What Is Collision Car Insurance?

Collision car insurance represents a type of auto insurance coverage that covers your financial losses if you crash into a stationary object or another motor vehicle. As opposed to liability insurance, collision car insurance covers your car damage losses even if an investigation discovers that you caused the auto crash. Collision insurance covers getting involved in a one-vehicle accident, such as your car rolling over or hitting an electrical utility pole. You also receive collision insurance coverage if another party hits your car while it is parked on a street.

Keep in mind that collision insurance coverage covers only the financial losses generated by vehicle damage. It does not cover other types of property damages, such as damage done to a laptop. Although collision insurance coverage is a good idea to purchase, state laws do not require motorists to have it. However, car rental businesses typically require customers to buy collision insurance to rent a motor vehicle. Another example of mandatory collision insurance is having to buy it if you have not paid off the balance on a car loan.

You should ask a few questions before you determine whether having collision insurance is worth the additional cost.  How much is your motor vehicle worth? If it is worth a substantial amount of money, collision insurance provides you with financial protection in case you damage the car as a result of a collision. You also have to ask yourself whether you can afford to pay for auto repairs out-of-pocket. Purchasing collision insurance provides you with the peace of mind of knowing that you are covered financially in case your vehicle sustains damages because of an auto crash. If you put your car in storage for a long period to maintain its value, then buying collision insurance might not be a financially prudent idea.

Although having collision insurance coverage is a good idea for newer vehicles, there comes a point when you should consider dropping it from your auto insurance policy. The general rule is to drop collision insurance coverage when your vehicle turns five years old or when your car exceeds 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Nonetheless, you must make the value of your car the most important criterion for deciding when to drop collision insurance coverage. For instance, a five-year-old Mercedes-Benz retains more value than a five-year-old Ford Taurus. You also have to factor in the value of your annual auto insurance deductible, as well as the other types of auto insurance coverage you have bought.

Shopping for the right auto insurance policy can create confusion, mostly due to the many different types of coverage. One of the most common questions asked by consumers shopping for auto insurance is what is the difference between collision and comprehensive coverage? As we mentioned earlier, collision insurance coverage covers the financial losses associated with making an impact with another car or a stationary object. Collision insurance covers you if you get involved in a one-car crash or a multi-vehicle collision.

On the other hand, comprehensive auto insurance covers the costs associated with non-impact financial losses. Comprehensive car insurance covers incidents such as fire, auto theft, falling objects, and severe weather. Since you have less control over events such as the weather and falling objects, you should consider purchasing comprehensive insurance if your vehicle has retained enough value to make it worth the investment.

When you meet with a car collision lawyer from Morgan and Morgan for a free case evaluation, one of the first items on the agenda is to determine the cause of the auto crash. Determining the cause of a vehicle collision often helps a personal injury attorney decide whether another party committed one or more acts of negligence. Your attorney reviews the formal police report, as well as any physical evidence you have gathered. With more than three decades of experience litigating personal injury cases, Morgan and Morgan presents the three most common causes of car accidents.

Reckless Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding motorists caused more than 25 percent of all fatal auto crashes in 2018. Moving above the speed limit reduces the amount of time a driver has to make adjustments. Speeding also exacerbates the damage caused by an impact, especially when it comes to producing serious injuries that require emergency care. Another type of reckless driving that can produce serious injuries is when a motorist runs a red light or stop sign. This type of reckless driving frequently causes side-impact crashes, which leave a driver highly vulnerable to sustaining severe, even life-threatening injuries.

Distracted Driving

States have cracked down on the dangerous practice of texting and driving by passing laws that prohibit the behavior. However, most motorists ignore texting and driving laws. Texting and driving puts a motorist in a precarious position to operate a vehicle because of the fact the head is turned away from the road in front of the vehicle. By the time a driver realizes the imminent danger, it becomes too late to make the proper adjustments to avoid a collision. Other types of distractions that lead to auto crashes include eating, listening to music on headphones, and tending to personal hygiene issues such as applying makeup.

Driving Under the Influence

States have also passed strict blood alcohol content (BAC) laws to deter drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol.  As with anti-texting and driving laws, far too many motorists ignore BAC laws, which usually establish a limit of 0.08. Driving while intoxicated slows down reaction times, which prevents motorists from making the right moves to avoid contact with other vehicles. It also impairs the judgment of motorists, especially when it comes to performing unnecessary risk maneuvers like trying to pass other vehicles in a no-passing zone.

All three of these common causes of car accidents are considered negligent acts by law enforcement agencies. The key to proving negligence is to acquire the footage captured by a traffic and/or security camera.

Hiring an experienced car collision lawyer at Morgan and Morgan helps you file a persuasive insurance claim in many ways. Your attorney works with a properly credentialed investigator to conduct a separate investigation that gathers more physical evidence. Perhaps the responding law enforcement agency missed a vital piece of physical evidence that indicates another party committed at least one act of negligence. A car collision lawyer also interviews witnesses, with a focus on witnesses that did not give statements to the responding law enforcement officers. 

You also receive legal support when filing your claim. A Morgan and Morgan car collision lawyer ensures you submit a fully completed claim form with 100 percent accurate information. Your attorney calculates a fair value for compensation and if required, tries to negotiate a settlement with the insurance adjuster processing your claim. Another important role for a car collision lawyer from Morgan and Morgan involves closely monitoring the progress of your insurance claim. Because of our more than 30 years of experience, the personal injury attorneys at Morgan and Morgan have developed positive professional relationships with insurance adjusters operating all over the United States.

If you got involved in a vehicle collision, act with a sense of urgency by scheduling a free case evaluation today with a car collision lawyer from Morgan and Morgan.