In all my years of practice, I have found that the majority of new car accident clients consistently fail to do what they should do when they are involved in a car accident. This is usually the result of a lack of knowledge as to what to do or the inability to remain composed under the traumatic circumstances of the accident. In an effort to remedy this problem, I have written a book on what to do if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident to be published later this year. The following is an excerpt from the chapter of my upcoming book about what constitutes a good car insurance company.
If I had a dollar for every time that someone asked me which insurance company is a good company to have, today I would be a very wealthy man. The fact is there isn’t a single insurance company that I feel comfortable recommending. Insurance is big business motivated by the almighty dollar and accordingly insurance companies appear to primarily tend to do what is in their own best interest. I try to advise clients to choose a lesser known insurance company that is well established and well rated. I never recommend a specific insurance company and don’t think that I ever will.
The reality is that maintaining insurance on your vehicle is extremely expensive and difficult to afford. In the end people are usually compelled to go with whoever charges less. I understand this reasoning, but you have to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Brokers will sometimes provide minimal coverage and even no coverage for certain portions of your policy, that may not be in your best interest. Additionally, the reason a quote may be less expensive is simply because you are getting less by way of coverage.
If you are looking to change insurance companies, you may want to provide the new broker with the Declaration Sheet from your current company. The Declaration Sheet is that piece of paper the insurer sends you every time you renew your policy, stating what your coverage is and how much it all costs. This is perhaps the best way to insure that you are being quoted an apples to apples premium based upon the same type of coverage.
It is also sometimes advisable to use an insurance broker as opposed to an insurance agent. An insurance agent is generally loyal to one particular insurance company, while the broker may be affiliated with a multitude of different insurance companies to choose from. Whoever you choose as your insurer, make sure your choice is based upon facts and not cute commercials.
Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
www.liattorney.com