It is important for every driver to understand the fundamentals of auto insurance before being involved in an accident and before hiring a personal injury attorney.
Liability Coverage
The basic auto insurance coverage is called Liability Coverage and it pays for any property damage or injury you cause to another person.
You can purchase the minimum amount of coverage required by the law of your state (in Arizona the minimum is $15,000). However, you can also purchase Liability Coverage in greater amounts to protect you in the event you cause a greater amount of damage.
In addition to whatever amount of coverage you choose, the insurance company will also pay for an attorney to represent you if you get sued by the injured person.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
The next type of auto insurance coverage you can buy is Uninsured Motorist Coverage which pays for damage or injury caused to you or your passengers by an uninsured motorist. This coverage can be purchased in different amounts as well.
Underinsurance Motorist Coverage
You can also purchase Underinsurance Motorist Coverage which pays for damage or injury caused to you or your passengers by a driver who doesn't have enough coverage of his own to fully compensate for the damage or injury he causes. This coverage can be purchased in different amounts as well.
Collision Coverage
There is also Collision Coverage you can buy to pay for your property damage, regardless of whether the damage was caused by someone else's fault or not.
Medical Payments Coverage
Finally, you can purchase Medical Payment Coverage which pay for medical care caused to you or your passengers as a result of a car accident.
In the event you are involved in an auto accident with injuries, having proper insurance in an adequate amount will enable your personal injury attorney to obtain a recovery sufficient to fully compensate you and your passengers.
