Do car insurance policies in Utah include accident health insurance?

Angel

Salt Lake City UT

I don’t think auto insurance policies have accident health insurance. To give you better idea, there are three major types of coverage that your average car insurance carry. First there is liability coverage. Liability coverage will pay for any property damage or bodily injury done to the other party in the event of an accident. Liability coverage will apply if you were the one who caused the accident.

Next is collision coverage. If liability coverage pays for damage done to the other party, collision coverage will pay for damages done to your car as a result of an accident. One advantage that collision coverage has over liability is that there is no need to determine who was at fault. If your car suffered damages, then you will be paid. This will also pay you the market value of your car if it is judged to irreparable. Finally there is comprehensive. This type of coverage protects your car against damages not due to a collision. This can be vandalism or natural events like floods.

Notice anything about the three types? None of them will actually pay or cover you for injuries that you sustained. The nearest that I can see that is similar to an accident health insurance is liability coverage. But this is effective only for the other party and not to you.

This means that you need to get separate insurance for possible injuries that you may incur. This is why you need to have medical or health insurance. To give you an idea lets assume you are involved in accident. Guess what questions will be asked? The first police officer on the scene will ask you what happened or what events lead to the accident. After that he will then ask if you have automobile insurance and if you carry medical insurance. Let’s repeat that, auto and medical insurance.

To sum it all up, car insurance policies in Utah don’t have accident health insurance included.

If one is involved in an accident, what should be done to make the most of your accident insurance?

Grace

Orlando FL

A vehicular accident is not something that one plans. No matter how careful we drive accidents are not only unexpected but also stressful. Having accident insurance thus becomes a relief in times like these. Some problems though start when we file claims. A claim is rejected because it did not contain enough information. Even if it did, it may contradict what other parties are saying. What should one do then?

No one wants to be involved in an accident. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t prepare for it. There are three things that may seem insignificant at first but can help greatly in an event of an accident. These are a pen, your auto insurance and medical insurance. I’ll explain more of this later.

When involved in an accident, stay calm. There is no need to panic and it doesn’t help at all. Check for personal injuries first before damages. Your life is much much more important than your car. Remember that. Once you’ve determined the extent of the injury or damages, try to turn on your hazard lights to prevent more accidents. Call the police. Let me stress that even if the accident seems minor, you should always call the authorities. One of the first questions they will ask is if you have accident insurance. Tell them what transpired and check if it is what they have written.

Before leaving the scene, exchange information with the other party. This is where the pen comes in. Ask for his license and get his name. Also get what insurance company covers him. Do the same and give him that information.

When asked, don’t immediately say it was your fault even if you believe it was. Don’t go so far though as accusing the other party of being at fault. Just keep calm and tell the facts. It will be up to the authorities and insurance companies to determine who was really at fault.

Call you agent afterwards. All these would be useless otherwise. The company that carries your accident insurance must know what happened in order for them to start processing whatever claims you may file.

What do I need to do if I get into a car accident?

Michael

Chicago IL

Health comes first. Make sure if anyone needs medical attention. Afterwhich, you may report to the police. They will then advise you what you need to do with the cars involved, whether to move them or not, and if a police officer will come to get statements from those involved in the accident. Be factual when a police officer interviews you. You may exchange information such as names, addresses, phone numbers and insurance company names with the other party if law enforcement is not involved. It is important to take pictures of all involved vehicles to avoid other parties from claiming damage to a vehicle that was not involved in the accident. If there are witnesses, you can also obtain information from them. Coordinate with your insurance company or insurance agent as soon as possible to know what procedures you need to do next. Request for copy of your records from the police and continue to follow-up with them. And put in mind that not because you informed your insurer of an accident doesn’t mean you’re making a claim.

My friends informed me that in case of road accidents, showing photographs of the incident is the best way to increase the value of my claim against my motor vehicle accident insurance. Is there a proper way to take photographs?

Larry

Anchorage AK

It is undeniably true that photographs serve as best evidence to ultimately settle the value of your claims against your motor vehicle accident insurance. They must be taken, or you must have someone to take the photographs, after the accident as soon as possible.

The most obvious thing to photograph are bodily injuries, if any. These include deep cuts, bruises, lacerations and swellings. Take photograph of the injuries approximately 3 feet away. Also take photographs of these injuries at a closer distance to determine the seriousness of the situations.

The next things to produce in order to make your motor vehicle accident insurance claim are the photographs of the vehicles involved in the accident. Shoot pictures of the damages caused to the cars at different perspectives, including the vehicle that hit you. These photographs can be valuable to you in the future when proving who’s fault the accident was and the impact it had that caused the bodily injuries.

Additionally, taking photographs of the whole accident scene is a valuable move for your motor vehicle accident insurance claims. This must be taken from at least three different distances:

• a general view of the scene, about 20 – 40 feet away
• medium range shots, about 10 – 40 feet away, and
• closeup shots, bout 3 to 5 feet away.

It is preferable if these three pictures have a common focus point, such as skid marks on the road, taken at the three different distances. Also try to include landmarks, such as street signs, when taking pictures.

Photographs must not be taken hastily and unprofessionally in order to take good quality pictures to highlight the damages on the cars, the evidential marks on the road and the damages on the street objects due to the accident. This is to ensure faster processing of your claims and to avoid disputes over blurry pictures.

How important is accident insurance?

Monique

Miami FL

Accidents are termed as such because that is what they are. You can never be too prepared nor control events, know when they will happen and why. But, you can organize your future in the event that accidents do arise by making sure you have adequate insurance coverage.

Accident and insurance have made it possible for insurance policies to be drafted within its limitless consequences. Accident insurance provides benefits that your regular disability and health insurance do not. Such benefits include:

• coverage for individuals or your entire family
• medical expenses including physician fees and cost of x-rays
• benefits in varying amounts for dislocations, fractures, loss of limbs or death
• hospital confinement allowance
• coverage for an unlimited number of accidents

I have a friend who was involved in a serious accident months ago. Good thing, she’s ok now. I’m just wondering though, since I’ve never been involved in any accident, I don’t have any idea on how to file for an accident insurance claim most especially if it’s a serious accident. Can you help me with that?

Paige

Atlanta, GA

It’s nice to hear that your friend is doing great Paige. As to your question, here are the things you need to do when filing for accident insurance claims:

• First, you must know what is included on your auto insurance policy before any accident happens. If it would help you more, contact your auto insurance agent so he or she could explain everything to you.
• If you need to rent a car because of the accident and you have rental car insurance coverage then make sure you’re getting the best rental car.
• Check with the Georgia Department of Insurance to know your rights as driver with auto insurance policy.
• Know the worth of your vehicle before the accident happened.
• Reach an agreement regarding the evaluation of the damage on your car. Remember, this must be a fair evaluation.
• Decide whether you still want your car or you want it to be replaced.
• Lastly, move on, whether you want your car to be repaired or replaced still depends on you. If your car is determined to be total then it would be better to find for a replacement car the soonest possible time. Just remember, settlement for totaled cars should include taxes, license fee and title for the replacement.

For more information about accident insurance claims, you can also ask your car insurance agent. I just hope you’ll never be involved in any accident. Always drive safely!

I just got myself an accident insurance policy. I am just curious: what should I do when making claims in case something unfortunate happens to me?

Allen

Milwaukee, WI

One thing you should have done, even before you bought the policy is to read the details of your accident insurance coverage. This way you will be aware of the terms and conditions of your policy. You do not want to be thinking about your insurance coverage while going through the horrors of a vehicular accident, do you?

In case you get into an accident, contact your insurance company immediately. Prepare a statement which describes the details of the vehicular accident as completely as possible. You can make a good claim if you support your statement with pictures of your vehicle or the accident. Jot down the names and contact numbers of any witness who can help you in supporting your accident insurance claim. You should also jot down details of other vehicles and their owners since this will support your claim.

Keep all the bills as well as receipts that you incurred in relation to the accident. You should remember to be honest with all your supporting papers since you are risking disqualification of your policy if you are found presenting false documents.

Review all your policies, too, since you can probably file more auto insurance claims depending on the policies you have.

A friend of mine was a victim of hit-and-run here in Washington and the good thing is that he did not sustain any injury. But his car was damaged and his own insurance paid for it but he also paid the deductible. What types of coverage are recommended for a driver to have for protection against hit-and-run?

Benjamin

East Seattle, WA

Drivers can have the financial protection that they need if they become a victim of hit-and-run by getting the following types of coverage as part of their accident insurance:

Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Without the identity of the other driver is identical as getting into an accident involving an uninsured motorist. Uninsured motorist coverage would cover injury and damages brought about by an uninsured or hit-and-run motorist but it is not required in the state of Washington.

Replacement Rental Car Coverage
A number of car insurance carriers don’t necessarily cover the expenses of a short-term replacement vehicle while your car is being fixed, even in cases such as the damage was due to a hit-and-run.

Majority of the vehicles are in a repair shop after a crash. To think that the normal rate per day for a rental vehicle is $50, it could end up paying more for a day of renting a vehicle than for an annual coverage for replacement rental vehicle coverage in your accident insurance.

A lot of people think that we are ready in the event of an accident, but most of us don’t spend time to go over and be familiar with what’s in our accident insurance. Most of the underwriting of an accident insurance are quite particular and gives thorough description of what’s really involved in the accident insurance.

I have been very cautious driver my whole life. I’ve never had any accidents or traffic violations for fifteen years now. And so I’m wondering: Could I just not renew my accident insurance? I feel there’s just no need for it.

Peter

Jacksonville, FL

Even if you have been a very cautious driver, one sometimes just cannot help for accidents to happen. And so, accident insurance is a must in most states to ensure that drivers and properties of every individual who could get involved in an accident will be taken care of. You should be aware that driving without any accident insurance could get you penalized, where your driving privileges, vehicle tag and registration could be on hold for as long as three years, or until you have given them proof that you have availed of an accident insurance policy.

You’ve said you have been a law-abiding driver for a long time-Well, having no car accident insurance will taint your record as the Department of Safety and Motorcycle Vehicles has ways in tracking registered car owners who have not renewed nor availed of any car insurance policy.

You will never know when and where accidents happen, and so an accident insurance policy will make both your life and your property secure. It will not be a good idea if you do not avail one. You could always get only the minimum required accident insurance coverage in Florida which is $10,000 for personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 for property damage liability (PDL).

I am in financial crisis at the moment and plan not to renew my car insurance which will expire this January 2009. Would I be in trouble and get penalized by driving without car accident insurance?

Horacio

Melbourne, FL

Yes, you will be in trouble for driving without any car accident insurance as it is illegal to drive without one. Keep in mind that the authorities could suspend your driving privileges together with your vehicle tag & registration for as long as three years until such time that you provide them with proof that you have already availed of car accident insurance. Also, the Department of Highway Safety and Motorcycle Vehicles would know if you haven’t renewed your insurance from your previous insurer. So, there’s no way out, really.

If you are really low in budget, I can advise you to not drive and just take public transportation. But you know what a hassle that could be. So, at the very least, try to get the minimum state-required property damage and PIP car accident insurance coverage for your vehicle, so as to avoid legal trouble and penalties. If police catch you driving without any insurance, it will cause you a whole lot more, which is not good especially since you are in financial crisis at the moment. Better get a car accident insurance as soon as possible.