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 New
York
Auto Insurance
At Bollinger, Inc., we have a wide range of New York auto insurance
companies that provide New York auto insurance. Here are just a few companies that we use, First Trenton, Selective, Ohio, Encompass, Chubb & Son, Atlantic
Mutual. If you would like to obtain a quotation for your insurance, please complete our request for quotation form and we will contact you to review your
New York auto insurance needs. We hope that you find the information we are providing about
New York auto insurance of value.
Important Information You Should Know About New York auto insurance
An automobile insurance policy consists of several types of coverage. An insurance company charges a separate premium for each coverage, the sum of which determines the total premium for your policy.
The State of New Jersey requires all registered motor vehicles to be insured for liability, personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist
coverage. Collision, comprehensive and other coverage is optional.
What is liability coverage?
Liability coverage pays for injuries to other people (bodily injury liability) or damages to their property (property damage liability) if you are responsible for their losses. State law requires drivers to purchase coverage which will pay, per accident, a minimum of $15,000 for any one person's injuries; $30,000 when more than one person is injured; and $5,000 for property damage. Some companies, however, sell a combined single limit (which will pay for both bodily injury and property damage losses) of at least $35,000 per accident.
You should purchase higher limits of liability coverage at an additional cost. With the high cost of health care and the cost to repair or replace a vehicle the minimum limits will not go very far. The cost to increase the coverage is not as high as you may think.
Why must I buy personal injury protection?
Personal injury protection (PIP) eliminates the need for an auto accident victim to seek legal action to recover medical expenses. PIP, which is also known as no-fault coverage, pays all reasonable medical expenses up to $250,000 per person per accident, regardless of who is at fault for an auto accident. The
minimum deductible - the amount a policyholder must pay - is $250, and an insurer reimburses 80 percent of the expenses between $251 and $5,000. Your insurer pays 100 percent of the eligible expenses exceeding $5,000.
You may choose deductibles of $500, $1,000 or $2,500, resulting in a proportionate reduction in your PIP premium. You also may qualify for a lower PIP premium by selecting your health insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) to pay for medical bills resulting from an auto accident Keep in mind if you choose this option and change jobs you may have a gap in coverage.
Do I have to pay for uninsured and underinsured motorists?
No. Uninsured motorist coverage protects you against other drivers who have no insurance and are legally responsible for injuries to you, your passengers or resident relatives or for damages to your vehicle or its contents.
Underinsured motorist coverage provides you with protection against drivers who have liability insurance with low limits. If you are involved in an accident caused by an underinsured driver, this coverage will pay for damages up to the difference between your underinsured motorist coverage limit and the other driver's liability coverage limits.
State law requires drivers to purchase uninsured motorist coverage which will pay, per accident, a minimum of $15,000 for any one person's injuries; $30,000 when more than one person is injured; and $5,000 for property damage, or a combined single limit of at least $35,000 per accident. There is a mandatory $500 deductible for uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage. As with liability insurance, higher uninsured/underinsured motorist limits are available at an additional premium.
Am I required to buy collision and comprehensive coverage?
No, collision and comprehensive coverage are not required by law. However, if your vehicle is financed or leased, the
lien holder or leasing company may require you to purchase these coverage.
What types of losses are covered by collision and comprehensive?
Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by your vehicle striking objects such as other cars, trees or telephone poles, or for the vehicle overturning, or for other moving objects hitting your vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage pays for nearly every other kind of damage to your vehicle, such as fire, theft, flood, vandalism or contact with a bird or animal
Collision and comprehensive insurance will reimburse you only up to the actual cash of the vehicle, minus your deductible. The standard deductible for both types of physical damage coverage is $500. However, you may buy
coverage with higher or lower deductibles. Lower deductibles result in higher premiums; higher deductibles reduce premiums.
You may purchase other optional coverage such as additional PIP, towing and rental reimbursement. Be sure to ask us about the availability of these
coverages.
SAVING MONEY ON YOUR AUTO INSURANCE
Comparison Shop
Prices for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company, so it pays to shop around. You should get at least three different quotes. But don't shop price alone.
The insurer you select should offer both fair prices and excellent service. Quality personal service may cost a bit more, but provides added conveniences.
Ask for Higher Deductibles
Deductibles represent the amount of money you pay before you make a claim. By requesting higher deductibles on collision and comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive cost by 15% to 30%.
Drop Collision and/or Comprehensive Coverages on Older Cars
It may not be cost effective to have collision or comprehensive coverages on cars worth less than $1,000 because any claim you make would not substantially exceed annual cost and deductible amounts. Auto dealers, banks and independent agents can tell you the worth of your car.
Buy a "Low Profile" Car
Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Cars that are expensive to repair, or that are favorite targets for thieves, have much higher insurance costs.
Take Advantage of Low Mileage Discounts
Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a predetermined number of miles a year.
Consider Insurance Cost When Making a Move
Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in cities where there is more traffic congestion.
Find out about Automatic Seat Belt or Airbag Discounts
You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some coverages if you have automatic seat belts and/or airbags.
Ask about Anti-Lock Brakes
Anti-lock brakes improve steering control and stability when a car is brought to a stop, thus reducing accidents. Some states, including Florida, New Jersey and New York, require insurers to give discounts for cars equipped with the brakes and some insurers have a nationwide discount in place.
Inquire About Other Discounts
Some insurers offer discounts for things like no accidents in three years, drivers over 50 years of age, driver training courses, anti-theft devices, good grades for students, students away at school over 100 miles and having more than one car insured with that company.
Update your insurance regularly
You may see premium reductions if your use of a car has changed. If there is a change in the principal driver, if the number of miles driven decreases or if younger drivers are away at school, be sure to call your agent.
AIR BAG SAFETY
AIR BAGS
As of February 1, 1998, air bags have saved 2,474 lives, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) . Air bags have reduced deaths in frontal crashes by about 30% among drivers and by about 27% among passengers.
However, as of February 1, 1998, 91 deaths have reportedly been caused by air bags inflating in low severity crashes. These deaths include 36 adult drivers, 4 adult passengers, 39 child passengers and 12 infants in rear-facing child seats. Most of these victims were unbelted or improperly belted. If small children sit unbelted in the front seat, they can be thrown into the path of a deploying air bag, which inflates with great force. This risk also applies to small adults who must sit close to the steering wheel to reach the pedals, pregnant women and the elderly. Infants in rear-facing safety seats on the passenger side can be severely injured because their heads are in the direct path of an inflating air bag.
SOLUTIONS
Drivers should have all children sit in the backseat wearing a safety belt. Infants should be placed in rear-facing car seats and put in the backseat. Small adults should move the seat back so that their breastbone is at least 10 inches from the air bag cover. If these tips cannot be performed, air bag switches can be installed so that the vehicle owner has the option of turning the bag on or off, depending on the situation. In January 1998, NHTSA allowed auto dealers and repair shops to begin installing air bag cut-off switches. Before the switch can be installed, vehicle owners must complete a four-step process:
1. Obtain an information brochure and request form from NHTSA, dealerships or repair shops.
2. Return the form to NHTSA.
3. Receive authorization from NHTSA after it reviews the case.
4. Take the vehicle to the service shop along with the authorization from NHTSA which certifies that the owner has read the brochure and met one of the four eligibility classifications
a. rear-facing infant seat must be in the front (necessary if the vehicle has no back-seat)
b. driver's seat can not be adjusted to keep more than 10 inches between the driver and the steering wheel
c. putting a child 12 or under in the front seat cannot be avoided
d. having a medical condition that puts them at risk of injury when an air bag deploy
AVOIDING DEER/CAR COLLISIONS
Cars and deer can be a calamitous combination on the highway.
Each year there are approximately 500,000 deer/auto collisions resulting in over 100 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Deer/auto collisions cost the auto insurance industry about $2,000 per claim.
The explosion in the deer population has led to the increase in deer/car collisions. In the 1980's the deer population was approximately 10 million. Today, there are more than 25 million. Losses due to deer and car encounters will only increase as the deer population continues to grow and urban habitats encroach upon rural environments.
The following are defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer:
Be vigilant in early morning and evening hours, the most active time for deer.
Use your high-beam headlights, which reflect in the deer's eyes, to see the deer better.
- Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
- Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path. Do not swerve. It can confuse the deer as to where to run. It can also cause you to lose control and hit a tree or another car.
- Be alert and drive with caution when you are moving through a deer crossing zone.
- Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in car/deer crashes were not wearing their seat belt.
- Look for other deer after one has crossed the road. Deer seldom run alone.
If your vehicle strikes a deer, do not touch the animal. The frightened animal, in attempting to move, could hurt you or itself. The best procedure is to get your car off the road, if possible, and call the police.
Contact your insurance agent or company representative to report any damage to your car. Collision with an animal is covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy.
FILING AN AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM
Approximately 35 million auto accidents occur each year. If you are involved in an accident, knowing what to do may help alleviate some of the anxiety that an accident causes.
At the Scene
1. Stop your car and get help for the injured.
2. Have someone call the police or highway patrol. Tell them how many people were injured and the types of injuries. The police can then notify the nearest medical unit.
3. Give whatever help you can to the injured but avoid moving anyone so you don't aggravate the injury. Covering an injured person with a blanket and making that person comfortable usually is as much as you can do.
4. Provide the police with whatever information they require. Ask the investigating officer where you can obtain a copy of the police report. You will probably need it when you submit your claim to your insurance company.
5. Try to protect the accident scene. Take reasonable steps to protect your car from further damage, such as setting up flares, getting the car off the road and calling a tow truck. If necessary, have the car towed to a repair shop. But remember, your insurance company probably will want to have an adjuster inspect it and appraise the damage before you order repair work done.
6. Make notes. Keep a pad and pencil in your glove compartment. Write down the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers involved in the accident. Also note the license number, make and model of each car involved and record the driver's license number and insurance identification. Record the names and addresses of as many witnesses as possible, as well as the names and badge numbers of police officers or other emergency personnel. If you run into an unattended vehicle or object, try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a note containing your name, address and phone number.
7. Record the details of the accident.
Filing Your Claim
1. Phone your insurance agent or a local company representative. Do it as soon as possible even if you're far from home and even if someone else caused the accident.
2. Ask your agent how to proceed and what forms or documents will be needed to support your claim. Your company may require a "proof of loss" form, as well as documents relating to your claim, such as medical and auto repair bills and a copy of the police report. Supply the information your insurer needs.
3. Keep records of your expenses. Expenses you incur as a result of an automobile accident may be reimbursed under your policy. This could include medical and hospital expenses, lost wages and at least part of your costs if you have to hire a temporary housekeeper.
4. Keep copies of your paper work. Store copies of all paper work in your own files. You may need to refer to it later.
New York Auto Insurance
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