Car Accident Insurance
Posted by
Craig CannonMarch 08, 2007 5:55 PMIf you are injured in a car accident you should know the basics about car insurance. Different automobile insurance coverage provides payment for different things. Generally a combination of insurance coverage from your automobile insurance policy, the automobile insurance policy of the vehicle you may have been riding in, or the automobile insurance policy for the other vehicle or vehicles involved in your accident may come in to play. The following list summarizes the potential insurance coverage's that may be involved in your case.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): This insurance is required by Florida law to legally operate an automobile in the state of Florida. PIP is often referred to as "No-Fault" coverage because if you are injured in an automobile accident, PIP generally pays 80% of your medical expenses, up to $10,000, whether the accident was your fault or someone else's fault. PIP can also be used to pay your lost wages, prescription expenses and mileage to and from the doctor. You can purchase PIP coverage with a deductible or in amounts greater than $10,000.
Medical Payments (MedPay): This insurance supplements your PIP coverage. Generally MedPay coverage pays the 20% of your medical bills that PIP does not cover.
Bodily Injury Liability (BI): This insurance covers your legal liability for personal injury done to someone else as a result of the negligent operation of your automobile. If you are injured in an automobile accident and the accident was not your fault, this is the first place we look, on the other person's insurance policy, for insurance to cover your pain and suffering, unpaid medical expenses and lost wages. BI can be purchased in almost any amount from $10,000 and up.
Uninsured Motorist (UM): This insurance covers your pain and suffering, unpaid medical expenses and lost wages if the accident was not your fault and the person's BI coverage is not sufficient to cover all of your damages or the other person does not have BI coverage. UM coverage can be purchased in almost any amount from $10,000 and up.
Property Damage Liability (PD): This insurance covers your legal liability for property damage done to someone else's automobile as a result of an automobile collision. Florida law requires you to have this coverage in the amount of $10,000 in order to legally operate an automobile in the sate of Florida. If your vehicle was damaged in an automobile accident and the accident was not your fault, this insurance coverage should be available to pay for the damage done to your automobile.
Collision/Comprehensive: Collision insurance covers damage done to your automobile whether the accident was your fault or someone else's fault. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your automobile resulting from fire, theft and other direct losses not excluded.