What is the difference between liability coverage and collision auto insurance coverage? I called an insurance office in Akron Ohio but the agent’s explanation didn’t make sense to me. Please explain it clearly.

June

Akron OH

How unfortunate, June! Rest assured that most auto insurance companies in Ohio are reliable and professional, and would be happy to assist you when you make queries such as this one. Having said this, let me thank you for trusting me to answer your questions.

Yes, sometimes liability and collision coverage may seem similar but they are not. Liability coverage pays for the damages resulting to a collision where you are liable. It will pay for the damages to the car you have hit and for the medical expenses of the passengers of the damaged car. Collision coverage, on the other hand, protects your car from possible damages brought about by collision. Liability coverage has three limits – bodily injury per person, bodily injury total, and property damages. It can happen that sometimes, your car was hit by a reckless driver whose liability coverage limits can not fully pay for the damages made to your car. This is the time when you will make use of your collision coverage.

Liability coverage is the minimum required when you register your car. It will always be the cheapest available auto insurance around Akron. To compare prices, simply get online quotes by entering your zip code on this page. What is critical is for you to evaluate if you will be comfortable with just the minimum auto insurance.

I hope that I have explained it well enough, June; please feel free to contact me again if you have any other questions.

I borrowed my boyfriend’s car and just ran out of luck. I crashed his Chevy down the road in Akron, Ohio. How will that position us with her car insurance policy?

Arnie

Akron, OH

So who will foot the bill now? If you’re not sure of any or all of these questions, then you’re like the vast majority of car insurance policyholders who would have this as a scary thought.

Most people frequently let others borrow our cars without considering the insurance ramifications. Lucky you, for I can give you some answers right now, which you might want to tell you aunt and friends.
If you borrowed your boyfriend’s car with permission, your boyfriend is taking on what is known in insurance-speak as “vicarious liability”. This means that your boyfriend will be responsible for both property damage and bodily injury, and his insurance will have to cover the damages. You are off scott-free, although you might get a cold shoulder or never get to drive your boyfriend’s car ever again.

The “insured” does not have to own the auto involved in an accident in order for liability coverage to apply, and the “insured” is defined not only as the named “insured” and his or spouse, but also any child (including foster child) or anyone related to the named “insured” by blood, marriage or adoption who is a resident of the named “insured’s” household in Akron, Ohio. It is very important to understand just who and what is covered by your car insurance in Akron, Ohio.

I got involved in a car accident in Akron Ohio and they did not include the other person’s auto insurance company on the police report. How will I find out if the other person is insured? I live in Akron, Ohio.

George

Akron, OH

In a majority of the states including Ohio you will have to get this information from the law enforcement.

It is the law enforcement’s responsibility to include this kind of information on the accident report. If there is no accident report, then you should speak with the law enforcement to file a police report regarding the accident in Akron, Ohio. If you have a police report, you will need to contact the law enforcement that wrote up the report.

You can contact your insurance carrier and they can help you in this matter.

If you cannot locate the other party, then you will have to file the claim under your insurance policy if of course you have coverage that will cover the car insurance claim.