I have never been in an accident so I really don’t know how things work when you have to file for an auto insurance claim. In case I get involved in an accident that wasn’t my fault and caused me injury and I was not able to work, will my insurer here in Maryland pay for my lost wages? Also, who will pay if my car gets wrecked and already beyond repair?

Nova

Germantown, MD

In case you were not able to show up for work because of an injury that was caused by an accident which was not your fault, it is not your auto insurance company in Maryland that is accountable to pay for your lost wages. The at-fault driver’s auto insurance is the one that should pay for it. The only threshold on the total of reasonable lost wages that you could get is the maximum value of the other party’s bodily injury auto liability insurance.

In case you got hit by a motorist whose auto liability insurance could not be able to pay for all of your medical bills and lost wages, you could file a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage for the rest of the expenses. In case you reside in a no-fault state, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) would have to cover for your lost wages up to the maximum value of its coverage.

If another motorist collides with your vehicle and could not be able to repair it, his/her auto insurance provider would have to pay for the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle prior to the accident. The state’s regulations usually let the auto insurance provider to base the ACV of your vehicle which has been declared as total loss on the prices of similar automobiles in your neighborhood. They would also have to pay for the sales tax on the new car that you buy with the insurance money.

Do you have any tips on how a part-time working, law-abiding, god-fearing senior citizen here in Baltimore, Maryland can save on car insurance expenses?

Angela

Baltimore, MD

There are a lot of people out there (especially the fast-aging baby boomer generation) who knows exactly how you feel when car insurance expenses suddenly begin to climb. Due to the effects of aging, such as poorer eyesight, reflexes not as sharp as before, and weaker stamina, car insurance providers have considered the elderly drivers to be at a higher risk in getting involved in car accidents. The higher the risk the auto insurance company will have to take-in, the bigger the insurance premium a customer will be charged as compensation.

There are ways to still maintain inexpensive car insurance there in Baltimore, Maryland even if you’re above 60 years old:

Drive Safely
Quite obvious but you really can’t afford to get any traffic violations or get involved even in minor car accidents that could further escalate your already high-pegged insurance premiums.

Take Defensive Driving Lessons
It’s never too late to take those safe driving or defensive driving classes. Your car insurance provider will provide discounts for taking accredited defensive driving courses.

Increase your Deductible.
A higher deductible means lower insurance premiums. But don’t raise it too much or you might not be able to pay your deductible when you actually need it.

Membership Discounts
If you have AARP or is retied from the military, there are insurance providers that car give you additional discounts. Ask your auto insurance company if they have senior citizen discounts available

I wanna make sure that I get my money’s worth for the auto insurance that I pay. How do you think I can determine how much auto insurance I need here in Baltimore, Maryland?

Oliver

Baltimore, MD

Choosing the proper auto insurance is a complicated task considering the competition in the market. You must avoid those insurance coverage that are not necessary so that you could get lower rates for your auto insurance in Baltimore, Maryland. You have to think what is really essential like the liability insurance and the uninsured motorist auto coverage because this would protect you from having personal losses and injuries. If you analyze your auto insurance needs, you will come up with sufficient coverage plan.

You have to first find out the fair market value of your automobile and this would be the highest amount that an auto insurance company would cover if the automobile is damaged in a crash. If you have an older model car and its fair market value is low, you may opt to terminate your comprehensive and collision coverage because their possible advantage would not give good reason for the insurance rates. You also have to assess the need for liability insurance and this is the one which gives coverage for liability to a third party who is injured due to your carelessness on the road.

I have to get an SR22 because of my DUI conviction here in Ellicott City, Maryland and I need help in filing it. Will my current auto insurance provider be able to give me SR22 insurance?

Kaiya

Ellicott City, MD

You would have to get SR22 auto insurance because of your DUI conviction in Ellicott City, Maryland. This is a form of financial responsibility that acts as an evidence that you have the appropriate amount of insurance that the state of Maryland is requiring you to have because of your DUI. You would have to carry this for several years depending on the circumstances of your DUI. Your current auto insurance provider could file the SR22 for you, but you have to make sure that you check with them for the process on how to file it.

However, there are instances that an auto insurance company may not be able to provide insurance anymore for a person convicted for DUI. They could just discontinue you or simply not renew your policy at the end of the coverage period. If this happens, you would have to seek another auto insurance company that would give you the necessary coverage that you need for your SR22 insurance. This website could be able to provide you free quotes for your SR22 auto insurance needs.

How do I choose the right auto insurance company after I have been dropped by my previous provider because of my DUI charge here in Dundalk, Maryland?

Jason

Dundalk, MD

Choosing the right auto insurance company after you have been dropped by your previous insurer because of your DUI charge in Dundalk, Maryland can be a challenging task. There are some points that you have to remember when selecting an auto insurance company. The first thing that you have to make sure is that the insurance company is licensed in the state of Maryland because not every company is licensed to operate in each state. If the insurance company is licensed in Maryland, you can then rely on the state insurance department to help if there is a problem.

The other thing that you would have to consider is the price because there are a lot of companies that sell auto insurance policies and their prices vary greatly from one another. It would pay to shop around and get at least three price quotes from agents, companies and Internet. You may start your search for the right auto insurance company by getting free online premium quotes from this website.