3 Most Common Utica Area Car Insurance Blind Spots
July 6, 2021
We’ve found that when people first buy car insurance, their number one priority is to get their car on the road. They’re usually young and excited about getting their own vehicle.
To many of them, insurance is just a mandate. An annoying bureaucratic step in the process of getting them on the road. We understand. It’s the freedom of the ride that counts. Not the registration, plates, and insurance.
But there is just one small catch.
They’re operating a two-ton motorcar travelling at speeds from 30-65 miles per hour in a 12 foot or less lane with cars careening at you just feet away in the opposite direction.
What could go wrong?
So we direct this especially for newer car owners. We thought it valuable to point out three of the most common car insurance blind spots to avoid.
1. Low Limits of Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (BI/PD)
We admit, car insurance in the Utica area can seem expensive. But what people don’t realize is that increased limits of liability do not cost much.
First of all, what is liability coverage? It’s usually one of the first coverages listed on your car insurance policy. Look for it under Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (BI/PD).
Bodily Injury Liability protects you if you’re sued and found negligent for injuring someone else in a car accident. And it pays your legal defense.
Property Damage Liability pays if you’re found negligent for damaging another’s property in a car accident. This can include another car, house, fence, lawn, etc.
Minimum limits in New York State are only $25,000/$50,000/$10,000. Can you imagine having to pay for someone’s Mercedes because you’re at fault in a car accident? You’d only have $10,000 from your insurance policy. You’d be responsible for the rest.
The blind spot? Raising the limits of liability on your car insurance does not cost much more! So get out your policy and call us. We’ll calculate for you the exact amount it would take to get you more coverage.
2. No Fault Insurance/Basic Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Here’s an insurance that protects the driver of your car and its passengers. And it pays no matter who is at fault in an accident. It pays for medical/health expenses, lost earnings, and other reasonable and necessary expenses related to injuries sustained in a car accident.
The blind spot? The basic limit is only $50,000 with $2,000 per month loss of earnings. You can get additional coverage for both at, again, very little cost. Just give us a call to find out how much.
3. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) and Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (SUM)
The last coverage we’ll talk about protects you from the other guy. What do we mean by that? Say you’re hit by another driver in an accident. The accident is the other guy’s fault. You sue him for damages and win. But he has no insurance. Or he has lower limits than the damages you won. What can you do?
With these coverages you can collect the damages from your own policy.
The blind spot: The minimum limit is $25,000/$50,000. But here again, the cost to raise that amount is minimal. And this is insurance that protects you from the irresponsibility of the other guy. So it makes sense to get as much as you can.
Your first step in all of this is to call us. If we don’t have your insurance, have your policy in front of you. We’ll quote you increased limits for these important coverages.
Take the worry out of driving by eliminating these three blind spots. Call us today at 315.792.0000. We look forward to speaking with you!
Until next time,
Your SZW Team
SZW Insurance is your Utica area Trusted Choice™ independent insurance agent. Call us for a quote on insurance for your home, car, business, or life at 315.792.0000. Or request a quote here. In Westchester County call Zak Scalzo at 914.246.0315 or email at zaks@szwinsurance.com.
