Check on your properties

Do you have a second home? Do you have someone that checks on that home frequently? You should. Recently a clean up/restoration company came into the agency and shared some devastating photos of a home that suffered a water leak, that sat for three weeks. The mold was everywhere. Walls, ceilings, tables and chairs were covered. In all my years of being in insurance I had never seen anything like this. Please check on your properties.

Explaining the Massachusetts Auto Policy

So, you have a Massachusetts auto policy, but what does that mean?  What events does each part of the policy cover?  Hopefully, after reading this you will understand your auto policy better, and be able to determine if you should increase or enhance your coverage!

Part 1: Bodily Injury to Others

·         This coverage pays for damages to any person injured or killed by your vehicle only in an accident that happens in Massachusetts.  The limit for this coverage is a maximum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.  Injuries to you as the driver or your passengers are not covered by this coverage.  You can and should buy additional Bodily Injury to Others coverage in part 5.

Part 2: Personal Injury Protection

·         This coverage also known as PIP pays a maximum of $8,000 to you or any person who you allow to drive your vehicle, passengers, and pedestrians, regardless of fault.  PIP pays medical bills (not covered by your health insurance), replacement services, and 75% of lost wages.  A PIP deductible is available; you should discuss this deductible option with your agent.

Part 3: Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto

·         This coverage protects you, any person you allow to drive your vehicle, household members and passengers (unless they are covered by another Massachusetts auto policy) from losses caused by an unidentified or uninsured operator.  This does not cover property damage or damage to your vehicle.

Part 4: Damage to Someone Else’s Property

·         This part of the Massachusetts auto policy pays for the damage to someone else’s personal property and the costs related to the loss of use of the property, when you, a household member, or another driver with permission to drive your vehicle causes an accident.

Part 5: Optional Bodily Injury to Others

·         Part 5, extends and increases your liability protection from part 1 up to the amount of insurance you purchase.  This coverage protects you in the event that the accident happens outside of Massachusetts, but inside the United States, its territories and possessions or Canada.  This coverage also pays for injuries to guests in vehicle as a result of an accident.

Part 6: Medical Payments

·         This covers medical expenses for you, your household members, and passengers, in excess of the PIP coverage regardless of fault in the accident.

Part 7: Collision

·         Part 7, provides coverage for damage to your vehicle, minus the deductible regardless of fault in the event of a collision. 

Part 8: Limited Collision

·         Limited collision coverage can be chosen in place of part 7 collision coverage.  This would also cover a collision, however, it will only pay if you are less than 50% at fault and the owner of the other car must be identified.

Part 9: Comprehensive

·         This coverage pays for damage or loss of your vehicle, minus the deductible, as a result of fire, theft, vandalism, and hitting an animal.  This coverage does not protect your personal property unless it is permanently installed in your vehicle.

Part 10: Substitute Transportation

·         This coverage reimburses you when your vehicle is undergoing collision or covered repairs up to the limit of coverage you chose for a temporary vehicle or transportation costs (tax, bus, train fare). 

Part 11: Towing and Labor

·         Part 11 covers towing and labor expenses up to your chosen limit (usually $50 or $100) each time your auto is disabled.  The Massachusetts auto policy will only pay for labor done at the scene to the extent that the labor was needed to get your car moving.  This does not cover the cost of repair parts.

Part 12: Bodily Injury Caused by an Underinsured Auto

·         This coverage protects you, any person you allow to drive your vehicle, household members and passengers (unless they are covered by another Massachusetts auto policy) from losses caused by an operator without enough bodily injury coverage.  Part 12 pays you up to the difference between the total amount paid from the bodily injury liability insurance covering the owner and driver of the other vehicle and the limits of your Massachusetts auto policy.