Fabian : What should I do if an accident happens?

Response : Knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives and also make the claims process easier.
• Stop your car and find out if anyone is injured.
• Call the police or highway patrol. Tell them how many people were hurt and the types of injuries. The police will notify the nearest medical unit.
• Cover injured people with a blanket to keep them warm.
• Try to protect the accident scene. Take reasonable steps to protect your car from further damage, such as setting up flares, getting the car off the road and calling a tow truck.
• Request the investigating officer for steps to be taken to obtain a copy of the police report. You will probably need it when you submit your claim to your insurance company.
• Make notes. You will need information of the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers involved in the accident , license plate numbers, the details of the cars, drivers license number, insurance identifications, name and address of witness, police badge number and that of other emergency personnel.
• If you run into an unattended vehicle or object, try to find the owner. If you can’t, leave a note containing your name, address and phone number. Record the details of the accident.

If necessary, have the car towed to a repair shop. But remember, your insurance company probably will want to have an adjuster inspect it and appraise the damage before you order repair work done. Do not worry about the future- look into the present. Claims do increase your auto insurance but it can taken care of later.

Shawn :Why auto insurance rates are based on driver?

Response : Many people feel that it is irrational on the part of the insurance companies to base the rates of auto insurances on the drivers. However the observations and statistics given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have studies USAA (USA – automobile accidents) and their findings reveals that the behavior of the driver that leads to auto/car accidents:
•Speeding: Speeding crashes cost Americas $40.4 billion each year.
• Drunk driving: The persons who died in alcohol-impaired crashes, down 3.7 percent from 13,491 in 2006. In 2007 alcohol-impaired crash fatalities accounted for 32 percent of all crash deaths.
•Red Lightning: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that more than 900 people a year die and nearly 2,000 are injured as a result of vehicles running red lights. About half of those deaths are pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles who are hit by red light runners.
• Fatigue: NHTSA statistics show that at least 100,000 crashes and 1,500 deaths each year are the result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. New Jersey is the only state with such a law on the books.
• Multi-tasking: Cell-phone use and multitasking has caused. Some form of driver inattention was involved in almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes within three seconds of the event.
Thus a person’s own habits and his behavior are responsible for himself and others when he is on the road. Drive safe – save yourself and others. Yourself – by averting accidents and keeping your auto insurance premium low,getting cheap auto insurance.

Alicia : Does your car insurance policy have to have the same name as the car loan?

Response : This is not a requirement of the insurance company but a requirement of the car financier. As per the terms of agreement of you car loan, the financier will insist on the borrower to maintain Full Coverage Auto Insurance policy coverage to protect their own interest (lien) on the property until the loan is fully paid. If you fail to do this than under the terms of the finance agreement you will be under default and breach your contract. The financier will have the option of repossession of the vehicle and other remedies at his disposal.
The Insurance policy should be properly in the name of the vehicle owner with any additional drivers listed as additional insured on the policy. This would mean that all the persons having a driving license and staying with you should be declared as additional insured. This is for the liability coverage since the liability would be on the person driving the vehicle and the Comprehensive and collision coverage will be on the vehicle – which is the property of the person in whose name the car is registered and is the owner.

Sometimes the financer will ask you to take a gap insurance coverage.

Troy : I am using my mother’s car when I am delivering pizza’s. Is this fine or should I declare the same to the insurance company?
Response : If your mother’s car is insured under the Personal auto insurance coverage, than this would certainly be have to declared to the insurance company so that they can make a change in the coverage. The change in coverage from personal use to business use will certainly increase the premium on your car insurance.
On the other hand, if you do not declare this and meet with a car accident when you are delivering or at any other time, if the insurance company finds out – which is highly likely, than your mother’s insurance policy can be cancelled. The insurance company can deny the claim on grounds of a material misrepresentation and this can lead to very serious circumstances. I would advice you to declare this. Please shop around for cheap auto insurance and you will find good options online.

Randy: I am a teenager and am looking for discounts on auto insurance quote, can you let me know what to do?

Response: Sure Randy, I know this may sound unbelievable, but low auto insurance quotes are possible even for teenagers. Here are 10 tips for saving auto insurance premium:
1) Till you possible can, please insure yourself under your parents policy as an additional driver. This will reduce your auto insurance rates by almost 50%.
2) You should stay within 100 miles of your parent’s residence so that you can insure your car with them as an additional insured. If you stay in another state or far from them this would not be possible.
3) Obtaining good grades with a GPA of 3.00 will be in your advantage and you would be able to save at least another 10% on your insurance premium.
4) Taking the graduate driving course is profitable for you, both in enhancing your driving skills and also in learning to drive with a greater maturity. All most all insurance companies will offer you discount for this.
5) Drive carefully and if possibly without any companions – this will help you to avoid accidents and keep low premiums.
6) Select the right vehicle which is safe and has safety features like airbags, good brakes and four door cars. This will win you a safety discount.
7) Making sure that you do not go for a sports car, will also help in getting cheap auto insurance.
Keeping a low mileage or car pooling wins you a low usages discount.
9) Buying car insurance online gives you additional discount.
10) Some companies offer no smoking discount. Avoid drunk driving at all cost.
These tips will certainly ensure you a low car insurance coverage or a cheap car insurance rate.
Thanks.
Kamlesh