Right from the start, my DUI lawyer here in Maryland has advised me that the state has a strong case against me so I’m thinking if we would still fight this. Anyway, I’m also thinking about the car insurance of my parents because I’m under their policy. Will their car insurance premiums increase because of my drunk driving charge?

Gauge

Gaithersburg, MD

Even if the state has a strong case against you on your DUI charge, your DUI lawyer Maryland can still be able to help you. You just have to make sure that the DUI lawyer Maryland defending you is very much experienced in handling such cases. About the car insurance of your parents, you have to understand that your DUI can affect their premiums since you are a named driver on their policy. All of the driving records of licensed drivers on a car insurance policy or in a household could influence the rates and also the decision of the car insurance company to cover the vehicle. Some traffic offenses could be a ground for a car insurance company to deny you for coverage or to ask you to pay high-risk car insurance.

If a driver has a poor driving record, he/she is considered to be higher risk to a car insurance carrier than a driver who has a good driving record; hence their premiums are typically higher. A DUI or any other serious traffic offense by one driver could have an effect on the entire car insurance policy. However, if the car insurance premiums of your parents rise because of your DUI, you can advise them to shop around for car insurance. By comparing different car insurance quotes, they can surely find an insurer that can offer a better rate.

It was just my bad luck that my vehicle got stolen here in Maryland, I soon found out that not only did the thief cause substantial damage to my car, he also caused some damages to properties and other vehicle, would I be liable and will my auto Insurance cover me for this?

Sandy

Frederick, MD

It is very unfortunate for that to happen to you. Generally speaking, if your vehicle was stolen and the thief caused damage to the insured vehicle, your comprehensive auto insurance clause under your policy there in Maryland should be able to cover the necessary repairs or payments. Hopefully, you were able to file a police report immediately when this happened, since your auto insurance provider will definitely ask for one as proof of the car theft. If the person who stole your vehicle caused damage to properties or injuries to other people then you should not be held responsible for any repairs or re-reimbursement in this case.

Do keep in mind that you have to expect, and be prepared for a very thorough investigation about this since both the police and the insurance provider would want to make sure that you are truly not involved in what happened. There are a lot of cases of car owners who do manage to get into car crashes and flee the scene, claiming that their vehicle has been stolen (car insurance companies are well aware of how this is).

It might be possible for your insurance to cover damages caused by your vehicle through its property liability coverage. But with this scenario it is highly unlikely that your auto insurance provider will do so. In any case, now more than ever, is the best time to take out and review that auto insurance policy of yours.

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.