Could you please give me some instances wherein I don’t have to file a claim with my car insurance company here in Florida regarding an accident? Also, it will be much appreciated if you give instances on when it is necessary to file a claim.

Adrien

Miami Beach, FL

In case there is already a point on your driving record because of a speeding violation, you may inquire with the California department of insurance to see their rules about nonrenewal. Be cautious to report the accident to your car insurance company in case filing a claim for an accident you cause, plus your previous ticket, will indicate a nonrenewal. However, if there is another vehicle concerned or you have other people in your car, you might want to file a claim for that. You will never foresee what may happen after the accident and if you don’t report it, your car insurance provider will have a drawback in defending you.

In some instances that do not have bodily injury, it is enticing to just privately resolve the issue with the other individual/s involved without reporting it to your insurer or the authorities. However, you have to be cautious if you were not the one who caused the accident and you have endured damages. On the other hand, if injuries were not instantly obvious after the accident and they show up the following day and you know that those injuries need medical attention, you have to inform your insurer about that accident.

Hi, I just had my auto insurance recently under my parents’ policy here in Florida and honestly, I am not familiar with some things on it. I still don’t know why Florida is a no-fault insurance state, so would you care to explain that?

Jose

Coral Springs, FL

Since you have just been recently added as a new driver to your parents’ car insurance policy in Florida, it is perfectly understandable that you are not yet familiar with everything that is on it. Majority of the states have conventional fault-based system wherein the compensation will be according to the driver’s level of fault in an accident. But, some states view that it will be expensive to fight through the courts just to figure out who was at fault in a lot of accidents. For this reason, some states are using another system which is no-fault insurance.

If you get involved in an accident, your car insurance company will pay for the damages up to a certain limit, no matter whose fault it was under the no-fault system. In return for this definite compensation, you should give up some of your rights to take legal action against the other person involved in the accident. Similarly, you will not be taken to court by the other party in case you are the one who caused the accident. There are some aspects of no-fault in every car insurance policy. For instance, medical payments as well as property damage are normally being compensated whoever is to blame in the accident.

I’ve been doing a lot of traveling for my job here in Florida and I have seldom been using my car. Would it still be advisable to pay for car insurance even when I’m not using it?

Alexandra

Miami, FL

Even though you may not be using your car there in Florida that much because of your business trips it would still be highly advisable to maintain auto insurance cover for your vehicle. You may not know it but your auto insurance policy is a collection of several type of insurance coverage that is designed to provide as much protection for you and your vehicle as possible from as many adversities or events that could cause you to lose your vehicle or incur financial liabilities in damages.

In your case, you would at least want to keep Comprehensive and to some extent, Collision Coverage, for your vehicle. These type coverage will provide protection in the event your vehicle is damaged or totaled while you are away. It is not a remote possibility that, while you are traveling, someone breaks into the garage where your car is safely parked vandalizes or cannibalizes your vehicle for parts. There are a lot of possibilities like fire, natural disasters and theft that can cause you to lose your vehicle while you are away. Comprehensive Insurance will protect you from that. If your car is parked outside and is hit by another vehicle, maintaining collision coverage would still assure you that repairs, replacement or reimbursement for your vehicle is still possible.

I suggest you talk with your car insurance provider to see if they are flexible enough to allow you to streamline your policy for at least until the duration of your trip.