Commonly Misunderstood Auto Insurance Terms

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If you aren't sure what all of the terms in your auto insurance policy mean, you're not much different from most consumers. Insurance is a learned industry, and unless someone takes time to discuss what each term and condition refers to in actuality, you may not inherently know. Here, we demystify two of the most misunderstood phrases in auto insurance: comprehensive coverage and bodily injury coverage.

Comprehensive: It's Not That Comprehensive

In layman's terms, "comprehensive" refers to all-inclusive. When it comes to auto insurance coverage, comprehensive has a slightly different meaning. Basic full coverage insurance consists of three primary coverages: liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance. Liability insurance covers your liability to another driver or pedestrian should they experience vehicle damage or injury in an accident for which you were deemed at fault. Collision covers damage to your vehicle following a collision - and comprehensive fills in the gaps by covering damage to your vehicle caused by anything other than a collision. Some examples of situations that may be covered by comprehensive auto insurance include:

  • accidents involving an animal
  • storm damage, such as hail dents
  • criminal damage, such as theft or vandalism
  • fire damage

Bodily Injury Coverage is Not for You

One of the most common auto insurance misconceptions is that bodily injury coverage will cover your medical bills following an accident. Bodily injury is part of your liability coverage, which means it is designed to cover your liability to another driver, passenger, or pedestrian; not your own incurred expenses.

However, if you are injured in an accident and another driver is at fault, your injuries should be covered by the other driver's bodily injury coverage. If you are injured in an accident and you are the driver at fault, personal injury protection (PIP) coverage may cover your medical expenses.

To learn more about your auto insurance policy or get a quote today, visit InfinityAuto.com or call 1-800-INFINITY.

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