(757) 333-3333Five Reasons Why You Need More Car Insurance in Virginia
Often drivers and passengers who get hurt in car wrecks in Hampton Roads or elsewhere in Virginia face an uphill task covering their injuries financially. They simply lack adequate car insurance. Drivers frequently make the mistake of buying bare-bones policies to keep down their premiums. Here are five reasons why you need more car insurance in Virginia.
In Virginia, it’s illegal to have no car insurance. But there’s a catch. In Virginia, you can legally avoid obtaining any liability insurance if you pay the state’s $500 uninsured motorist fee. The fee offers you no insurance protection at all. Virginia is unique among U.S. states in this regard.
If you are hit by a driver with no insurance, the wisdom of having more car insurance in Virginia will quickly become obvious.
Why You Need More Car Insurance in Virginia
1 It protects you from Drivers who have the Bare Minimum.
That’s not much if you are hurt by a driver who has the lowest coverage available.
Here are the bare minimums in Virginia.
- Bodily Injury: $30,000 per person and $50,000 per crash;
- Property Damage: $20,000 per accident;
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury: $30,000 per person and $50,000 per accident;
- Uninsured Motorist Property Damage: $20,000 per accident with a $200 deductible for hit-and-run accidents.
Anyone who is hurt in a serious accident will know $30,000 is quickly used up in medical bills. If you have more insurance, your insurance company can supplement a claim after a car accident with injuries.
2 It Protects Your Family if You Are Sued
Getting sued after a car accident for driving carelessly is more common than you think. Additional coverage will help protect you. It’s called peace of mind and it’s another reason why you need more insurance coverage in Virginia.
3 Increasing Your Coverage May Change Your Rate for Just $8 a Month
Drivers who have 50/100/50 coverage and increase to 100/300/100 can pay as little as an additional $8 a month on their insurance bill.
4 You Can Receive Medical Bills Reimbursement
If you have accident-related medical bills, you could be reimbursed under the medical benefits coverage. In Virginia, all drivers should obtain some level of insurance coverage to pay for their medical bills should it become necessary. Health care costs in the United States are often very expensive. Your medical coverage can provide coverage for everything from emergency room fees to rehabilitation costs. As well as obtaining basic medical coverage, you can also get coverage for lost income related to your accident. Opt for MedPay when taking out insurance coverage.
5 It Gives You Peace of Mind
Knowing that your family and assets are fully protected on the road may be the biggest benefit of having sufficient car insurance coverage.
Additionally, taking out additional insurance coverage can help you if you are hurt by an uninsured driver. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage offers you protection in case the driver who injures you is either uninsured and cannot pay or lacks enough coverage to pay for all of your losses. In some cases, drivers, passengers, or pedestrians are hurt by hit-and-run drivers who cannot be traced.
Under Virginia law, all insurance policies offered in the state must include UM coverage, with an opt-out provision for drivers who do not wish to carry it. You should make sure to have UM/UIM coverage. The Insurance Information Institute reports that more than 10 percent of all Virginia drivers lack insurance coverage.
We hope we have convinced you of why you should get more car insurance in Virginia. Of course, the fact you have more insurance coverage may not protect you from the many insurance company tricks you are likely to face if you find yourself in an auto accident.
Often you will need a personal injury attorney to help you leverage as much insurance as possible from your claim because an insurance company will often try to give you the bare minimum your policy allows.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can help you if you were hurt in a car crash in the City of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Hampton Roads or elsewhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please call us today at (757) 333-3333.
