All across the country the weather has wreaked havoc with ice storms, blizzards and slippery conditions.
Lets go over your car insurance coverage that applies to these driving hazards.
1. What happens if I have to abandon my car? Call for emergency roadside assistance before abandoning you vehicle. If you have roadside-assistance or a membership in a program such as AAA, the charges will be covered. You could be in for a long wait, however, if the conditions are treacherous. There were about 500 motorists who abandoned their vehicles on Lake Shore Drive in the recent blizzard that dumped 2 feet of snow.
2. What happens if I hit a curb? Your collision coverage on your auto pays for damages to your car if you collide with another car or objector as a result of flipping over. If you hit a curb it would be considered the object' by most and, as such, would come under your collision coverage. You might want to obtain a couple of estimates in case the damages are close to your deductible, in which case you might not want to file a claim.
3. What if I slide and hit parked cars? Try to do whatever you can to contact the owners of the parked cars. Obtain their insurance information or write down their license plate number and leave a note with your insurance and contact information. Your collision coverage will pay for the damage to your vehicle, and your liability coverage will pay for damage to the other vehicles. Say the situation was reversed and someone did this to you and they did not leave their information, your uninsured motorist coverage would pay for the damages.
4. What if I get towed? If you get towed while parked illegally your insurance will not apply. Depending on the situation, your local jurisdiction may or may not make you pay towing fees. Call your roadside-assistance provider if you need towed versus having the city tow your car.
5. What if my car doors are frozen shut? Once again, call your roadside-assistance provider, whether it is through your auto insurance company, or a motorist club. This might be covered through these services.
6. What if I got in an accident, but police are responding to injury-only incidences? During blizzard situations this may be the case. After the weather clears file a report with the local authorities. At the time of the accident exchange information with all parties involved so that you may give this information to the police for the accident report. Most insurance companies will ask if you filed a report when you call to report the claim.
7. What if my car is stolen when I left in running to warm up? Depending on where you live, in some states you could get a ticket for leaving your car running unattended. Even though this is covered under comprehensive and collision coverage, if you have it, even though you made stealing the car easy. Some people find this coverage expensive and decline it to save money. It is important to remember that if you do pass on this coverage, loss from theft would not be covered, nor would damage from vandalism, natural disaster or damage that is your own fault.
Contact your insurance agent or company if you are not sure what coverage applies to your winter driving quandaries. It is better to be proactive and know what you are up against.
