absolute liability - the insurance company’s responsibility to a third party regardless of any statutory breaches on the part of the insured
actual cash value - replacement or market value less depreciation
adjuster - a person who acts on behalf of an insurance company or an insured in the settlement of claims
agent/broker - a person who solicits or offers insurance products on behalf of insurance companies.
at-fault accident - those accidents which occur because of your own actions. Comprehensive claims such as windshield damage, or stolen stereos are not considered accidents. They are comprehensive claims made against that portion of your coverage, if you carry it for damage to your own vehicle.
cancellation - the termination of an insurance contract before it expires.
cancellation (flat) – an insurance company cancels a policy as of its effective date, without charging any premium to you. This may happen if an insurance company realizes it has given an incorrect quote. It may cancel the policy and refund all your money. It may also do this if they void the policy. It may void a policy if it determines that not all material information was provided to them to properly assess the risk.
cancellation (pro-rata) – an insurance company cancels a policy and adjusts the premium in proportion to the time the coverage was in effect. It refunds a portion of the premium back to you.
cancellation (short-rate) - an insurance company cancels a policy at your request before the expiry date and charges a premium larger than what would be applicable for the period insured. This must be
provided for in the policy. Generally, this increased charge is made because fixed expenses have been incurred by the insurance company. Insurance companies often use fixed rate tables to calculate the premium they have earned.
claim - a demand for payment for a loss under an insurance policy
deductible - The amount of a claim that you are required to pay. For example, if you have $1000 worth of damage done to your car from vandalism and your deductible is $500, you will be responsible for $500 of the cost. The insurance company will pay for the other $500.
driving convictions - these are any offences under the Motor Vehicle Act or the Criminal Code of Canada. They include speeding, careless driving, impaired driving, not wearing a seatbelt. These convictions are included on your drivers abstract which insurance companies are able to obtain as part of their underwriting rules. If you have one or more driving conviction, your insurance premium will likely increase.
endorsement - a form amending the terms of the policy. Sometimes called a rider.
insurance premium - the price you pay for the insurance policy, based on the risk assessment
lapse in coverage – Companies rate a policy based on continuous insurance history. A short lapse in coverage is no longer a reason to decline someone insurance. It is however a factor in the rate charged by an insurer. Before cancelling a policy for a short term, check with your insurance broker to determine how the lapse in coverage will affect you and future insurability.
not-at-fault accidents - A not at fault accident occurs by action other than your own. For example, when you stop at a stop sign and someone hits your rear bumper. (Please note, a windshield or a stolen stereo are comprehensive claims and while they are also not
at fault they do not involve the vehicle moving.)
risk - the likelihood that a person or thing insured may suffer injury, damage, or loss. third party liability insurance - protects the insured against liability arising out of bodily injury or property damage to others underwriter - a person who decides if an insurance risk is acceptable. He/she decides in what amount and on what terms the insurance company will accept the risk. Also called an insurer.
underwriting rules - rules used to assess the risk in insuring you. In Nova Scotia, these rules are established by the insurance companies and are based on their own business needs.
December 19, 2007
Commonly used auto insurance terms
December 18, 2007
Answers to "Auto Insurance" Frequently Asked Questions about
Q: What is “no-fault” auto insurance?
A: No-fault insurance, also known as PIP or Personal Injury Protection, provides coverage for certain medical and rehabilitation expenses from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. It pays benefits for injuries whether or not the insured person is negligent or “at fault”. (Property damage is the responsibility of the at-fault party.) The no-fault law expires on July 1, 2003. All policies with an effective date on or after July 1 will be issued under a “tort” auto insurance law...
Q: What is “tort” auto insurance?
A: A “tort” is a civil wrong, but not a crime. In auto insurance, a tort system means that a determination of fault in an automobile accident is made. The party at fault or his or her insurance company pays medical and rehabilitation expenses to the injured party, as well as property damage. An injured party may also sue for other losses including lost wages and pain and suffering.
Q: What is “liability” insurance?
A: Liability insurance is generally defined as coverage for bodily injury you cause to another person or for property damage you cause to another person’s property through negligent use of your vehicle. The minimum amount of liability insurance required by Colorado Law is as follows:
! $25,000 per person for bodily injury;
! $50,000 per accident for bodily injury; and
! $15,000 per accident for property damage.
Q: What happens to my auto insurance policy on July 1, 2003?
A: The current no-fault law expires on July 1, 2003. That means that all policies that are issued or renewed on or after that date will be written as tort policies. However, if you have a policy that was written before that date but expires after that date, you will still receive the benefits of your “no-fault” policy. For example: Mary has a no-fault policy that was issued on April 15th and expires on October 15th. She is injured in an accident on August 20th. Her medical and rehabilitation expenses will be paid under her no-fault auto insurance policy, regardless of the fact that the no-fault law expired on July 1st. These benefits will be paid regardless of who was at fault in the accident.
Q: Why would my no-fault benefits be paid if the law has expired?
A: Your current auto insurance policy is a contract. It was written under the laws of Colorado at the time you entered into that contract and prior to the expiration of no-fault. The new law does not interfere with your contract and the insurer is required to pay all benefits as outlined in your policy.
Q: If my policy continues until after July 1, can my insurer cancel my no-fault policy on July 1?
A: Not unless you approve of the change. Your auto insurance policy is a contract and cannot be changed mid-term unless you agree to such change.
Q: I don’t want to continue PIP coverage after July 1. Can I buy a tort policy even if my current no-fault policy continues past July 1?
A: Yes, as long as both you and your insurer agree to the change. As the policyholder, you may contact your insurance agent to discuss whether changing from a no-fault to a tort policy is the best thing for your individual needs.
Q: Will I be able to purchase coverage for medical expenses under a tort system?
A: Most, if not all, auto insurance companies will offer limited “medical payments coverage” to their policyholders. This provides coverage for medical bills incurred by you and your immediate family if you are at fault and injured in an auto accident. Check with your agent about the availability of medical payments coverage.
Q: What happens if I am at fault in an accident, and my medical expenses exceed the limits of my medical payments coverage?
A: Under a tort system, it is assumed that the negligent party is responsible for damages. Either you or your health insurance will pay for your medical expenses that exceed the limits on any medical payments coverage under your auto insurance policy.
Q: What happens if I am injured by a negligent driver? Do I have to go to court to get my claims paid?
A: In the vast majority of cases, the answer is no. Typically, the auto insurance companies settle on a determination of fault in a particular accident, and benefits are paid accordingly. Only in few cases where there is a dispute about who is at fault or to the extent of the damages will court action be necessary.
Q: What happens if I am injured by an at-fault driver who does not have auto insurance?
A: If you have purchased uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, your insurance company will cover your medical expenses. If you have not purchased uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, you or your health insurance will likely pay for your medical bills. You may of course sue the at-fault driver, but uninsured motorists typically do not have substantial assets from which to recover damages.
Q: How much liability insurance should I carry?
A: You should speak with your agent about your particular circumstances to ensure that you have enough insurance to protect your assets in the event you are sued for damages. Under the old PIP law, if you injured another person in a motor vehicle accident, that person’s PIP coverage would cover their medical expenses. Under the new law, your bodily injury liability coverage will cover those same expenses if you are at fault.
December 15, 2007
Know the 6 Types of Auto Insurance
Car insurance is the most bought type of insurance in the United States of America. There are more cars than people in America and couple that with various States making car insurance mandatory; you have something that is in high demand. This need for insurance will always have people trying to get the best deals possible on the different types of car insurance available. To be informed, the article will examine the different types of car that exist on the consumer market.
Bodily Injury Liability is an insurance policy that covers drivers of another car. If you meet in accident and the other driver is injured then Bodily Injury Liability will cover the medical costs of in the case the other driver is injured in an accident. This mainly benefits policy holder as he does not have to worry about being sued.
The Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage is close to the bodily Injury liability mentioned above. The difference between the tow is the fact that the policy holder and associated passengers are covered in the case of an accident. This means they are entitled to have their medical bills, loss of wages and even death is covered.
Under Property Damage Liability car insurance policy, the insurance company will cover the cost of repairs to the other party’s car in the event of an accident. With this coverage the other individual’s damages will be paid for by the insurance company, while the policy holder would have to pay for his own damage from his own pocket.
The Collision insurance policy is one of the most common and cheapest auto insurance policies available. With collision the insurance company will pay for the damage or repairs if another driver crashes into you. This usually requires drivers to have a deductible and once the deductible is paid, the insurance company will pay for the rest.
Comprehensive coverage is another popular policy for motor vehicle owners. With comprehensive coverage the car is covered from a wide array of things. The car will be protected from fire, theft acts of God and collision with other vehicles. Policyholders need to pay a monthly deductible. Once this is paid in the event of an accident, the insurance company will cover the rest.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage will usually protect the policy holder in the event that someone with no or insufficient insurance crashes into his vehicle. It will also protect against hit and run drivers in the event of that type of accident.
The breakdown of the different types of car insurance policies available helps to make understanding motor vehicle insurance easier. You have looked at Bodily Injury Liability, Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Property Damage Liability, Collision, Comprehensive, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage. By investigating and understanding the different policies, we are able to see what differences and similarities they offer. This enables consumers to have insight and knowledge into the best car insurance for their car and the one that offers the best coverage options.
About the author:
Amazing writer James Dalton has much more insurance related information on his popular websites Birmingham insurance industry
, Tucson Insurance and Indianapolis insurance . Get more insightful articles at his website
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Auto insurance explained
Automobiles particularly cars are quite expensive nowadays. For many people it takes several years of hard work and lot of savings to purchase a car. So it becomes essential to secure a vehicle by the means of insurance. Automobile insurance is the best way to protect you the automobile and the huge amount invested in it.
Auto insurance is basically an agreement between an insurance company and a vehicle owner.
The latter is required to pay premium at a certain fixed tenure while the former agrees to pay for any damage or loss of the vehicle. In many countries it is mandatory to have an auto insurance policy. For this policy does not just provide monetary assistance to a vehicle owner, it is also of great help while tracing a vehicle in case of theft and the like.
Once you make up your mind regarding which car (any other vehicle) to purchase, the foremost thing you ought to do is to decide the amount of liability coverage that you require. For help and further information in this area you can consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles. After you make up your mind about the liability sum, think about the type of insurance you want. There are different types of auto insurances policies available that vary according to their coverage. For instance the comprehensive auto insurance covers all cases of accident and theft of your vehicle. Whereas the Third Party, Fire and Theft insurance covers only those situations of accident when the policyholder collides his vehicle with someone else’s one. The company will not reimburse in case any other automobile hits the insured one. It is at your discretion as to which policy to adopt. The expense of the policy most often varies with its coverage. So the more a policy covers, the higher is its cost.
Thirdly look for the insurance company from where you desire to purchase your desired policy. For this purpose you can check out the sites of various insurance agencies, can acquire online quotes that are totally free of cost, make a survey in your social circle and so forth. However you should know that in order to determine the contemporary rates, companies take the help of statistical history. These rates depend on the money the required to pay on all claims and company business expenses. The rates of auto insurance policy are also related to the insurance company you choose. This is because each company offers different claim experiences with the number of people they insure. Moreover the cost of doing business i.e. the amount of money to be paid to sell and service their policies and the financial targets to achieve are different for different companies. The companies thus charge accordingly.
Along with these there are several other factors that directly affect your auto insurance rates. These are age, make and model of your vehicle, purpose served by the it, driving record, the manner in which you maintain your car and your credit ratings.
Different types of auto insurance
By Mansi gupta
Nowadays auto insurance is the ideal way to ensure a good life for yourself and your expensive vehicle. Auto insurance keeps safe your huge amount of money spent on your automobile. But on the same hand, auto insurance is also quite expensive. However there are different types of auto insurance policies available today. It is at an individual’s discretion which policy he can afford to adopt.
1. Fully Comprehensive Auto Insurance Policy Types- though this policy is the most expensive one yet it is the most widely adopted type of auto insurance.
This is so because the insurance provides compensation or covers all sorts of cases such as theft, accident, wear and tear etc. If unfortunately an accident occurs where you were not at fault while the other driver who did the accident does not disclose his and his insurance details; you ought not to worry. For being a policyholder of the fully comprehensive program, you can register an insurance claim against your insurance company. But while taking this policy one essential thing should be borne in mind. There are a few auto insurance companies that do not insure your vehicle 100% of its value but of 80% or so. Even though many companies defend their policy as a measure to prevent themselves from fraud cases etc. yet try your bets to find the agency that insures your vehicle 100%.
2. Third Party, Fire and Theft- this type of insurance is basically meant for those car owners who have had finished their car loans but still admire, cherish their car and have great sentiments attached to it. This policy is somewhat akin to the fully comprehensive one but not identical to it. For like the latter the former covers cases of theft, accident, fire etc. but in case of an accident you can receive compensation only when you were at fault and had hit another car. So if any other car hits yours or you by mistake bang t in the garage, the insurance company will not come to your financial aid.
3. Third Party Insurance- it is the insurance that is the cheapest of all and covers only cases of accident where you were at fault and hit a third party. The insurance company is not to be contacted in case of any other mishappening with your vehicle. This insurance policy is generally preferred by those who own an old and less pricey car or any other vehicle.
4. Specialized Car Insurance- is basically for cars categorized as classic, those that are 25 years old. These cars are insured as classic and so accordingly they have their requirements and services. The classic car insurane policy can be said to be as good as the comprehensive one but the only drawback associated with it is that it limits the policy taker to a limited number of road miles he can drive in any given year.
Ultimately it is at the discretion of every individual which policy he desires to take. It is advisable to sort out one’s requirements and budget and also make a survey of the auto insurance policies in the market before actually grabbing a policy.
About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about affordable auto insurance quote. Learn more http://www.lowquoter.com/auto/ .
December 14, 2007
What is Auto Insurance and What Does It Cover?
Every person who drives a car needs the protection that auto insurance can give. If you are involved in an accident in a way that make you responsible for any damage of another person or vehicle the insurance will protect you from financial ruin. All states in America require drivers to maintain liability insurance for their auto. However, this coverage does not provide much protection outside of making sure that if you should be at-fault with another driver that your insurer will step up to bat and pay the bill.
But what if you and your vehicle is damaged, will the insurance cover the expenses? There are a wide very of other coverages available, some that benefit you and some that are rarely used and probably covered by other services you already subscribe to.
If you have a newer car, or one that has a lien against it by a bank or other financial company, you are required to also maintain collision insurance. This type of coverage ensures that your vehicle will be fixed or paid off in the event that you are in an accident that damages your own vehicle and it is your fault. Another widely held coverage is called uninsured insurance. This protects you in case you are hit by a driver who does not have insurance and they are at-fault. Without this coverage it is up to you to try and collect damages from the person at-fault through the legal process which may often take years and never materialize at all.
Other coverages such as ERS (Emergency Roadside Service), rental reimbursement and accident death and dismemberment are purely optional and may hold some value if you are not already protected under another program such as AAA.
When shopping around for insurance coverage be sure to compare apples to apples for rates. It is best to compare just liability, collision and uninsured coverage and then if needed add other coverages on for peace of mind protection.
By : Marvin Toller is a web publisher who likes to write about car insurance. You can read more at his news and in depth information website http://www.11-car-insurance.com
November 30, 2007
Auto insurance basics
Auto insurance is a contract that protects your financial security in case of an accident. Although it is not mandated by federal law, the purchase of auto insurance is usually a requirement in most states; every state (with the exception of New Hampshire and Wisconsin) have minimum insurance laws.
These two states, instead of having insurance requirements, have mandated financial responsibility laws, so that the owner of a car is required to show that he has sufficient funds to pay any necessary claims. If said owner cannot produce proof of satisfactory assets, then he must buy an auto insurance policy. Regardless of the law, having good auto insurance is practical for the driver who wishes to avoid lawsuits or immense repair bills.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), a basic auto insurance policy is comprised of six basic types of coverage. While some of these types of coverage are required by state law, some are considered optional. These are:
1. Bodily injury liability
2. Property damage liability
3. Medical payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
4. Collision
5. Comprehensive
6. Uninsured/Underinsured motorists coverage
Liability coverage is the foundation of any auto insurance policy, and is required in most states. If you are at fault in an accident, your liability insurance will pay for the bodily injury and property damage expenses caused to others in the accident, including your legal bills. Bodily-injury coverage pays for medical bills and lost wages. Property-damage coverage pays for the repair or replacement of things you wrecked other than your own car. The other party may also decide to sue you to collect "pain and suffering" damages.
Liability insurance
Liability insurance (both bodily injury and property damage) is the foundation of most auto insurance policies. Every state that requires auto insurance mandates the purchase of property damage liability, and Florida is the only state that requires auto insurance but does not call for bodily injury liability. If you are at fault in an auto accident, your liability coverage will pay all the expenses, bodily injury, property damage, and any legal bills. The bodily injury coverage would pay for medical bills and lost wages; the property damage coverage would pay for any auto repairs, or replacement. Property damage liability usually repairs damage to other vehicles, but can also cover damages to things such as lamp poles, fences, buildings, or anything else that your car may have struck.
Collision and comprehensive coverages
If you cause an accident, collision coverage will pay to repair your vehicle. You usually can't collect any more than the actual cash value of your car, which is not the same as the car's replacement cost. Collision coverage is normally the most expensive component of auto insurance. By choosing a higher deductible, say $500 or $1,000, you can keep your premium costs down. However, keep in mind that you must pay the amount of your deductible before the insurance company kicks in any money after an accident.
Insurance companies often will "total" your car if the repair costs exceed a certain percentage of the car's worth. The critical damage point varies from company to company, from 55 percent to 90 percent.
Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your car that weren't caused by an auto accident: Damages from theft, fire, vandalism, natural disasters, or hitting a deer all qualify. Comprehensive coverage also comes with a deductible and your insurer will only pay as much as the car was worth when it got wrecked.
Because insurance companies normally will not pay you more than your car's book value, it's helpful if you have a rough idea of this amount. Check the Kelley Blue Book or the National Automobile Dealers Association. If your car is worth less than what you're paying for the coverage, you're better off not having it.
Neither collision nor comprehension insurance is required by any of the states, but some lenders, when the owner finances the car, may require the purchase of collision and comprehensive in the loan agreement. Even when it is not required, collision and comprehensive coverage is highly recommended by the insurance industry, so that in the unforeseen event of damage or theft, the owner of the car can avoid heavy bills. Theft of cars is not as unusual as some people may think. In 2004, a car was stolen in the United States every 26 seconds, and a car had a 1 in 190 chance of being stolen.
