A Guide to Understanding Car Insurance Terminology

Driving without car insurance can have catastrophic consequences, especially if you are in an accident that results in injuries to yourself, or another person and/or their car. All vehicles that are registered in New York state must have liability insurance coverage. Not having valid, up-to-date insurance coverage provides the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with the right to suspend both your drivers’ license and vehicle registration.

Under New York law, the minimum amount of automotive liability insurance coverage that you must have is:

• $50,000 for any deaths, and $25,000 for any bodily injury caused by an accident.
• $10,000 to cover property damage resulting from an individual accident.
• $100,000 for accidents causing the death of at least two people.
• $50,000 for accidents causing bodily injury of at least two people.

Choosing the right automotive insurance policy will require you to understand an assortment of car insurance terminology. Luckily, we’ve developed this guide to understanding car insurance terminology to ensure that you purchase and understand the insurance protection that you deserve and need.

The Basics of Car Insurance Terminology

Before purchasing your car insurance, you should review the underlying policy agreement to ensure that you understand all of the terms and conditions contained within the policy. It may even be a good idea to have an attorney review a potential car insurance policy in order to ensure compliance with New York law.

Some of the terms that will be included in a common car insurance agreement include:

• Comprehensive Coverage: Covers the costs to repair damage to your vehicle that were not caused by a car accident. Common issues covered by comprehensive coverage include vandalism, flood damages, theft, fire, inclement weather and damage caused by animals.
• Collision Coverage: Pays for the cost of repair for any damage or other harm caused to your car after a collision with any object including a vehicle.
• Bodily Injury Insurance: Provides protection against those injuries you or another person suffered because of your negligent driving. Typically pays for the injured party’s lost earnings, medical costs and damages.
• Deductibles: This is the amount that you will have to pay your insurance provider before they pay for losses sustained.
• Residual Bodily Injury Coverage: Provides protection for your passengers if you are sued for sustained injuries.
• Underinsured Driver Coverage: Provides protection when another driver caused a collision or accident, while not having enough insurance to cover the resulting damages. Provides you with payment up to your policy limits in order to cover the property damages and/or bodily injury.
• Uninsured Driver Coverage: Used to provide protection if you were injured by a driver who did not have automotive liability insurance.
• Rental Reimbursement Coverage: Covers alternative transportation expenses, typically car rentals, if vehicle damage prevents you from being able to drive your automobile.
• Personal Injury Protection: Provides payment in a set amount for sustained personal injuries, regardless of who caused the car accident or collision injury.

Choose the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

Getting into a car accident can be an extremely stressful situation, especially if either driver does not have the proper New York-mandated automotive car insurance. No matter whether you have been involved in a car accident or collision caused by the negligence of yourself, or another driver, you will need assistance from trained personal injury attorneys. That’s where the Long Island, New York car accident attorneys here at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP can help. We can provide a full range of solutions, including a review of your car insurance policy or automotive accident case, in addition to any other personal injury legal assistance that you need.

For a free legal consultation, call 516-358-6900