Are you really covered with “full coverage” auto insurance?

As a seasoned Maryland auto accident and injury lawyer, I commonly hear clients discussing or mentioning the fact that they have “full coverage” on their insurance policy, so they certainly have enough coverage. In reality, there are many misunderstandings about what full coverage actually means on a Maryland automobile insurance policy, and some of this information could have you in a tough situation if you were involved in a serious auto accident in Maryland or one of the surrounding States like Delaware or Pennsylvania.

What is full coverage?

Full coverage is a term that roughly refers to having all of the possible coverages available on an auto insurance policy. It does not refer to how much coverage you have in each of these areas. The really deceptive thing about full coverage is that most of the types of coverage are actually mandatory in Maryland, so if you have a valid insurance policy, you’re going to have these coverages.

Liability coverage, Uninsured motorist coverage, and PIP coverage for passengers is mandatory in almost every Maryland auto insurance policy. The coverages that fill out the idea of “full coverage” include having full PIP that actually covers the owner/driver of the vehicle and his/her family members, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.

What’s missing from this idea of “full coverage”?

I explain to most of my clients, or individuals who take advantage of one of my free Maryland auto insurance policy reviews, is to think about buying a cup of coffee at a coffee shop, or a fountain drink at a fast food restaurant. At these establishments when you order the cup, it’s going to be given to you full. The difference here, is what size is that cup? If you order an 8oz cup of coffee and a 32oz cup of coffee, and both are given to you “full” are they really the same thing? Absolutely not!

When we buy auto insurance in Maryland it’s very similar. You can have full coverage, and it can be filled with the State’s minimum liability and uninsured motorist coverages. If you were to be seriously hurt in a Maryland auto accident by a driver with no insurance, or the State’s minimum insurance coverage, you may have no choice but to resolve your case for the State minimum liability amount of $30,000, when your medical bills could be well over $100,000.

Navigating these situations can be very tricky, and having our office handle the negotiations, or asset check to see if there is a potential for an excess recovery will be essential to ensure that medical bills are satisfied, and that some money is left over for pain and suffering.

Additionally, taking a few moments to let our office take a look at your insurance policy and provide a free review will allow you to know whether or not you’re covered or not before you need to be.

If you or someone you know is in one of these situations, or wants to avoid the difficult situation of having bad insurance, reach out to our Maryland auto accident lawyers by calling OR texting (410) 885-6200 . Getting our free Maryland Auto Insurance review before an accident is step one in maximizing recovery.