What Does Your Car Insurance Really Cover?

You likely don’t give a second thought to what your car insurance covers on a daily basis, and the time following an accident is not the best to try and figure out the details of your policy. Fortunately, the experts at a local auto body shop in Visalia, CA are here to break down some of the key components that are included in many common policies:

• Liability insurance: Liability insurance covers any damage or injury that you may cause in an accident, and is typically broken down into two segments: bodily injury and property damage. On your policy, the level of liability insurance you carry will be measured with three numbers. If your policy shows 150/400/40, the insurance company will pay up to $150,000 worth of medical expenses per person with a maximum payout of $400,000 for medical costs per accident, and $40,000 for property damage.
• Personal injury protection: Bodily injury liability insurance pays for another person’s medical expenses if you cause an accident. To cover your own medical costs, you will need personal injury protection or medical payments coverage. This coverage will take care of medical bills for you and your passengers if you are injured in an accident, and certain levels of personal injury protection can replace wages lost if your injuries cause you to miss work.
• Uninsured driver coverage: Although liability insurance is required in all but one state, there are still far too many uninsured drivers on the road. If you are involved in an accident with one of these drivers, having uninsured motorist coverage will ensure you remain protected. Instead of having to pay out of pocket for the full costs of medical expenses, uninsured motorist coverage will pay out your medical costs if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver. Similarly, underinsured motorist coverage will pick up the slack in accidents in which the other driver does have insurance, but does not have enough to cover your injuries and the damage to your car.
• Collision versus comprehensive coverage: Collision insurance is paid out if your car is damaged and needs repairs after a collision with another car or object, while comprehensive insurance covers a broader range of situations. If your car sustains damage in a storm or due to vandalism, or is stolen, comprehensive insurance will keep your vehicle covered.

There are various options and levels of insurance available, making it important to see who and what your specific policy covers so you don’t encounter any surprises in the event that you need to use it.

If you do ever find yourself in need of repairs after an accident, make sure you give us a call at Tom’s Body & Paint, Inc., where we have made it our mission to be the most reliable auto body shop in Visalia, CA. We have many years of experience dealing with insurance companies, which will only help to make the entire process go that much more smoothly. For peace of mind that the repair process will be handled quickly and safely, make sure you give us a call to schedule your appointment today.

Categorised in: Auto Body Shop

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