Collision Versus Comprehensive Auto Insurance in New York

Collision Coverage

When your vehicle collides with another object, collision coverage will pay for the damage repairs or, if totaled, give you the cash value if it’s a total loss. Specifically, this policy covers only your vehicle when you’re at-fault and hit another object. There are several scenarios in which collision coverage kicks in, including:

• Your car damage after an accident that you caused
• Damage from hitting an object with your car (guard rail, telephone pole, etc.)
• Possible damage to your vehicle if hit by someone else

If someone else does hit you, you will need to pursue repairs through their liability insurance policy that has mandatory property damage coverage. If you’re underinsured or the other driver doesn’t carry a plan, you’ll have to go through your own coverage. These policies help crash victims repair or replace their cars reasonably quickly, and do not provide any relief to other drivers involved in the accident.

Comprehensive Coverage

When we read the phrase “acts of God” in our insurance paperwork, this describes how comprehensive coverage policies work. Vehicle damage received that doesn’t involve a collision is often unpredictable and unpreventable. Imagine a tree falling on your car, hail damage, or even vandalism, which are acts that comprehensive policies cover. Circumstances that qualify for comprehensive coverage include:

• Natural disasters
• Vandalism
• Cracked windshield
• Storm damage
• Animal-related crashes
• Theft
• Falling trees, branches, and other objects

The unpreventable accidents that can happen to your car make comprehensive insurance an invaluable coverage policy to have at your disposal. If you don’t have this policy, and you have suffered damages or loss to your vehicle, all hope isn’t lost. The attorneys at The Barnes Firm understand that sometimes what appears to be an accident could involve someone else’s negligence, and we can help.

While these coverage plans are not mandatory with your liability insurance, living in New York comes with certain risks. There are hundreds of thousands of drivers on the state’s roadways, a large population of wildlife waiting to cross your driving path, and the weather extremes, including hurricanes and blizzards. These factors alone create a case for carrying both collision and comprehensive policies in addition to your liability coverage.

Another situation where you may need to carry these policies is if you own a new car on which you still owe a significant sum on your loan. Lenders generally demand at least some type of a comprehensive plan to protect against the loss of the vehicle. Giving yourself peace of mind with the knowledge that your vehicle has solid financial protection is worth every penny.