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 Auto Insurance - What it Does! Auto Liability coverage (or Financial Responsibility) is a legal requirement for vehicle owners in Texas. Auto Insurance protects you from many of the risks of owning and operating an automobile.Why risk it? - Let us guide you to the best fit for your Auto Insurance protection. Buy the insurance coverage you want at a competitive price from an Austin based insurance agency. Professional service makes a difference!
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Some of these risks include: 
Liability - Provides protection up to your limits for auto accidents that are your fault and that cause injuries or damage to others. Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist - Provides protection up to your limits for injuries or damage caused to you in an auto accident caused by another driver without auto insurance or with inadequate auto insurance, or, who drives away (hit-and-run).
Medical / Personal Injury Protection - Provides funds for medical bills for you and your passengers if injured in an accident while in your auto up to your limit. Personal Injury Protection includes both medical bills and lost wages.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision) - Protects the value of the auto from damage caused by events other than collision. Examples: stolen vehicle, storm damage, wildlife collision and vandalism.
 Collision - Protects the value of the auto from damage caused in an auto accident.Rental Car Reimbursement - Provides funds to compensate you for a rental auto due to loss of use of your auto after an accident or other insured event.
Towing & Roadservice - A convenience coverage. Helps with towing after a mechanical breakdown or other roadside service that may be needed (flat tire, out of gas, etc.).
No Insurance / Hit 'n Run - It's a very big problem all over Texas including Austin. Your odds of being involved in an accident caused by a driver that has no insurance or who drives off is greater than 1 in 4. Even if the other driver has insurance, it often can be less than what's needed to pay for your damages and injuries. Buying Uninsured Motorist protection is a choice but visualize the situation of your car wrecked and you hurt then no help from the person that caused it. With Uninsured Motorist coverage, your insurance helps you if the other driver caused the accident but is financially irresponsible. Don't skip this vital insurance protection - it is money well spent!
 From our files: Austin Area clients stories of being in an accident with an uninsured driver.Auto Insurance Quote: To obtain a customized Auto Insurance quote:
Need other Insurance? We can help - Quote Austin Insurance - insurance quotes & more information
By David W. Crump
 IntroductionAustin can have intense traffic and our area has several bad auto incidents every day. Many more minor accidents occur and don’t make the evening news – so called “Fender Benders.” Being prepared for an auto accident will help. Knowing what is legally required at the accident scene is important. A list of your steps after an accident gets the claims process started and heads all parties to fair resolution.
Bad Accident – Call for Help: 9-1-1
Any accident with injuries, blocking traffic or involving vehicles that will need to be towed is beyond the “minor accident” level and you need to call 9-1-1 to get help. This article has helpful preparation and tips but a bad accident is beyond the scope of what is being presented. For most minor accidents, the police won’t come and you are on your own.
Prepare for a Fender Bender
Here is a list of items that you should have in the glove compartment in case of an accident:
1. Pen and Paper
2. Auto Accident pamphlet (often available from your insurance agent)
3. Disposable Camera (or Cell Phone with camera feature)
4. Current Proof of Insurance
What to Do at the Accident Scene
Stay Calm - Each accident is going to be a unique and unplanned event. Emotions are likely to be “hot” but keep yourself reasonable and civil with the other people involved. You and the other drivers now need to get through the process together. Anger is not going to help.
Stay Safe – Don’t risk getting hit be other vehicles. The law requires you to move to a safe place as near as possible to the accident scene and if possible, avoid obstructing traffic. An adjacent road shoulder or nearby parking lot might be good safe spots. On major expressways, you should move to the designated accident investigation site. Use your hazard lights to warn other drivers. Keep your passengers safe by keeping them in their seats.
Exchange Information – In Texas, all drivers involved in an auto accident have a legal requirement to exchange information. Good gathering of information at the accident scene also helps the insurance claims process. The law requires that each driver give their name, home address, driver’s license number, license plate number and auto insurance information. More information that is helpful and should be offered by both parties is the year, make and model of the vehicles. Also, you will need the location of the accident for the insurance claim and for the Driver’s Accident Report (“Blue Form”). If the auto is not owned by the driver, be sure to get the owner’s contact information.
Extra Steps – A couple extra tips that will help your insurance company handle the auto accident claim and reach the right outcome quickly:
1. A picture of the other vehicle’s license plate and autos
2. A diagram of what happen
3. Witness contact information
Important – Let the insurance companies’ claims adjusters sort this out. Don’t admit fault, apologize or accuse the other driver. Always work with your insurance company and the other party’s insurance company’s claim adjuster. It is why you bought auto insurance. Ignore any offer by the other party to pay for the damages privately.
After the Accident
Report the Claim - Most insurance companies have a 24-hour number to call to initiate an auto insurance claim. It is also good to alert your insurance agent. You have a duty in your insurance contract to report a potential claim. It is best to report the accident as soon as practical after the accident – at least by the next day. You want to get your side of the story to your insurance company while it is fresh. Also, all parties benefit from a quick, fair resolution of the claim.
Blue From – You, as the driver, have a legal requirement in Texas to file a Form CR-2 Driver’s Crash Report (the “Blue Form” so named because of the original paper color) if the extent of the auto accident includes any injuries or property damage of at least $1000. Here is the link to the Texas Department of Transportation Crash Forms - http://www.txdot.gov/txdot_library/drivers_vehicles/forms/crash_records.htm
Work with your Insurance Claims Adjuster – Your insurance company needs your cooperation. Present the facts of what happen truthfully and fully. The quicker the claims process happens, the sooner everyone will have this behind them.
Summary
Auto accidents happen and sooner or later most of us will be involved with a “fender bender.” It helps to be prepared. Be civil at the accident scene but also get the job done and collect the information needed. Report the event to your insurance company and be ready to work with your insurance claims adjuster. Finally, don’t forget to handle the state requirement by filing a Driver’s Crash Report (“Blue Form”).
David W. Crump, Ross Gray Insurance Agency
I specialize in Business, Health and Personal Insurance sales and service.
A graduate of Texas Tech University (BBA Marketing), I began my career in retailing of Toy, Hobbies and Games. I have been a business owner but changed careers to insurance after selling my interest in a Dallas area Game Store Chain thirteen years ago. Hobbies include Gardening, Music (Bass Vocal) and Stock Investing.
See our website at http://www.quoteaustininsurance.com/
Ross Gray Insurance Agency has a 30+ year history serving Central Texas on all facets of insurance. We are located in South Austin at 2404 S. IH-35. We are here to help!
Copyright 2009, Ross Gray Insurance Agency, Inc.
By David W. Crump
Introduction
The claims adjuster just called and they have totaled your beloved car. Most people are emotionally attached to their ride but you must overcome emotional bias and make rational choices. What happens next and what choices do you have? Here is a guide to the process if your car is totaled.
Often, the adjuster’s call telling you that your auto has been totaled is unexpected. The cost of repairing autos has risen significantly and the value of many used cars has dropped. This has changed the economics and causes damaged autos to be totaled at much lower levels than in the past.
When you get this call, you will need to decide if you are going to accept the insurance company’s offer or retain your auto. If you accept the buyout, are you getting a fair offer? If you keep the auto to repair yourself, what are the issues?
The Downside of Fixing Your Ride
It was your dream car and you can’t visualize not fixing it. If you decide to retain your totaled auto, here are the downsides:
1. Never fixed right – Can your car be fully fixed and brought back to the same level? Will the doors close tightly? Will your repaired auto rattle and shake?
2. Salvaged Title – If your auto was totaled because of safety issues, you will get a salvaged title which will make it hard to insure and hard to re-sell.
3. Insurance Coverage – Most insurers will only total a vehicle once. If you fix it, you normally can’t get the comprehensive and collision coverages you want to protect it in case of a future accident.
4. Safety & Performance – Vehicles are often totaled after serious engine, suspension and frame damage. Safety and performance can be degraded and not recovered fully with repairs.
5. Salvage – The insurance company will deduct for their expected salvage proceeds of the totaled auto.
I have several clients who also point out reasons to retain a totaled vehicle. Here are some reasons that do make sense:
1. Cosmetic Damage Only – Vehicle’s performance and safety are not compromised. The usefulness of the vehicle is unchanged or can be economically recovered with a partial repair.
2. Collector Auto – The vehicle’s value is far in excess of the market value because it is discontinued and rare.
3. Older Auto – A vehicle economically totaled, too old and too low in market value to justify even a modest repair. Vehicle’s performance and safety are not compromised.
While I do see an occasional good reason to retain a totaled vehicle, generally it is better to accept the adjuster’s professional decision and not retain an auto that has been totaled. Remember that your insurance company has calculated the economics of repair vs. totaled and your vehicle has failed their test. This is particularly true if the vehicle has had substantial damage to any of the main operating systems such as the engine, suspension, body frame or any safety related equipment. I would bias the choice toward letting go.
Letting Go
You have decided to accept the offer on your totaled vehicle and release it to the insurance company. Your insurance adjuster will send you a package with the legal paperwork to assign them title and transfer ownership. This will enable them to sell the vehicle for salvage.
Be sure to remove all personal items. Often forgotten is the garage door opener and the CD in the CD player. Since the auto is being junked, strip out all the service records, auto manual, etc. You want to be sure to cleanse your auto of any identifying items that could trace the salvaged auto back to you or that might risk identity theft. Don’t forget the trunk, under the seats and any hidden compartments.
If you have a vehicle rented as part of the claim’s adjustment, you generally have a very limited number of days that will be paid by the insurance company after your auto has been totaled. Unless you want a big auto rental bill, you need to be shopping for your next ride.
If you are not going to replace the auto, be sure to call your insurance agent to cancel coverage on the totaled vehicle after it has been released to the insurance company for salvage. No reason to pay for insurance protection after ownership has transferred.
Did You Get a Fair Price?
Most insurance companies use an independent service to determine the value of a totaled vehicle. Normally, the value determined is completely fair and acceptable. Here are some tips to assess if you are being offered a fair price for your totaled auto or to challenge an offer you feel is too low.
1. Look up your vehicle via Kelley Blue Book or other services that offer free price information on used autos. It is only a guide, but it is a starting point in understanding the true value of your auto.
2. Shop local auto dealers and make a list of what similar vehicles they have for sale. You are looking for vehicles that are roughly equivalent to yours (within one model year). Be sure to record the mileage and other attributes of the surveyed autos. This can also double as your shopping list when you are ready to replace you totaled auto. Then, ask your adjuster to include any vehicles you found that help your case in the assessment of value.
3. Be sure that the claims adjuster is aware of any special equipment or major repairs that have been done to your vehicle. Your offer should include an adjustment for these items. You may need to provide invoices or other proof of these vehicle improvements.
4. Your offer should include compensation for tax, title and fees. Check for it.
5. Your offer should be based on what your vehicle is selling for in your local market. Ask to look at the data used to determine the vehicle value and challenge any comparison from beyond your local area.
Summary
Having your vehicle totaled can be a new beginning rather than a bad ending. Moving on by accepting a fair offer is often the right choice.
I specialize in Business, Health and Personal Insurance sales and service.
A graduate of Texas Tech University (BBA Marketing), I began my career in retailing of Toy, Hobbies and Games. I have been a business owner but changed careers to insurance after selling my interest in a Dallas area Game Store Chain thirteen years ago. Hobbies include Gardening, Music (Bass Vocal) and Stock Investing.
See our website at http://www.quoteaustininsurance.com/
Ross Gray Insurance Agency has a 30+ year history serving Central Texas on all facets of insurance. We are located in South Austin at 2404 S. IH-35. We are here to help!
Copyright 2010, Ross Gray Insurance Agency, Inc.
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Copyright © 2010 Ross Gray Insurance Agency, Inc.
2404 South I-H 35, Austin, TX 78704-5701
Phone: 512.444.3366 | Fax: 512.447.6226 | Email: Info@QuoteAustinInsurance.com
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2404 South I-H 35, Austin, TX 78704-5701
Phone: 512.444.3366 | Fax: 512.447.6226 | Email: Info@QuoteAustinInsurance.com
Website Design & Hosting by Bat City Productions