Car Insurance Checklist.

You should know all the details about car insurance so you can purchase the right kind of car insurance with the right coverage. As car accident attorneys, we want to urge you to get more than the minimum insurance required by law when shopping for car insurance. Remember that when it comes to car insurance, having too much coverage is better than not having enough.

Here are some simple tips to think about when buying the right car insurance policy:

1. Before buying insurance, consider some important factors.

The minimum requirement for car insurance might be inadequate to compensate the injured and protect your assets in the event of a car accident.
The kind of car you have can influence your decision making. For example, auto insurance for a sports car can be more expensive than most other automobiles.
Your driving record can negatively affect your car insurance.
Get complete insurance quotes from several insurance companies.
Be wary of the term “full coverage.”

2. Determine the type of auto coverage you want.

Liability – This coverage pays for accidental personal injury property damages to others, medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages.
Collision – Collision coverage pays for damages to your car caused by a car accident.
Comprehensive – Pays for loss or damage to your car from non-accidents (i.e. fire, wind, vandalism or theft).
Medical – Pays medical expenses regardless of fault when caused by a car crash
Personal Injury Protection – PIP pays medical or other expenses for the insured driver, regardless of fault.
Uninsured Motorist – Pays your injuries when a car accident is caused by a driver who does not have liability insurance.
Underinsured Motorist – Pays for your injuries when a crash is caused by someone without enough liability insurance.
Rental Reimbursement – Rental reimbursement is simply used if a car accident causes an insured driver to have to rent a car while their car is being repaired.

3. Car Insurance Guidelines.

Know your state laws – Forty-seven states require liability insurance, but 15 states also require personal injury protection.
Weigh your options – Knowing what you will need if a car accident happens is the key to making sure you have enough coverage for when a car crash occurs.
Think about your vehicle and your finances – If your car is completely totaled in a car accident, would you be able to afford a replacement? If not, having comprehensive and collision coverage is a good idea.

4. Several factors affect the price of auto insurance.

Company – Prices vary by company and comparing prices thoroughly before buying a policy is always a good idea.
What type of car you drive – Sports cars usually have higher insurance rates than a family sedan.
Where you live – If you live in an area where there are a lot of car accidents or vandalism, your insurance could cost more.
Your driving record – Your age, gender, marital status and driving record may be considered. Accident rates are higher for drivers under the age of 25 as well as for young males and single males.

5. There are three main factors that can help you keep your car insurance rates down.

Most insurance companies offer discounts for: good students, insuring more than one car with them and an accident-free driving record.
Consider carpooling or using public transportation to get to work. Using your car less can save money. Fewer miles driven may qualify you for lower insurance rate.
Drive carefully! If you did not cause a car accident, your rates should not go up.

6. Understand your insurance deductible.

Deductibles vary but are usually in amounts of $100, $250, $500 or $1,000.
If a car accident causes $2,500 worth of property damage and medical bill costs, having a $500 deductible means you are required to pay the $500 and the insurance company will then pay the other $2,000.
If you pay a deductible for an accident that was not your fault and the other party has insurance coverage, your own insurance company may be able to get the other car insurance company to reimburse you for your deductible.

Click Here for a Printable Version of the Car Insurance Checklist

Call our San Diego law firm now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review. We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.

Most Recent Blog Post

[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.