Reader’s Question:

I had a car accident the other night here in Palm Beach, Florida but it wasn’t I to blame. Of course, we filed a police report and I’m counting the other party’s auto insurance would be responsible enough to pay for the damage on my car. If the driver won’t initiate to tell his insurance company, can I call his insurer and tell them about the accident? Shall I also report this to my auto insurance company or let it pass since the accident wasn’t my fault?

Adan

Palm Beach, FL

Dealing with your own auto insurance provider after an accident could be aggravating and annoying. And picture out doing business with the auto insurance provider of another person who collided with your vehicle. Well, you have to keep your cool when you’re making a claim with the auto insurance provider of the other driver who was at fault. That driver should be accountable for telling his insurer about the accident. But it would be a good idea to contact his insurance provider since at-fault drivers may be unwilling to do that. And I assume that you got all the necessary details at the scene of the crash like the name of the insurer, claims contact number and name of an insurance agent.

Then you have to tell the other driver’s auto insurance provider that you have been in an accident with one of their policyholders and report to them any property damage and injuries. Recount only the truth because the authorities would find out who caused the accident and the insurance provider would decide on who was at-fault based on the law enforcement’s reference, in spite of your explanation. Even if you were not the one who caused the accident, you have to call your own insurer in Palm Beach, Florida. They can be able to help you if the other driver and his insurance provider won’t take responsibility for the crash.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance company

Reader’s Question:

A friend here in Palm Beach, Florida told me that if I want to go over arbitration with my car insurance company because of my insurance claim dispute, I need to check my insurance policy first regarding the list of organization who can arbitrate my claim. There’s nothing listed in my policy so how can I go on with the arbitration?

Garry

Palm Beach, FL

If you want to submit a Demand for Arbitration form regarding a claim dispute against your car insurance company in Palm Beach, Florida and there is nothing listed in your car insurance policy as to which organization to submit it to, you can submit that document to Florida department of insurance. You may also opt to send the Demand for Arbitration document to the offices of American Arbitration Association or AAA. Both of you and your car insurance company should agree to arbitration and remember that the rules here would be tougher. Moreover, the rulings in arbitration will be binding resolution.

In case you have an attorney who will represent you at an arbitration trial, you should tell your car insurance provider in advance. Your car insurance provider should tell you as well if an attorney would represent them in trial. Just like the procedures in court, both you and the car insurance company will be allowed to provide proofs that support your claims. Both parties could also bring in witnesses, who should agree to questioning by the other party and by the arbitrator. The arbitrator will have the authority to decide if you have the entitlement to be given any compensation under your car insurance policy and how much it would be. In case you and your insurer make a settlement on your own while in the course of arbitration, the arbitrator could decide that your settlement would be the resolution.

Tags: advice, auto insurance claims, car insurance, car insurance company

Reader’s Question:

What will happen if I decide not to report a car accident to my car insurance provider here in Palm Beach, Florida immediately?

Juanito

Palm Beach, FL

Very good question. It will be to your advantage to contact your auto insurance provider there in Palm Beach, Florida, in the event you get involved in a car accident or collision. Not doing so would be seen by your auto insurance provider as suspicious (who wouldn’t want to get paid or covered immediately from damages to their car that was caused by someone else?) and you might have a much harder time filing for a claim later on. If you were the one at-fault in a car accident, not informing your auto insurance provider immediately about the accident might be used against you in the court, if the other party decides to sue you for damages, injuries or both.

If you were the one whose vehicle got damaged, or incurred bodily injuries you need to inform your auto insurance carrier right away so the appropriate settlement can be processed immediately. If you are able to supply all the necessary information to your insurance provider regarding the other party who caused the accident, your carrier will be able to contact the at-fault party’s own insurance carrier to facilitate processing of your claims, as well as payment of medical or hospital bills if any, as well as repair to your vehicle. You wouldn’t want to pay out-of-pocket for all this yourself, right? To put it simply, there should be no reason that you (or someone you know, if you are not able to) are not able to inform your auto insurance provider about the car accident.

Tags: advice, auto insurance, car, car insurance, car insurance company

Reader’s Question:

I would like to put my daughter under my car insurance policy here in Palm Beach, Florida. I know this might cause my rates to go high, do you have any suggestions on how I can keep my rates low with my teenage driver?

Vanessa

Palm Beach, FL

Teenager Drivers can really cause a big on their parent’s auto insurance expenses. It is a known fact that teenagers are not the best driver’s, as statistics have shown over the years. The good news is that there are actually there are a lot of ways on how you can keep your car insurance rates there in Palm Beach, Florida, in check:

1. Teach your teen to become a responsible driver -making your teenager realize the importance of obeying traffic rules while on the road and the long-term consequences of reckless driving is one of the most effective and important steps you can take to prevent your car insurance from significantly increasing, as well as keeping them safe while driving a vehicle.

2. Smart student’s get good discounts - encourage your child to excel academically since most car insurance providers offer parents with a good student discount towards their auto insurance policy.

3. Consider an Older Vehicle - maybe you can convince your daughter to drive an older, less expensive vehicle (or this may not even be an option for you and her). In any case, it will cost you less to ensure a used, less expensive car as compared to giving them a brand new model.

4. Keep them under the same policy - it will cost much more for your daughter to get her own policy as compared to staying under yours as a “named” driver, your insurance company might even give discounts for doing this too.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance discounts, student car insurance, teen insurance

Reader’s Question:

I want to understand my automobile insurance policy here in Palm Beach Florida a little better, what comprises my insurance policy?

Janet

Palm Beach, FL

Your regular auto insurance policy is actually a package composed of several different types of insurance coverage and each has a role in protecting your financial well being while driving a vehicle. The basic auto insurance policy will have the following: Bodily Injury Liability coverage, Property Damage Liability, Collision Insurance Coverage, Medical Payments (sometimes known as “MedPay”) or Personal Injury Protection, Comprehensive Insurance coverage and sometimes, Uninsured or underinsured motorists coverage policy. It would also be interesting to note that some of these coverage are optional while others, such as Liability Insurance, are mandated by the financial responsibility laws of Palm Beach, Florida.

Bodily Injury Liability - pays for medical treatment, injuries, income loss and pain and suffering compensation if you injure someone in a car accident. Florida minimum requirements: $10,000 payable to each injured person per accident for a total of $20,000 for all injured individuals per accident.

Property Damage - pays for damages you caused to private or public property in a car accident ($10,000 Florida Minimum)

Collision Insurance - pays for damages and repairs to both parties vehicle in a collision.

Comprehensive - Provides coverage if you lose your car due to non-car accident related circumstances like acts of god, floods, vandalism etc.

Personal Injury Protection - pays for treatment of your injuries in a car accident regardless of who is at fault.

Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist - pays for the extra amount needed to restore or repair your vehicle if the other party has no or insufficient insurance coverage to do so.

Tags: auto insurance claims, auto insurance premium, car insurance company, car insurance discounts

Reader’s Question:

I bought a new car in Florida just when we moved in Palm Beach. I heard there is a little difference in the rules regarding car insurance here in Florida in terms of loss of policy. What are those rules and what are the penalties, if there are any, for not having car insurance in Palm Beach Florida?

Dave

Palm Beach, FL

First of all, be reminded that car insurance in Palm Beach or anywhere you drive in Florida car insurance is a requisite to anyone who drives along Florida roadways. And there are certainly penalties for not having a proof of car insurance while driving when the authorities know it.

There are two occasions wherein you may lose your car insurance policy. For one, when your insurance provider cancelled your policy due to failure to renew it or to pay the necessary amount on time, you do not have other options but to subscribe for another policy. You better hurry because your former insurer immediately informs the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) once your policy is cancelled.

The other occasion is when you are driving and you do not carry with you the proof of your car insurance. And in case a police officer caught you driving with his/her knowledge that your car is not insured and you are unable to provide him your insurance card, DMV has the right to suspend your license and your car’s plate and registration up until you are able to show a proof of new insurance policy you get. However, you need to pay a $150 to $500 fee to have your license back as well as your car’s registration and license plate.

Tags: auto insurance policy, car insurance, DMV

Reader’s Question:

I have done some research for car insurance companies and I am near in reaching a decision as to which company I’d go with. Aside from checking if the policy contains the coverage I need for my car insurance here in Palm Beach, Florida, is there some kind of clauses that I should avoid?

Noelia

Palm Beach, FL

I believe that you have gone through a tough time to find the perfect insurer for your car insurance in Palm Beach, Florida. But before you go ahead and put your signature on, you have to go over the policy. Aside from making sure that it has the coverage you need, there are two sections that you must check in the policy:

1. Check if you surrender your privilege to take a matter in court and would just be compelled into mediation if there’s dispute over a certain issue. An insurance expert said that it would be a lot better not to let pass this privilege because it would be simpler for insurance companies to take advantage of you. In case you see this in the policy you are considering, everything is not automatically lost. A contract is a mutual arrangement, so you could remove that part in the policy. In case the insurer doesn’t approve the policy sans clause, you have to look for another insurer.

2. In case you find in the policy that the insurance provider could use “aftermarket parts” for body shop repairs, choose another insurer. If the vehicle that you drive is pretty recent that you intend to maintain for a long time, you’d likely be satisfied if you take some more time looking for another insurer that has competitive edge than try to argue with the insurer once you file a claim.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance policy

Reader’s Question:

What causes my car insurance rates for my car here in Palm Beach, Florida to change? (And how is it determined in the first place?)

Mack

Palm Beach, FL

Hi Mack! It is a good idea to know what can cause your insurance rates to change as well as the how’s and when’s. An educated consumer is an empowered consumer, and being one is just as important in managing your car insurance costs there in Palm Beach, Florida. Below are some factors that can cause your car insurance rates to change, for the better or for the worse.

You’re Driving History
Your driving record is a significant factor on how car insurance companies evaluate (and re-evaluate) your premiums. Sometimes traffic and moving violations as far back as three to five years ago could still come back and haunt you in the form of inflated insurance rates. It is also important to get a copy of your driving history prior to applying since you don’t want any errors or incorrect records affecting your rate evaluations.

You’re Age and Where You Live
This is somewhat out of your influence to change. Teenage and Senior Citizens are viewed as high risk drivers. Males are more prone to car accidents than females. Rural Dwellers also file fewer claims and get involved in less car accidents than City Folks. Insurance Companies live by these statistics.

You’re Credit History
As with almost everything, excellent credit opens up a lot of doors towards savings and better rates while blemished credit histories only open up doors to tenacious bill collectors and high insurance costs.

Tags: auto insurance, auto warranty, car insurance, car insurance quotes

Reader’s Question:

I was made aware that my credit history can affect my car insurance rate that’s why I always try to keep it clean. Will you explain to me how can my credit have an impact on my premiums here in Palm Beach, Florida?

Otto

Palm Beach, FL

You almost certainly know that the lenders use the details on your credit report to find out if they would give you credit. However, in some states your credit rating could also be considered by car insurance providers. Having a good or bad credit history could have an influence on your car insurance coverage and help figure out the insurance rates that you would have to pay.

For instance, you didn’t have a job for many months a few years back. Before you land a occupation, you had some overdue payments on your credit card and other bills. This may cause your car insurance rates to go up, even if you have never filed a claim on your insurance policy. Another case is that you have always paid your dues on time but you use cash instead of a credit. This can be a problem because just like applying for a credit card or mortgage, you won’t have history of monthly payment for credit card. A lot of people know that having a good driving history is necessary; however, that is not just the case. Most car insurance providers in Palm Beach, Florida also take into account your credit as a significant rating factor.

Tags: auto insurance premium, car insurance rates, credit card, credit history

Reader’s Question:

What will happen to my auto insurance policy here in Palm Beach, Florida should I get caught driving drunk?

Will

Palm Beach, FL

Hi Will, should you get caught driving under the influence (DUI or DWI) or get involved in any serious type of vehicular violations, then you can expect some very heavy consequences not only from your car insurance provider there in palm Beach but from the state of Florida as well. The law is very serious about drunk driving, car accidents and traffic violations. And the repercussions are also far reaching, something you will have to live with and work hard to rectify for the next two to three years.

Most likely your auto insurance coverage will either get canceled or your insurance premiums gets dramatically inflated but thats going to be the least of your problems. Your driver’s license might get temporarily suspended until you pay some healthy fees, thats if you’re not sentenced to spend some time behind bars . If you’re insurance does get canceled there are still insurance providers out there who’s willing to take in high-risk driver. Yes, you’re going to be considered a high-risk driver and get all the perks that come with it such as sky high rates and having to file and maintain an SR22 (proof of financial responsibility) for at least a couple of years. It’s going to be a dreadful experience in exchange for those few bottles of suds. So why risk it?

Tags: auto insurance, auto warranty, car insurance