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Auto Insurance Coverages

Car Accidents
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September 5, 2014

Figuring out all the industry jargon when shopping for car insurance can be frustrating.  Knowing the limits of each category can only help you if you understand what they each mean.  The auto insurance agents at Vern Fonk are ready to help you determine just how much coverage you may need on your car insurance. We’re ready to help you understand exactly what you’re paying for and make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck.

Here are the most common types of coverages you’ll find on a typical car insurance policy:

Collision Insurance Coverage

Collision coverage helps pay for repairs and replacement to your car if your accident is at fault and involves another car, crashing into another object or rolling over.

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage

This type of coverage helps pay for repairs and replacement to your car if it has been damaged due to something that is not accident related. This may include fire, theft, vandalism, falling objects, animals (hitting on the road), and natural disasters.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Coverage

This type of coverage is the most common coverage and comes on just about every policy. The “liability” part of this coverage means “responsibility” and refers to both covering the bodily injury damage caused to people in the crash and the property damage damage done to vehicles in the crash. So basically, it helps pay for expenses for medical bills and property damage if you are at fault in an accident.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

It has been reported that about 1 in every 7 drivers on the road are uninsured in the US. An accident with an uninsured driver can result in costs that aren’t covered by your basic liability insurance coverage on your policy. This is where uninsured motorist coverage comes in. It can help with costs associated with accidents with uninsured drivers. It’s an added protection that can help you make sure you don’t get stuck with the bill. This coverage can cover bodily injury or property damage or both.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal Injury Protection (aka PIP) helps pay for medical expenses, income loss and benefits for yourself and members of your household in the case of accidental injury or death. This can include lost wages due to injury, medical bills and other collateral costs.

These are just some of the basic coverages that many policies will cover. Speak with a Vern Fonk car insurance specialist in Washington or Oregon today to figure out how much coverage you should have on your vehicle and on yourself.