yours.
Pro Tip: Make Sure You Can Afford Your Deductible
Unfortunately, there are instances in which people have to pay their deductible even when the other driver is completely at fault. You can’t really protect against this in at-fault states because you don’t know what coverage another driver will have — or if they’ll even have insurance at all. So, although a higher deductible will lower your premium, always be sure you’re able to actually pay, it should you need to. The process is a little different in a no-fault state. As I’ve already talked about, there are differences within each state, but in general, your insurance company will pay damages directly to you without having to prove the other person was in any way at fault, saving you and your insurer a lot of time and energy. The downside is that you won’t get “pain and suffering” and or other damages, just payments for medical bills and any lost earnings. Sometimes they’ll cover services you have to pay someone else to do because your injuries make it hard for you, such as hiring a cleaning service for your home. That said, there are often coverage limits in no-fault states, so it’s possible all your expenses won’t be covered if they are on the higher side. If there’s something like a medical bill that your insurer thinks is unnecessary or too expensive and therefore refuses to cover, you may need to bring in a lawyer to negotiate a settlement.
Who’s at Fault?
Each state has its own negligence laws, and there are three main types. Pure comparative negligence determines how much
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