Buying car insurance in Pennsylvania is easiest when you know what protections you should have and you understand what all of these items are. It is important to educate yourself; ask your insurance agent questions about anything you do not fully understand and/or do research on your own. For instance, you may not know what full tort (called zero threshold in NJ) is, as opposed to limited tort (called verbal threshold in NJ). Keep this in mind: Bucks County personal injury lawyer Michael L. Saile, Jr. believes that full tort insurance is worth every penny, in case you should ever be involved in a Philadelphia area auto accident, and that underinsured and uninsured coverage is something that every PA and NJ driver should obtain.
When purchasing PA or NJ auto insurance, always play the “what-if” game:
- What if I were serioulsy injured in a Pennsylvania or New Jersey car accident caused by another driver and that other driver was uninsured – who’s going to pay for my long-term care?
- What if I only purchased PA limited tort insurance but I sustain injuries that turn my life upside down leaving me with pain every day – how do I get compensated for my pain and suffering?
- What if another driver runs a red light and hits me, injurying me so badly that I need surgery but that driver only has required PA minimium liability coverage of $15,000 – without my own substantial underinsured coverage how would my medical bills get paid?
Other tips on buying car insurance include:
- Tip 1: Determine how much (or how little) coverage you are comfortable with and keep in mind that this affects your entire household. In making this determination, start with a “worst case scenario” mindset and work from there.
- Tip 2: Comparision shop among insurance companies; solicit competitive quotes. Be familiar with all of the coverages your current policy offers and what it costs on a yearly basis. See who will give you the best price for the protection(s) you are looking for. Once you get the different quotes, (either on-line or by telephone) keep track each price and what each of them includes. The car insurance buying process can be simpler if you stay organized.
- Tip 3: Look for discounts. Some insurance companies give discounts for a good driving record, favorable credit score, safety equipment built in to your vehicle and certain occupations or affiliations.
- Tip 4: Do the math. Caluculate how much the increased cost for full tort, and substantial uninsured and underinsured coverage will total over 1 year. Chances are, it’s less than you would have thought and very much worth the extra protection it provides you and your family. If you or a family member is injured in a PA or NJ accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about lack of insurance while trying to physically recover.
- Tip 5: Review the insurance policy before you sign. Make sure all of the options you chose are present in the policy and that you undertand everything, inlcuding the payment cycle.
- Tip 6: Cancel your old policy once you are locked into your new policy (if you’ve purchased from a new company).
If you need more information about NJ or PA car accidents, accident injuries, or filing a personal injury claim, call the Bucks County car accident lawyers at the Law Firm Cordisco & Saile LLC. Order Attorney Saile’s FREE and very useful PA Car Accident Book. Whether or not you have been injured in a PA accident, this book provides detailed information about what you should know and do if you are ever involved in a PA or NJ car accident due to someone else’s negligence.
