Increase your Auto Insurance Coverage

Increase Your Auto Insurance Coverage Limits

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When you buy car insurance, you should get the highest amount of coverage you can to protect yourself and your family if you are in a motor vehicle collision. This may seem counterintuitive if you are trying to save money. But it will be worth it if you are in a collision and, as a result, you are facing thousands of dollars in financial obligations. In the course of my 30 years practicing personal injury law, representing injured people, I have worked with many clients who did not have sufficient auto insurance limits and neither did the other driver. That is why I advise my clients to increase the limits of their insurance coverage to ensure they are adequately protected.

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Liability Coverage

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No matter what state you live in, you are required to have auto liability insurance coverage. That coverage will pay for both the property damage for another driver’s car and the medical expenses for the driver and passengers as a result of an accident.

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In Oregon, the minimum amount of liability insurance you must have is $25,000 per person, and $50,000 total for bodily injury. While those amounts may seem adequate, the bills for medical expenses plus an injured person’s pain and suffering can add up fairly quickly. If you injure someone in an accident, he or she could also sue you, which adds to the expense and stress you could face. Having higher limits, far in excess of the minimum required, will afford you greater protection and peace of mind.

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Personal Liability Protection

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Another type of auto insurance you need is personal injury protection (“PIP”). In Oregon, PIP is mandatory, meaning it is a required coverage in every auto policy written for an Oregon resident. The Oregon PIP mandatory minimum amount of medical coverage is $15,000 per person. This will cover collision related medical bills for each person injured in your car up to $15,000 within two years of the collision, regardless of who is at fault for the collision. PIP can also cover loss of income and/or the cost of essential services such as home health assistance if you are laid up after a collision.

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For a combination of the following reasons, I recommend you buy PIP limits up to

$100,000: If you’re involved in a significant collision the cost of your/your passenger’s medical care can be significant, wracking up quickly or over an extended period of time. Note: (1) PIP is primary, meaning the first insurance in line to pay for your collision related medical treatment, and (2) PIP coverage is more comprehensive than health insurance, meaning PIP covers more types of treatment and there is no deductible with PIP.

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Feel Free to Contact Me

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As part of my work as an attorney representing injured people, I see my role as being a consumer advocate and I am always willing to provide an initial consultation free and with no obligation. If you have questions about this article, want help evaluating your auto insurance policy, or need help with you personal injury case, please free to contact me by phone 503-224-2411, or e-mail: [email protected].