Balfour Insurance Agency

Automobile Insurance is a very specific  type of policy.  It is made up of several coverages under one policy. For your insurance coverage to take effect, you vehicle must be specifically listed on your policy along with all residents of the household.

Liability

If you have an auto accident, the legal costs could be devastating. Liability coverage offer's protection against claims for property damage or bodily injury to others, that you or a member of your household accidentally cause while driving your car.  Liability Coverage can be expressed in two way either Split Limits or Combined Single Limits (CSL). Split limits are comprised of three separate limits (IE: 30/60/15) the first number is the Bodily Injury Maximum Per Person, the second is Bodily Injury Maximum for all Persons with no one person getting more than the first number. Finally the third Number is Property Damage Liability. Combined Single Limit is taking the Bodily Injury and Property Damage coverage putting them together into one number,so no mater how it happens when you hit the limit your done. (IE:$100,000) This coverage applies only if the driver is considered legally responsible for the damage. In addition, liability coverage from most companies includes:

• up to $250 for the cost of bail bonds required because of the accident
• premiums on appeal bonds
• interest accrued after a judgement is entered in any suit we defend
• up to $50  each day for loss of earnings because we have requested that you attend a hearing or trial
• other reasonable expenses which may be incurred at the insurance companies request.

Personal Injury Protection (No-Fault)

This is probably one of the more important coverages that protect you!  Most policies will provide some form of PIP (no-fault) insurance for residents of states where it is required. This means that you, your family and any passengers are covered under your policy regardless of who is responsible (at fault) for the accident. This coverage includes medical, surgical, dental, hospital, work loss and certain other related expenses.  This same coverage extends to you or your family member in an accident as a pedestrian.

Medical Payments

This is similar to PIP.  Medical Payments  assures you, your family, and the passengers in your car will receive necessary medical and dental services resulting from an accident. Also regardless of who caused the the accident.  It will also provide coverage if you and your family members are involved in an accident as a pedestrian. Medical Payments usually does not provide work loss coverage where PIP coverage includes it. Many Insurance Companies offer PIP and the additional coverage through Medical payments.

Uninsured motorist/Underinsured motorist

Uninsured motorist coverage pays for injury  incurred by family or passengers who are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, it also provides protection for hit-and-run accident's less a deductible for property damage or an accident with a driver who has less insurance than required by law.

Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when the other driver is responsible for an accident and has coverage, but not enough to cover the damage. If your coverage limits are higher than those of the at-fault driver, your coverage can cover the difference.   Uninsured/Underinsured coverage's are not identical in all states. In Maryland and Virginia they are combined, in Washington DC they must be purchased separately, Be careful each has different motorist laws.  In most states this coverage applies to bodily injury and property damage coverage.

Physical Damage to your auto

Another common loss is the physical damage to your vehicle that can result from an accident. There are two types of physical damage coverages: Comprehensive and Collision:

Comprehensive Coverage also known as "other than collision" pays for most types of damage to your car resulting from a situation "other than a collision". Comprehensive coverage provides protection for a multitude of perils such as: fire, theft, vandalism, breakage of glass, falling objects, windstorm, hail, water, flood, malicious mischief, or impact with birds or animals.  The maximum amount paid is limited to the actual cash value of your vehicle less the your deductible.

Collision Coverage  and "or Upset"   pays for any damage to your car caused by accidental impact with another vehicle or object...or if your vehicle flip's over, rolls down the hill and overturns, "upset". The maximum amount paid is limited to the actual cash value of your vehicle less the your deductible.

Situations where damage is not covered. Please be aware that your policy will not pay for damages due to normal wear and tear such as mechanical or electrical breakdowns and flat tires.

Additional, optional coverages
Some coverages are not included as part of the basic auto policy. However, you can customize your policy to your needs by adding the following coverages:

• Towing and labor: pays for towing and labor costs each time your car is disabled. Covered labor must be performed at the place where your car is disabled. There's usually a limit to the dollar amount that will be applied to each loss.
• Rental reimbursement: pays for a rental car if your car is damaged by a situation covered by comprehensive or collision coverage and if your car is out of commission for more than 24 hours.
• Tapes, records, CD coverage: pays up to a certain amount for loss of tapes/CD's used with your car's stereo equipment as long as they are in your car at the time of loss.
• CB radio/car phone: unless installed by the manufacturer these items are not covered under your basic policy. This additional coverage pays for loss to your CB or two-way radio/telephone if the equipment is not permanently installed in your car at the time of loss.