Car Insurance: understand the various guarantees

It is sometimes difficult to understand an auto insurance quote. Especially if one wants to make comparisons. Comprehensive insurance she really covers all the risks? What is the guarantee of accessories?

Legal nature of the guarantees

The first guarantee, and the only required on a contract, is the guarantee liability of the driver. It covers the damage and injury caused to others. By definition, it therefore protects neither the driver nor the insured vehicle. It is also known insurance "third party". This is a common basic guarantee to all contracts.

It is possible to add to this guarantee legal protections. The guarantee "legal defense" supports, for example, the defense of an insured sued. The recourse guarantee, meanwhile, allows the insured to sue in court when injured by a third party on the occasion of an accident.

Guarantees vehicle damage

These guarantees are the difference between third-party insurance and insurance "all risks". They cover indeed damage to the vehicle in case of fault accident, or when the charge can not be identified. They provide include:

- The destruction or disappearance of the vehicle (guarantees theft / fire, usually coupled)

- Damage due to collision (Collision Damage)

- Various impairments (all risk damage, broken windows).

In addition to these guarantees those relating to natural or technological disasters, storms ....

Options also ensure vehicle accessories and the goods it contains (luggage, electronics ...) or mechanical failures that are no longer covered by warranty.

Namely: these guarantees are subject to deductibles, variable amount depending on the contract.

Personal driver insurance

Neither the civil liability or damage of warranties cover the consequences of an accident on the driver himself. These consequences can be death, disability, physical or psychological effects ... They are guaranteed by the personal insurance of the driver. This insurance can take two forms:

- The individual guarantee circulation, which provides an amount of fixed compensation, that is to say known since the subscription of the contract (for example, a death benefit of $100,000)

- Guarantee insurance body of the driver. The compensation is calculated on a case by case depending on the severity of the injury, the economic situation of the insured, etc.

The assistance

 Insurance contracts may also include assistance services. The goal then is to repair the consequences of a disaster, but to bring aid to the insured immediately after the accident. She has three complementary forms:

- Assistance in connection with the immobilization of the vehicle. It can support, according to the contracts, towing, transportation and accommodation of the driver and passengers, the loan of a vehicle during repairs ...

- Medical assistance in case of accidents: sending an ambulance, care medical repatriation abroad ...

- Support the death: organizing the transport of the body, funeral support, psychological and legal assistance ...

How quickly be compensated after a car accident?

Passenger, cyclist or pedestrian, when suffered a car accident, you are entitled to compensation. Shocked, hurt, or worse, you have yet quickly perform several steps.

To start the compensation process, victims or persons accompanying them must complete an accident report. Sometimes this can be complicated. If this is the case, it is better to appeal to the police than to write anything! They will draw up a report. This document may be transmitted to insurance companies. The statement of claim must be made in a time of 5 days. In addition, the insurer may exclude the disaster management although this is relatively rare. In his statement, the insured or the person accompanying him must state the name and number of the insurance contract, and the date, place and circumstances of the accident. The names and addresses of witnesses may also be mentioned.

Once the declaration made, the insurer appoints an expert in case of property damage. In case of personal injury, a first visit is to the emergency by a doctor. Then, the insurer may appoint an expert to determine provisionally the injury and the date of consolidation: the date on which it is estimated that injury can not worsen. If the conclusions are not suitable for the victim against a second opinion may be sought at its expense. There is no legal deadline for expertise, but it is usually held within 15 days after the accident.

The insurer then has the obligation to send a letter to the victim to inform him of his rights. This must have free access to the police report, the assistance of a lawyer or doctor of his choice. The victim must generally respond to a questionnaire to be returned within six weeks of receipt. These include informing the insurer of suffered damage and personal and professional consequences caused by the accident. The insurer then has between 3 and 8 months to propose compensation. After accepting the offer, the victim receives the settlement no later than forty-five days after acceptance. Beyond this period, the insurer will have to pay interest.

The estimate of damage is particularly difficult. The victim should not accept the offer of the insurer eyes closed. Within fifteen days following its agreement, it can even retract by sending a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt and challenge the compensation offered to him. The Association for the Management of Information Risk in Insurance publishes online a file listing the compensation paid to victims of road accidents. It allows each victim compare his situation to other similar cases and evaluate the compensation offer and wisely.