The 7 Most Common Auto Insurance Claims
Most people don’t want to face high car insurance premiums, unless they absolutely have to, and not driving with insurance is not an option. So, what can you do?... you can to drive defensively, you work hard to make sure you follow all traffic laws (and keep an eye out for cops), you even take a refresher safety course every now and again. As a result, you can get a little extra discount that your auto insurance company offer. Still, there’s always the risk that you’ll eventually need to file a claim with your insurance carrier.
Understanding what the most common vehicle insurance claim types are can assist you to make a serious effort to avoid some of those situations. Here is a list of the 7 most common auto insurance claims today (in no particular order):
- Whiplash - It’s can be the subject of jokes in the movies, but whiplash can, and usually does involve some high medical expenses. A whiplash collision claim is extremely common, as it merely requires a jerking neck motion.
- Windshield damage - Windshield damage can be caused by accidents, or it can happen when a rock goes flying out from under the car in front of you. This kind of claim has a high deductible, and is quite expensive to repair.
- Vandalism - This fluctuates depending on where you live. If reports of vandalism are high in your area, you should expect to pay more for your car insurance.
- Back injuries - After whiplash, back injuries are the most frequent type of injury claim in an auto accident in WA. Back injuries can range from something as small as a strained back muscle to something severe such as a slipped, or herniated disk.
- Fender benders - This is defined as a small accident involving 2 vehicles where no one is hurt and the damage costs around a couple hundred dollars. Believe it or not, this kind of claim can increase your premiums.
- Animal collisions - Even if you don’t live in a rural area, it’s possible to drive into an animal, or a neighbor’s pet in the road. These types of collisions sometimes create a large amount of damage to your vehicle.
- Theft / Break-in - Several car insurance companies offer a discounts on your premium if you install extra security systems. This is because when a vehicle is stolen, premium insurance rates can skyrocket.
While you can’t avoid all of the situations that might lead to these kinds of auto insurance claims in Washington, understanding what they are can help you protect yourself from situations that could lead to these disasters.
Car/Vehicle Insurance: How Much Should You Buy?...and How Much Do You Need?
Many states, including the ones in the Pacific NW that we serve, require that you have vehicle insurance. But, the reality is that they do not require you to have very much. In states that have mandatory auto insurance laws, you are simply required to purchase a small amount of liability coverage. This is so you can pay for some of the damage your car does to other cars and other people who are not in your car.
Well, how much do you need to purchase? The minimum needed is liability that provides only $15,000 per person involved in an accident with you, as well as a maximum of $30,000 for all persons in the accident. In addition, you are required to cover $5,000 for damage to the other vehicle(s) involved. Let’s face it, it's next to nothing.
- Here is what we suggest— The minimum amount of insurance required in most states is very little. Please consider purchasing more coverage to protect your finances, and personal health.
- Please Note that mandatory auto insurance laws do not require you to purchase coverage for your own car, but it would be wise to do so. You are slso not required to purchase coverage for your injuries, or coverage if you are hit by someone who doesn't have insurance.
If you simply purchase minimum coverage required by law, you are leaving your assets virtually unprotected. Your car, obviously. And your home, if you are legally at fault for an accident that causes serious injuries to others.
How far do you think $5,000 will go if you total somebody's Mercedes? You won’t be protected! At AAG Insurance, your protection is our priority!
Some people believe that auto insurance is just a commodity - it isn’t.
All too often, drivers do not discover the importance of having adequate limits in place until after they have an accident. We are all concerned about saving money where we can, but trying to cut corners on your insurance coverage may cost you much more in the long run if you have an accident and are sued by the other party involved.
Thankfully, there are still some good ways to keep costs down; many factors such as your driving record, type of vehicle and vehicle use may provide discounts. Most auto insurance carriers also offer many other discounts. Depending on the carrier, this could include a discount for owning a home or a discount for payment in full. As your agent, we will seek out these discounts because it is our job to make sure you have the best possible protection at the lowest premium available.
Another way for us to ensure that you have the best protection at the lowest premium available is to examine your necessary coverage levels. There are several different levels of coverage that make up an auto policy:
- Bodily Injury Liability - Provides coverage to an accident victim in the event of a law suit and is required by the State of Washington
- Property Damage Liability - This covers the cost of any damage that your vehicle causes to another person’s property. While this usually refers to the other vehicle involved in an accident, it can also include houses, garages, and anything else that counts as property.
- Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist - This pays for the damages that result from an accident caused by an uninsured motorist. This also pays for damages which cost more than an underinsured motorist’s coverage can pay for.
- Personal Injury Protection - This offers medical coverage for the policyholder and his or her family in the event of a collision, regardless of fault. It will also provide coverage for pedestrians who are hit by a vehicle. Many options are available to provide funeral expenses and other important coverage's needed when you are hurt and cannot work.
- Collision - Covers damage done to your vehicle when it collides with another vehicle or object.
- Comprehensive - Covers damage to your vehicle resulting from something other than a collision. Examples for this would be hitting a deer, broken windshields, theft or flood.
- Other Miscellaneous Coverage - This varies depending on the insurance provider.
As independent agents we can provide you with literally hundreds of combination's of coverage from several different insurance carriers. We are not limited to just one insurance company so, please, contact us today! As your insurance agent, we will provide you with a free, written analysis of the best coverage at the lowest possible premium.
Protect Yourself From Automobile Theft
In order to protect your vehicles from burglars, and your wallet from increasing car/truck insurance premiums, it is imperative that you take actions to discourage theft. Below are some of the methods one can use to frustrate thieves, and could also result in discounts on your insurance policy in Washington that can continue to reduce your monthly payments.
- Lock Your Doors - Always lock your car doors whenever you enter or exit your car.
- Keep Items Hidden and Out of Sight - Avoid leaving items like your purse, packages, or GPS plain view.
- Select A Car With Low Auto Insurance Rates – Consider doing research to figure out which cars can be insured for reasonable rates.