The Baton Rouge, Louisiana personal injury attorneys at Murphy Law Firm understand that sometimes an auto insurance policy can be confusing. Below is some helpful information that may assist you in understanding your policy.
In Louisiana, state law requires motor vehicle owners to carry liability coverage of 10/20/10, which means $10,000 for bodily injury to one person, $20,000 for bodily injury to more than one person in a single accident, and $10,000 coverage for damage to someone else's vehicle or property.
Most insurance companies will offer additional optional coverages such as medical payment coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage coverage, towing and labor coverage, comprehensive and collision coverage.
Every auto insurance policy is unique. So, please refer to your individual insurance policy to learn more about what coverages and amounts you are insured for in case of a car accident.
Hopefully, this section well help you better understand your personal automobile insurance policy.
Definitions - while reviewing your insurance policy certain terms have a specific meaning
- "We", "us", or "our" means the insurer on the policy declaration page.
- "Auto" - refers to a land motor vehicle meant for use on public roads.
- "Utility Auto" - refers to an automobile with a pick-up, sedan delivery, or panel truck body type.
- "Bodily injury" - refers to injury, sickness, disease or death resulting from a given accident.
- Sicknesses categorized as sexually transmitted diseases are not covered
- "Resident" - refers to a person with physical presence in your household with the intention of continuing to live with you. Also, any unmarried dependent children who are away from home if they intend on continuing to living in your household.
- "You" or "your" - refers to you, the policy holder, or the resident spouse of the policy holder.
- Deductible - the amount you pay before your insurance provider begins payment
Policy Declarations Page - this page shows the list of drivers, vehicles, and the amount of coverage covered by your policy.
Insured Person - a description of who is covered under your insurance policy
- Using your insured vehicle
- You, a relative living with you at the time of the accident, and any person using your vehicle with your permission.
- Using a non-owned vehicle
- You and any relative living with you at the time of the accident.
Insured Auto - a description of what classifies as a insured automobile under your insurance policy
- Any vehicle described by your individual policy declarations, this includes the passenger car or utility vehicle you replace it with.
- A temporary non-owned vehicle that is used as a replacement while your owned vehicle is being repaired or if your vehicle was stolen.
- A non-owned vehicle that is being used with the owner's permission. This only applies if this vehicle is not available for your regular use.
- Also a trailer that is attached to the insured vehicle. This trailer must not be used for business purposes.
Non-residential Coverage - When using an out of state insurer that coverage must extend to the minimum coverage set by Louisiana rules and regulations.
When & Where Your Policy Applies - Your auto policy applies only during the premium period. The policy applies to losses to your car, accidents and other occurrences while in the USA.
Limit of Liability - An insurer is only liable for the amount stated on your individual policy declaration. This set amount is payable for one auto accident.
Types of Coverage
Liability Insurance Coverage - Bodily Injury & Property Damage
- Your insurance company should pay for damages you are legally required to pay due to:
- Bodily injury to any person
- Damage or destruction of property
- This coverage protects you from claims for accidents.
- The minimum amount of coverage required in Louisiana is 10/20/10. This means that you must have $10,000 per person or $20,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,00 for property damage.
Auto Medical Coverage
- Using this coverage, your insurer will pay for expenses resulting from an automobile accident. These expenses may result from a variety of services from hospital bills to funeral service. Since insurance plans vary, please check your individual insurance coverage to verify what your insurer covers and to what extent.
- Diagnosis of the injury must be made within one year of the accident and must be reported to your insurance company within a time period set by you insurer.
- Your insurance company will need proof of these medical claims and may request an examination by a physical of your insurer's choice.
Auto Death Coverage
- Under this coverage, your insurer will pay for expenses due to death directly resulting from an injury, illness, or disease caused by an auto accident.
- The death must occur within a time frame stated in your insurance policy.
Auto Disability Income Protection
- Under this coverage, your insurer will pay a weekly or monthly amount stated on your policy declarations page.
- The covers if you experience continuous total disability as a result of an auto accident.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
- Under this coverage, your insurance company will pay for damages that you as an insured person is legally entitled to recover from the owner or operator of an uninsured vehicle due to:
- Bodily injury to an insured person
- Property damage to your insured vehicle - Your insurer may set a certain amount that may not be covered if the damage to your vehicle is below that set amount.
- An uninsured auto is:
- A vehicle which doesn't have a liability bond or an active insurance policy at the time of the accident
- A vehicle for which the insurer denies coverage
- A hit and run vehicle that cause:
- Bodily injury to an insured person by physical contact
- Property damage to your insured vehicle by physical contact
- The identity of the operator and the owner of the vehicle must be unknown
- The accident must be reported to the police within 24 hours
- A vehicle which is underinsured according to Louisiana law
- A vehicle which causes:
- Bodily injury or property damage to an injured person/vehicle without physical contact
- In this case you, as the insured injured person, must show by independent witnesses that your injuries were the result of the actions of another uninsured vehicle as defined above
Auto Collision Insurance
- Under this coverage, your insurance company will pay for direct or accidental loss of your insured vehicle due to a collision with another object or vehicle. The amount paid by the insurer will be the amount of repairs minus the deductible amount as set in your policy deductions.
Auto Comprehensive Insurance
- Under this coverage, your insurance company will pay for direct and accidental loss to your insured vehicle not caused by collision
- The amount of paid by your insurer will be the amount of repairs minus the deductible amount.
Please do not hesitate to contact the personal injury attorneys at Murphy Law Firm or call us now at 225-928-8800 if you have suffered an injury due to any type of accident.
![[logo of the] Million Dollar Advocates Forum](/design/images/logo-million.gif){kind=logo}