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Understanding Your Car Insurance Coverage

Automobile insurance policies cover more than just your responsibility for an accident. The usual policy is really a “bundle” of separate insurance coverages that provide important protection for you, your family members and your passengers. Some of these coverages are automatically included in your policy, while others are optional. As a Connecticut personal injury lawyer who has handled many car accident cases, I know how important it is to have sufficient insurance limits. The following is a brief description of the kinds of coverage that an auto insurance policy may cover.

For example, let’s assume your case is worth $400,000.00. and you have uninsured/underinsured coverage of $300,000.00 on your vehicle. If you were to collect the full policy limit of $100,000.00 from the at-fault driver, you would only be able to collect an additional $200,000 from your own policy for a total recovery of $300,000.00. This is because standard underinsured coverage allows your auto insurance company to take a “credit” for the $100,000.00 paid by the at-fault driver’s insurance. With conversion coverage, however, your company does not get to offset the amount paid by the at-fault driver towards its limits of coverage. In the above example, you could collect the full $300,000 from your own underinsured coverage, plus the $100,000.00 from the at-fault driver, for a total of $400,000.00.

Medical payments coverage. This optional coverage and provides insurance for payment of your medical bills if you are in a car accident (regardless of fault). This is an optional coverage that, as a car accident personal injury lawyer in Connecticut, I highly recommend, especially if you do not have major medical insurance or have a high deductible.

Collision coverage covers damage to your car caused by collision with another vehicle or object or by your car turning over. There is almost always a deductible which you must pay if you repair or replace the car.

The contents of this article are taken directly from a Connecticut Insurance Department publication and is for general information only.

Get A Free Consultation With An Experienced Connecticut Auto Accident Attorney With Offices In Stamford, Norwalk And Bridgeport

At the Law Offices of John J. LaCava, LLC, we have been helping put lives back together for more than 35 years. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, we will review your insurance coverage and advise on the options for you to recover maximum injury compensation.

The main offices of our firm are in Stamford, Connecticut, but you can reach us at any of our three convenient Fairfield County locations. Call our office for a free consultation or complete the brief online form.