An additional reason to carry significant insurance coverage to protect oneself is the multi-car crash.  Last week in the Cincinnati area, there were 2 multi-car crashes which involved well over a total of 100 cars.

An additional reason to carry significant insurance coverage to protect oneself is the multi-car crash. Last week in the Cincinnati area, there were 2 multi-car crashes which involved well over a total of 100 cars.

In these accidents, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to ultimately determine who caused the accidents. Even if liability can be determined, the person who caused the accident’s insurance coverage will be insufficient to cover all of the property damage caused, or injuries sustained. Accidents such as the 2 which occurred in greater Cincinnati on 1/21/13 cannot be expected; however, if involved in a collision such as this, insurance to protect your property is an absolute must. Often times I speak with individuals who want to drop their collision coverage because their vehicle is old. I understand that consumer decision making process, and in making that decision, one must decide if they can sustain the loss of their vehicle in an accident if they choose to drop collision coverage. In a situation like the accident’s from 1/21/13, collision coverage is the only type of coverage which can either a) repair your vehicle, or b) replace your vehicle quickly if involved in an accident. For those individuals who were involved in one of the accidents last week, it is likely that under their own automobile insurance policy they can be on their way to having their car repaired or replaced. Unfortunately, for those individuals involved in the accident without collision coverage, they will likely never get compensated for the loss or damages to their vehicles. Even those individuals who carried uninsured motorist property damage coverage who were involved in one of these accidents will likely have significant frustrations. It is my experience that most insurance carriers will make claimants prove that the person who caused the wreck was uninsured prior to paying on the property damage claim, and the accidents of last week will take weeks, months of years to figure out from a liability perspective. As such, the at fault driver has not yet been deemed uninsured which is a prerequisite to filing a claim for uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Further, if a person was injured in one of the multi-car collisions described, they will need to get their treatment paid for under their personal health insurance, or automobile medical payment coverage of which they are an insured. Unfortunately, for those involved without health insurance and medical payment coverage, recovery for an injury sustained in the multi-car pileups, and payment of medical bills, will be a very long and difficult road. For reasons such as these articulated in this blog and others, preparing in advance for an insurance claim is very important. If you wish to review your policy, call me and I can go over some of the basic concepts with you in person. Further, I can refer you to a top notch independent insurance agent to shop your policy if you are so inclined. Stay safe on the roads of Ohio and call me if you need my help. Further reading on this topic can be found in today’s Enquirer by following the link:

ONE CALL…..THAT’S ALL

BARRY A. ROTHCHILD

513-579-8900