Posted by rozeklawoffice on May 1, 2010 under General | 
Wisconsin recently enacted a set of laws that make changes to your auto insurance coverage. Beginning June 1, 1010, Wisconsin will join 48 other sates that require all auto owners to carry insurance on each of their vehicles. Below is a summary of the insurance you are required to carry if you own and operate a car in the State of Wisconsin.
Bodily Liability Insurance: If you are in a car accident and cause injury to the other car’s passengers or injury to passengers in your own car, then this coverage would cover those expenses, up to a certain amount. Typical expenses covered include the other person’s medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering. The coverage only kicks in if you are determined to be more at fault than the other person who suffers the injury. As of January 1, 2010, you are required to carry a minimum liability coverage of $50,000 per persona or $100,000 per accident.
Property Damage Liability Insurance: If you are in an accident and cause damage to the other person’s property (typically their car, but could include other physical property) then this coverage would cover the repair expenses of the other person’s vehicle, up to a certain amount. Typical expenses include vehicle damage, bicycles, homes, and other physical property). This coverage does not apply to the damages that occur to the vehicle you were driving. As of January 1, 2010, the minimum coverage you must purchase is $15,000.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If you are in a car accident, a bicycle accident, pedestrian accident caused by the other driver, you have suffered an injury, and the accident was caused by someone who did not have enough insurance to cover your medical bills and other injury related expenses,then your Underinsured Motorist Coverage will cover these expenses. As of November 1, 2009, the coverage became mandatory in the amount of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. This is a new type of required insurance for State of Wisconsin drivers.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: If you are in an accident, caused by the other driver, you or someone in your car is injured, and the other driver does not have auto insurance, this coverage would pay for everything that your own auto insurance would. Typical expenses include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering. This coverage will even apply if you are riding in someone else’s car, riding a bike, or walking. Many times, it also applies if you are involved in a hit and run, caused by the other driver, and the other driver can not be identified. As of November 1, 2009, the amount of coverage your are required to carry increased to $100,000 per person or $300,000 per accident.
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If you believe that your insurance company is not treating you fairly by denying you coverage after a car accident, we encourage you to contact an experienced Wisconsin Car Accident Attorney who can review the specific details of your accident and policy.
You can also contact a Milwaukee Car Accident Attorney for your free copy of the Wisconsin Association for Justice Brochure email info@rozeklaw.com or call 1-888-ALAWYER.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on April 15, 2010 under Insurance |
Insure.com’s new national survey of car insurance rates reveals that Louisiana has the highest average rates in the nation, followed by Michigan (2) and Oklahoma (3). Maine can boast the lowest average of the 51 states, followed by Vermont (50), Ohio (49) and Wisconsin (48).
Lousiana’s average premium is $2,510.87 compared with Maine’s at $902.85. Wisconsin’s average premium is $1,010.93.
Insure.com commissioned a survey from Quadrant Information Services. Average insurance rates were calculated for more than 2,400 vehicles for model year 2010.
One explanation for Maine’s average premium being so low is that there are very few drivers in Maine. Portland, the largest urban area in the sate, has excellent mass transit and a system for alternative transportation modes to the auto. Less cars on the roads helps limit the number of car accidents, which ultimately means less expenses having to be paid out by the insurance companies.
As Wisconsin elected officials continue the debate on transit options for Wisconsin, Maine can help demonstrate how alternative transportation modes translate into less taxpayers dollars for required household expenses.
For now, Wisconsin ranking of 4th least expensive state for car insurance gives us all one more reason to love our state.
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For more information on Wisconsin Car Accidents and Insurance.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on January 28, 2010 under Car Accidents, General, Insurance, Wisconsin Law |
If you have gotten away with not having insurance to-date as a Wisconsin driver, your time is up. Starting June 1, 2010, the State of Wisconsin will finally join the 48 other states that require all auto owners to have insurance on every vehicle that they own. If you do not have insurance as of June 1st, you could be slapped with a $500 fine. Worse yet, if you have an accident and have not yet gotten auto insurance, your license could be suspended and you may have to pay for all of the damages AND buy insurance before you can get your license back.
The minimum required coverage will be $50,000 for an injury or death of one person, $100,000 for injury or death of to or more persons and $15,000 for property damage. In addition, drivers will need to purchase uninsured motorist and under-insured motorist coverage in the amounts of $100,00 per person and $300,000 per accident.
Although these are the minimum amounts of coverage that are legally now required, it may be wise for some individuals to consider purchasing more. For instance, if you have a ton of personal assets, you will want to protect them as they would be at risk if you were in an accident and found to be part or all of the cause. If you have substantial assets, you may want to consider buying an “umbrella” policy. This type of policy provides additional insurance protection above the limits of your first level of insurance coverage. Insurance companies are required by law to offer to sell you additional uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage like the umbrella policy. If you do not want the coverage, you must reject the offer of coverage in writing.
The rate of your insurance quote will be based on where you live, what car you drive, how old you are, and your driving record. If for any reason you believe you are being denied coverage unfairly, you should make a formal complaint to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance online at oci.wi.gov.
For more information on Wisconsin Law and Personal Injury
Wisconsin recently enacted a set of laws that make changes to your auto insurance coverage. Beginning June 1, 1010, Wisconsin will join 48 other sates that require all auto owners to carry insurance on each of their vehicles. Below is a summary of the insurance you are required to carry if you own and operate a car in the State of Wisconsin.