Insurance Policy Information
1. Bodily Injury & Property Damage-Also referred to as B.I./P.D. or Public Liability. This is the traditional liability coverage which protects you when you are at fault against injury and property claims made against you by other people. This coverage applies to 2 and 4 wheel vehicles and protects your assets, salaries and property. Strongly recommend $50,000.00 to $100,000.00.
2. Bodily Injury Passenger Liability - Specifically written for motorcycles which provides liability coverage for passengers if the driver is at fault in the accident. This would cover medical bills, loss of earning and pain and suffering.
3. Medical Payments - This would cover medical bills up to a stated policy limit for all injured people in or on a vehicle regardless of who is at fault. Not usually written for motorcycles. Strongly recommend $10,000.00 or more for 4-wheel vehicles. Very important coverage even if you have health insurance.
4. Uninsured Motorist (bodily injury) - Provides payments to policyholder and all injured passengers for medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering and disability if the responsible driver cannot be found. Very valuable and broad coverage. Can be used even if uninsured motorist. This also applies to bicycle and pedestrian accidents and if the responsible party’s insurance company denies coverage or goes out of business. Strongly recommend $100,000.00.
5. Underinsured Motorist - Provides a back-up coverage to the policy holder if their claim is worth more than the insurance coverage of the responsible driver. In order to be effective, this coverage must be higher than $15,000.00.
6. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage - Provides coverage for your damaged vehicle usually up to $3,500.00 if the responsible driver is uninsured. This coverage would be effective if there is no collision coverage on your vehicle.
7. Collision - Covers vehicle damage resulting from an accident. Usually comes with a deductible. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium. You should also get a “deductible waiver” clause if your vehicle is damaged by an uninsured motorist.
8. Comprehensive - Cover vehicle damage resulting from fire, theft and vandalism. Has similar deductible provisions as the collision coverage.
9. Health and Accident Coverage - Usually refers to medical coverage through an employer, group policy or a private plan. This it totally separate from your vehicle coverage and IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE for adequate uninsured motorist and medical payments coverage as indicated above.
10. Reimbursable Insurance - A provision found on many employer and private health plans as well as most auto medical payments policies. If the applicable insurance coverage pays your bills and you make a settlement with the responsible party to recover those same bills, you may have to pay the health insurance or your own auto insurance back the money. This is a complex area of personal injury - it is best to have the help of an attorney if your case involves this aspect.
11. Permissive User - Anyone driving your vehicle with your express or implied permission. These drivers will usually be covered by the vehicle insurance policy if there is an accident.
12. Summons and Complaint - The basic lawsuit used to sue the other driver.
13. Statute of Limitations - The legal time limit within which you must either settle your claim of file a lawsuit. Otherwise, you can lose your claim and legal rights.
14. Release - A contract you sign when you settle your case which makes it a full and final settlement without further recovery.
15. Contingency Fee - A percentage of your settlement that your attorney gets at the end of the case. Normally, you do not have to make any payments to a personal injury attorney at the beginning of the case for the attorney to begin working on your case. If there is no settlement there is no attorney’s fee. The contingency fee is your best protection when pursuing a claim against an insurance company or a business defendant. This type of fee “evens the playing field” in terms of leverage and power in dealing with the right and powerful. DO NOT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF FEE TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU OR REDUCED BY THE LEGISLATURE OR BY A BALLOT INITIATIVE OR YOU WILL LOSE A VALUABLE CONSUMER RIGHT AND PROTECTION.
16. Workers’ Compensation - An administrative body of law set forth in our State Labor Codes which govern the procedures and the amounts of money that one can collect if they are injured on the job or in the “course and scope of employment”. Workers’ Compensation include the payment of all medical bills, temporary disability while you are out of work, permanent disability if applicable and rehabilitation benefits, if necessary. In Workers’ Compensation, you do not “sue” your employer. Rather, it is an administrative claim procedure. With rare exception, Workers’ Compensation benefits are the employee’s sole recourse and remedy for job-related injuries.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident or other serious accident in Southern California, contact Joey Lester at the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester immediately to set you on the road to recovery. Contact Personal Injury Attorney Joey Lester via telephone toll free at 1-800-ON-A-BIKE (800-235-2454) or via email using the contact form in the right column above.
