Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog
Car insurance is an essential part of owning a vehicle, and it is especially important in Illinois. The state requires that all drivers carry a minimum level of liability insurance to cover any damages or personal injuries that may occur in the event of an accident. However, simply having the minimum coverage may not be enough to protect you and your assets in the event of an accident.
When shopping for car insurance in Illinois, it’s important to know that there are different types of coverage available. The most basic form of coverage is liability insurance, which covers damages or injuries that you may cause to another person or their property in an accident. However, liability insurance does not cover your own damages or injuries. To protect yourself fully, you should consider additional types of coverage, such as collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage will pay for damages to your vehicle if you are involved in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Comprehensive coverage provides protection for damages caused by events other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
It’s also important to consider the level of coverage you need. Illinois has a minimum coverage requirement, but that may not be enough to protect you fully. If you have a newer or more expensive car, you may want to consider purchasing higher levels of coverage to ensure that you are fully protected in the event of a crash.
When it comes to buying car insurance, it’s important to avoid a sub-standard insurance policy. Sub-standard insurance policies are often sold by non-standard insurance companies, and they may have lower coverage limits, higher premiums, and less protection than standard insurance policies. These policies are often targeted at high-risk drivers or poor communities, and they may not provide adequate protection in the event of an accident. Some sub-standard insurance companies sell policies with very restrictive requirements in case of an accident as a predicate for coverage. For example, our personal injury lawyers in Chicago have been involved in claims against sub-standard insurance companies, which refuse coverage for an insured accident, because the policy owner failed to give notice in writing and via certified mail or by personal delivery that the insurance company must receive within 30 days. These insurance companies eliminate the so called default contractual “mailbox rule” and instead consider notice received not when their policy holder puts the notice in the mail, but when the insurance company receives the notice. Such restrictive provisions have unfortunately slipped through the gatekeepers at the Illinois Department of Insurance, and it falls on personal injury lawyers like us to litigate the unreasonable requirements to even get coverage despite policy holders’ paying to the insurance company for months or years. We urge people who are not happy with how their insurance handles their claim to file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Insurance and maybe the state agency will listen and stop approving insurance policies with such restrictive conditions.
In conclusion, car insurance is an essential part of owning a vehicle in Illinois, and it’s important to buy a good insurance policy to protect yourself and your assets. Always consider the different types of coverage available, and make sure you have enough coverage to protect yourself fully. Avoid sub-standard insurance policies and be sure to understand the policy before you agree to purchase it. It’s always best to do your research and shop around to find the best policy for your needs. If you have been in a car crash and need help, contact the personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer for help.