Driving in Texas can pose risks with tens of thousands of accidents occurring in the state every year. While there are situations in which an accident cannot be avoided, the financial impact of a vehicle crash can be mitigated by choosing the right type of Katy car insurance.

Auto Liability

Liability insurance covers damage or personal injury that is done to the person in the other car in an accident. This type of coverage protects a driver from being personally liable to pay for vehicle damage and medical bills related to an accident.

Coverage amounts are provided according to the amount that will be paid by the insurance company per person involved in the accident, the total amount that the insurance company will pay for one accident and the amount that the insurance company will pay for any property damage done to the other vehicle.

These amounts are written as monetary amounts without the explanation in the insurance policy. For example, $50,000/$100,000/$50,000 means $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $50,000 for property damage.

Personal Injury

Personal injury coverage will pay for personal medical bills that are directly resulting from a vehicle accident. Financial compensation may also be paid out for lost wages or rehabilitation related to an accident, and funeral expenses are covered under personal injury coverage in the case of a fatal accident.

Personal injury coverage is elective, but the 3,015 fatalities and 79,573 serious injuries suffered as a result of a vehicle crash in Texas in 2011 per the Texas Department of Transportation make it an important consideration while a person is shopping for Katy auto insurance coverage.

Collision

Collision coverage will reimburse a person for damage done to their vehicle while in a collision with another vehicle or an object. A deductible must be paid before insurance will pay anything toward the damage, and the amount of this deductible is chosen when a person purchases an insurance policy.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive coverage will cover damages or losses that are not the result of a collision. Damage caused by weather and theft are both covered by comprehensive auto insurance. As with collision, a driver must pay a deductible before the insurance company will pay anything toward the damages or loss suffered.

Uninsured Motorist

While it is illegal to drive without liability insurance in the state of Texas, approximately 13 percent of drivers choose to do so anyway. If a person is in an accident with an uninsured driver, uninsured motorist coverage will pay for damage done to a vehicle.

Underinsured Motorist

Some drivers do not have enough liability coverage to pay for damage done to another person’s vehicle during a crash. Underinsured motorist coverage is intended to make up the difference to pay for damage.

Rental Reimbursement

An accident can often leave a driver without a car while repairs are being made. Rental reimbursement compensates a driver with a predetermined amount of money per day when a rental vehicle is used while a personal vehicle is being repaired.

Emergency Road Service

Breakdowns may require the assistance of a tow truck. Emergency road service coverage pays for tow services.

The state law related to auto insurance in Texas requires motorists to carry a minimum liability coverage of $30,000/$60,000/$25,000. Additional coverage amounts for liability and different types of coverage may be chosen to allow drivers to receive money to pay for vehicle repairs and medical care related to a vehicle accident.

When deciding on the level of insurance necessary, keep in mind the amount of coverage that would be needed to repair someone else’s vehicle. While a personal vehicle may not be worth much, other drivers may be driving more expensive vehicles that could require tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.

Most insurance companies will give you a discount if you have multiple insurance policies with them. As an example if you have auto insurance and Katy Home Owners Insurance with the same company they may discount your premiums up to 20%.

Traffic Accident Statistics From the Texas Department of Transportation