corner".

First things first, contact your insurance agent or review your insurance "Declarations" page so that you are aware of your policy limits or coverage. The "Declarations" page shows a summary of insurance limits/coverage and the premium you are paying for on an annual or bi- annual basis. Your insurance policy has provisions for Liability coverage, Personal Injury Protection (no-fault) and Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage.

LIABILITY COVERAGE - This coverage provides protection in the event that you cause a car accident, injuring others or damaging another vehicle. In New York State, insured individuals are required to purchase a minimum of $25,000.00 for bodily injury coverage for each person injured (or $50,000.00 maximum for all persons injured per incident) and $10,000.00 for property damage. In the event that you caused a car accident, or an accident was caused by someone operating your vehicle, your personal assets may be at risk if the damages caused exceed your policy limit. In today's world the minimum coverage required by New York State law does not seem to go very far. Contact your insurance agent to evaluate your needs.

PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION "PIP" (or no-fault insurance) - This coverage pays for expenses incurred by the individuals injured in a car accident. This coverage will pay for medical expenses, hospital bills and other healthcare expenses, lost earnings, household help, mileage reimbursement* and death benefits. In New York State, insured individuals are required to purchase a minimum of $50,000.00 in coverage. Additional "personal injury Protection" insurance may be purchased, contact your insurance agent to discuss increasing your "PIP" limit.

In addition to basic no-fault coverage, Optional Basic Economic Loss (OBEL) coverage may also be purchased. If this option is purchased and you use up the basic no-fault coverage, you may choose how this "extra" insurance is used to pay. (i.e. lost earnings, healthcare expenses or a combination of both). Your insurance agent can also explain this option to you in greater detail.

*benefits are paid in accordance with New York State Insurance Department rules and regulations.

SUPPLEMENTAL UNDERISNURED/UNINSURED MOTORIST - This coverage offers protection in the event of a car accident, involving another car whose owner and/or operator is at fault and either has no insurance or has insurance liability limits that are lower than the liability limits provided by your insurance policy. Purchasing additional coverage will protect you in the event that you are involved in a car accident and sustain serious personal injury that exceeds the liability limits of the individual who is at fault for the accident. Review your Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage with your insurance agent to ensure that you are protected.

Most people are not aware that the additional limits for liability, personal injury protection and supplemental underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage minimally increase your insurance premium but may result in tremendous benefit in the event of an accident.