Another new year is here and, once again, the common resolutions such as losing weight, exercising more and saving money come to the forefront. But, there may be some overlooked resolutions that are easy to accomplish and may end up saving your life.
So, here’s my list of a few simple changes to complete now for your peace of mind:
Fasten Your Seatbelt
Pretty basic, isn’t it? And thankfully this is fairly common due to enhanced legal enforcement. Yet, even now, I still encounter clients who did not have a fastened seatbelt at the time of their collision. I see it even more often with backseat passengers. But, no matter where you are sitting, seatbelts save lives. I learned that first-hand when I survived a head-on collision by a drunk driver in 1989. If I had not had my seatbelt fastened, I wouldn’t be writing this piece.
Check Your Auto Insurance Policy
Changes can be made to your auto insurance policy at any time. There is no need to wait for the renewal date. Specifically, take look at these following sections of your policy:
Part 2: Personal injury protection. (PIP) This allows medical bills to be paid. Make sure you don’t have a deductible. Any deductible is not good. If you do have one, the cost of removing the deductible is minuscule versus the importance of having full PIP coverage.
Part 3 and Part 12: If you have a limit of $20,000/$40,000 increase it immediately. A suitable amount should be at least $100,000/$300,000. If you can increase it to the maximum of $250,000/$500,00, even better. These amounts appear like an expensive proposition. However, check with your insurer for the cost to increase it. You’ll be surprised that it doesn’t cost much more to obtain the protection that it affords you and your family, should a significant injury occur. Think of it as a life insurance policy in case the other person at fault doesn’t have enough coverage for injuries that you or a family member suffered.
Part 6: Medical payments. This is most important if you have state or federally funded health insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare. Have at least $5,000 in coverage, but it can increase in increments of $5,000. It’s an inexpensive coverage to purchase, so check with your insurer for the pricing.
If You Are Injured in an Auto Accident, Call My Office As Soon As Possible
This way you can focus on what is most important: your health. I can assist with making sure your injuries and the circumstances that occurred are accurately reported. I will also address all other issues that may arise during the course of your claim. As always, I don’t get paid until the claim comes to a successful conclusion.
Questions?
Have you been involved in an Auto Accident? Give Attorney Angelo a call at (508) 675-7600.
