Assignment Type: Discussion Board Deliverable Length: 2-3 paragraphs
Points Possible: 55 Due Date: 5/18/2008 11:59:59 PM CT
Bob Brown was recently involved in a minor auto accident. His car was hit from behind, and he, in turn, slammed into the car in front of him. He would like someone to explain his coverage and show him where, in his auto policy, each of his losses might be covered. The explanantion of coverage and the location of coverage should be in general terms for most auto insurance policies, please do not use only your personal auto insurance policy as your guide for your response.
Help him out by doing that for each of the following items.
The cost of a medical checkup for his passenger, Ruth
The front and rear damage to his car
The damage to the car in front of him
The damage to the car behind him
The total amount of liability protection for bodily harm and property damage
To explain Bob Brown's coverage and locate the coverage for each of his losses in his auto policy, we need to understand the different types of coverage typically found in auto insurance policies.
1. The cost of a medical checkup for his passenger, Ruth:
Medical coverage, also known as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage, is a common component in auto insurance. It covers medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident, regardless of fault. Bob should refer to his auto policy's declarations page or coverage summary to locate the section on medical coverage. This section will outline the coverage limits and any exclusions or deductibles that apply.
2. The front and rear damage to his car:
Damage to Bob's car is typically covered under the comprehensive and collision coverage in his auto policy. Comprehensive coverage protects against non-accident-related incidents like theft, vandalism, and weather damage. Collision coverage covers damage caused by a collision with another vehicle or object. Bob should review his auto policy's declarations page or coverage summary to locate the section on comprehensive and collision coverage. This section will specify the coverage limits, deductible amount, and any other details related to car damage.
3. The damage to the car in front of him:
The liability coverage portion of Bob's auto policy will come into play for the damage caused to the car in front of him. Liability coverage protects against claims made by others for bodily injury or property damage resulting from an accident where the insured is at fault. Bob should look for the liability coverage section in his auto policy. It will outline the coverage limits for both bodily injury and property damage, typically expressed as a split limit like 100/300/50 (meaning $100,000 per person bodily injury, $300,000 per accident bodily injury, and $50,000 property damage).
4. The damage to the car behind him:
Similar to the previous scenario, liability coverage will also apply to the damage caused to the car behind Bob. The same liability coverage section in his auto policy will address coverage for damage to others' vehicles, with the coverage limit for property damage specified.
5. The total amount of liability protection for bodily harm and property damage:
Bob should refer to the liability coverage section of his auto policy to find the total amount of liability protection for bodily harm and property damage. As mentioned earlier, liability coverage limits are typically expressed as a split limit, such as 100/300/50. The first number represents the coverage limit per person for bodily injury, the second number represents the coverage limit per accident for bodily injury, and the third number represents the coverage limit for property damage.
Bob should carefully review his auto insurance policy document, specifically the declarations page and coverage summary, to locate the specific details and coverage limits related to each item mentioned above. It's important to note that coverage may vary between policies and states, so Bob's policy may have variations compared to the general explanation provided here.