Liability Coverage*  [back to top]
Liability Coverage protects you from damage your car does to others...damage for which you are legally liable. If there's an accident in which someone is injured or worse, killed, it covers:

• You, family members or relatives who live with you when (1) driving your car or (2) driving other cars with that vehicle owner's permission

• Other people driving your car when you've given them permission

And it pays those covered by the policy for:

• Legal defense costs

• Cost of bail bonds

• Emergency first aid to others

It pays other people who you've injured for:

• Property damage

• Loss of services

• Bodily Injury

• Sickness

• Medical services

• Disease

• Loss of income

• Death

Limits/Declarations*  [back to top]
There are Policy Limits on your coverage to place a ceiling on the amount an insurance company is required to pay which in turn helps keep your insurance rates affordable. You'll find these limits on the Policy Declarations of your insurance contract. The Policy Declarations indicates:

• The policy limits you've chosen,

• The vehicles you're insuring,

• Endorsements (amendments) to the base contract, as well as

• Certain other information you "declare" (specify as factual) on the insurance application.

For example, you might see policy limits of 100/300/100 listed on the Policy Declarations sheet. These figures are in thousands of dollars. The first number is the limit paid per person for bodily injury (in this case $100,000). Subject to the underlying limit per person, the second figure is the total paid per accident for bodily injury ($300,000 here). The third number is the limit paid for property damage you caused ($100,000 total in this scenario). Many states set minimum auto insurance limits which you must purchase. But, in all states you can choose higher levels to meet your unique situation and needs.

Medical Payments*  [back to top]
Then there's Medical Payments Coverage. Obviously, this pays for emergency medical treatment needed after an accident. It's paid regardless of who was at fault in the accident. It's sometimes referred to as "first party" coverage because...

It specifically covers:

• You

• Covered passengers

• Covered family members

And it pays these covered people for:

• X-rays

• Surgery

• Ambulance

• Physicians

• Hospital

• Funeral Expenses

Other Options*  [back to top]
Depending on where you live, you may also be eligible for other kinds of coverage:

• "No-Fault" (also known as Personal Injury Protection, or "PIP"),

• Uninsured Motorist, or

• Underinsured Motorist.

For example, PIP may help pay the cost of rehabilitating an accident victim, while Medical Payments may not cover this situation.

PIP covers:

• You

• Covered passengers

• Covered family members

It pays for:

• Medical expenses

• Loss of income

• Loss of services

• Funeral expenses or Death Benefit (coverage varies by state)

Underinsured/Uninsured Motorists Coverage*  [back to top]
Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically pay for damage to you and your property (the property damage coverage is not available in all states, including New York) caused by another driver who doesn't have adequate insurance limits to pay you for all the injury they inflicted (underinsured), or worse, a driver who doesn't have insurance coverage at all (uninsured).

Both types of protection cover:

• You

• Passengers covered under the contract

• Covered family members

And they pay for:

• Bodily injury

• Disease

• Sickness

• Death

Collision & Comprehensive Protection*  [back to top]
The last two important areas of an automobile insurance policy -- collision and comprehensive coverages -- deal directly with your car. With each, you can choose the limits of your coverage and the amount of your deductible: the loss amount you've agreed to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance company reimburses you for damage expenses. Remember, deductibles help keep your insurance rates reasonable; raising the amount of money you are willing to pay out of your pocket for a loss will lower your insurance premium. Deductibles also serve to reduce some minor claims which, if filed, would drive up the general cost of insurance.

Collision Coverage pays for damage to your car as a result of an accident with another car or tree, or a collision with most anything else. If you skid on an icy road, land in a ditch and overturn your car, the repair to your vehicle is paid for under Collision Coverage.  [back to top]

It covers:

• Your insured vehicle(s) as specified on the Policy Declarations

It pays for:

• Repair of your car, up to the actual cash value of the vehicle. Here, actual cash value takes into account depreciation on your car -- age, use, and wear and tear of the vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage encompasses most other damage to your car.  [back to top]

It covers:

• Your insured vehicle(s) as described on your Policy Declarations

It pays for damage caused by:

• Falling objects -- baseballs to tree limbs to comets

• Fire

• Theft and vandalism

• Explosion

• Earthquake

*This is a brief description of auto insurance coverages, this is not an insurance contract. Colonial Insurance Service's coverages are subject to availability and qualifications. Other terms, conditions and exclusions may apply. Please read a "Colonial Insurance Service's policy for full details about the coverages.

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