Have you ever thought, “Do I really need car insurance?” It would be a quick and easy answer to simply say, “YES.” I would like to take it a step further and explain how insurance is more than another bill in your budget, and how having no insurance at the time of an accident impacted my life and could similarly impact yours.
As a young adult, I was under the impression that you only needed auto insurance in order to avoid a ticket when an officer happened to pull you over. I did not completely understand coverage definitions and limits on a policy. I did not understand what being liable for an accident really meant, especially since I was most certainly the best driver in this town. An at fault accident would never happen to me- until it did. Truth be told, I had no idea about this part of life and how it could affect me and others if I was not only a safe driver, but a responsible one.
It had just started raining and my older model Isuzu Rodeo did not have a fresh set of brakes or tires. The light turns yellow, I hit the brakes, and I slide my vehicle into the rear end of a nice sedan. Luckily, no one was hurt and I caused minimal damage to the rear end of the other vehicle. The damage may have looked minimal to me, but I did not work in the car industry or for a body shop so I truly had no idea. We pulled over to a nearby parking lot and began to examine our vehicles and wait for the officer to arrive. He shows up, writes the report, and hands me a little blue card with my accident number on it and a ticket for failure to provide proof of insurance with a court date. We both are on our way! Easy-peasy.
A couple of weeks go by, I pay my fine for failure to provide proof of insurance, and try to put the accident behind me… or so I thought. A couple of months later, I receive a large envelope from an insurance company that did not represent me. I open the envelope, and inside is a letter of subrogation. I read through it and saw that it is regarding the rear end accident I had been involved in. Imagine the sticker shock when I read the words “you owe a balance just over $4,000.” I contacted the insurance company and worked out a payment plan. It took me a while to settle this debt with the help of my family. Not only did it impact my wallet immediately, but when it showed up on my driving record, it also impacted my insurance rates that I did finally purchase.
It is true that having insurance would not have prevented the accident. However, it would have made it easier to settle the claim, prevent the ticket, and maybe have settled the claim for less than $4,000. I learned a lesson that day: if you are not sure what something is or means, ask someone that does! I could have prevented the stress and headache of the whole matter if I had more information about insurance and the purpose it serves.
In some states, you are required to show evidence of insurance in order to register your automobile. You are legally required to have insurance and will be ticketed and fined if you do not. However, there are still many uninsured motorists on the road even though it is a legal requirement to drive. I now understand when I hear the phrase, “Driving is a privilege and NOT a right,” but I think it means much more than that. It is a major responsibility. Driving uninsured is not only wrong, but it is irresponsible.
If you are in need of insurance contact our office today (865) 584-2275 or get a quote online http://whedbeeinsurance.com/get-a-quote/ -
