I am a strong proponent of the principle that there is only one way to write car insurance, and that’s the right way. Much of this philosophy has been created by my past experiences. While I sometimes vacillate between optimism and pessimism, I am always a realist. I served 20-years in the New York City Police Department, and have investigated more car accidents than I choose to remember. In addition, I began my insurance career moonlighting and continued after retirement; so that I now have more than 4 decades writing personal lines of insurance. I have seen the “worst of the worst,” and I can tell you that serious auto accidents can happen to anyone, at anytime, anywhere.
As of May 2018, almost 22 million vehicles were registered in the State of Florida. According to the Insurance Information Institute, “26.7% of the registered vehicles have NO INSURANCE!” Plus, many millions of vehicles have inadequate limits of liability coverage. These facts should be a signal that you need to take it as a nudge to learn how to better protect yourself. In Florida, leaving the scene of an accident, or “Hit and Run” is defined as the failure of a driver to remain at the site of a vehicle crash, and fulfill other statutory duties, when the crash at issue involves death, bodily injury or property damage.
Florida Highway Patrol Highlights Rise of Hit-Runs. Statewide, 92,623 drivers fled crash scenes in 2015—about 8,000 more than in 2014. As part of its “Hit and Run, From Bad 2 Worse,” campaign, the Highway Patrol is trying to educate drivers about what they should do after a crash and encourage witnesses to come forward. There are many reasons drivers leave crash scenes. Sometimes they are impaired, undocumented, have an arrest warrant or don’t have a license or insurance. “Sometimes the drivers aren’t even at fault, but once they leave the scene, it becomes a criminal offense,” said Sgt. Mark Wysocky, Florida Highway Patrol.
Hit and Run with Injuries Can Be A Trigger For An Uninsured Motorist Claim
Be Proactive and Take Action. One of the biggest problems is that consumers focus on cost instead of content. Inadequate content means inappropriate coverage, which could lead consumers to policies that aren’t right for them. There are many nuances to car insurance, and people guess at the coverage levels they need, and don’t realize what the repercussions are from the choices they are making. Improper coverage winds up exposing car owner/drivers to lawsuits.
To Achieve and Maintain Optimal Protection. Contrary to popular belief the “direct carriers” usually do not provide the prospect with the proper information regarding Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage, Stacking and Umbrella Coverage with UIM. By issuing policies with less than adequate coverage they prevent large monetary claims that result in their offering less expensive premiums. None of my clients, who experienced severe accidents, ever complained that they had “too much coverage.”
The Next Step. Oyer, Macoviak & Associates is a “Trusted Choice Insurance Agency,” serving South Florida since 1953., and I am one of the associates. I, or one of our licensed customer insurance representatives, will walk you through the process and make certain that you understand the reasons for having the proper coverage and adequate limits. The next several paragraphs describe one of the more important aspects of insurance.
What is Negligence? Negligence is one of the most important concepts in the law. It is the grounds for almost all personal injury lawsuits, from auto accidents to medical malpractice. A failure to use due care, which in turn causes injury to someone else, gives the injured person a right to collect damages for their injury in a lawsuit. The classic way to explain negligence is based on a “reasonable person” who always exercises care. The reasonable person always looks where he or she is going, never crosses the street without looking both ways and so on. So, if you’re doing things in a way that this reasonable person would not, that’s negligence! It’s a concept that is centuries old, but which has continued its fundamental role in our system.
What if You’re Negligent? Most people don’t realize that proper limits of car insurance protect your other assets. If you get into an at-fault auto accident resulting from your negligence, and you’re underinsured because of inadequate limits of coverage, the injured parties can come after your assets, and can even garnish your salary. How can this happen? It happens when a broker or an agent doesn’t provide you with the proper information that will protect you or your loved ones.
What if The Accident is The Other Person’s fault? When an automobile accident causes death, severe injuries or permanent disabilities, there is trauma in the life and family of the injured victim. Usually a domino effect also occurs, causing grief, more pain, emotional distress, lost wages and huge medical expenses. The injured car accident victim may be entitled to receive adequate compensation, but, only if there is adequate insurance coverage in effect.
My Advice To You. Our company represents a variety of the nation’s leading insurance providers for all types of insurance. Our licensed insurance representatives are able to customize a strategy, that not only maximize benefits and protection, but takes into careful consideration the financial concerns of each individual client. Because of the insidious nature of surprise injury resulting from an auto accident, nobody can predict the future. Your income, which supports your lifestyle, is your most important asset. Taken to the logical extension, I believe that not protecting yourself and your family with the right coverage could have far reaching implications for your family’s lifestyle and well-being. This is not a hair-splitting exercise in semantics; it is a fundamental distinction that gets at the center of my strategy. Oyer, Macoviak and Associates are here to offer you a clear understanding of the importance of obtaining the right coverage at the right price. However, the final decision rests with you. Don’t delay! Call me, Jack Lesser, at (561) 573-6034 or call the office at (561) 732-9305.
Jack “The Insurance Dude” Lesser has over 40 years in the insurance industry. He believes the best client is the educated client and he provides the necessary coverage for the least expensive premium.
