Full Coverage Auto Insurance – Personal Injury Perspective
Here’s the transcript separated by speaker:
Joe Emer:
When it comes to car insurance, a lot of people believe they have full coverage. But what they actually have may be very different once they find that out. After an accident, that misunderstanding can lead to some costly surprises. Joining us today is David Greene from Greene and Phillips to help clear some of this up. David, good to see you.
David Greene:
Good to see you.
Joe Emer:
All right. So, we hear people say, “I have full coverage” all the time. What does that mean?
David Greene:
Well, full coverage means you have everything. And so a lot of times you may think you have full coverage, which would be liability, comprehensive, medical pay benefits, and — the most important — underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. Many, many times people have paid for everything else and they’ve waived their uninsured motorist coverage. So, callum — we encourage all of you to pull your policy out and look at it and see whether or not you have it. If you have waived your UM coverage, you want to make sure that you go back and purchase UM coverage. UM coverage can be very, very inexpensive — really, you know, $50, $100 a year — and it can make all the difference in the world in your case.
Joe Emer:
So, is that one of those gaps that people may not realize, like, “Oh, I don’t have that”?
David Greene:
Yeah, a lot of times they don’t have it. And what happens many times today — if you look at your policy, you may have purchased it online. And if you purchased it online, you signed a line on the document and it actually would be a waiver, and no one has explained it to you. It’s an issue we believe as trial lawyers that folks should have explained to them. We think that’s a problem with our law, but right now that’s what the law is. So people can waive their uninsured motorist coverage and not even realize they’ve done it. They get involved in a crash where the other driver does not have insurance, they get hurt, the other driver can’t pay them, and they have nothing they can go and collect.
Joe Emer:
Any other common misunderstandings when it comes to insurance?
David Greene:
Well, just not understanding that is one of the most important things. And one of the things we tell people all the time — make sure that you have liability, comprehensive, and the UM. And if you can get some — if you get minimum coverage, that’s $25,000 per occurrence, $50,000 aggregate total. If you can purchase a little more, we understand most people are on a budget — we’re all on budgets no matter what it is — but if you can purchase a little more coverage, make sure that your liability and your UM match. So if you’ve got $50,000 in liability, make sure you have $50,000 in UM, because there are ways that a good lawyer can stack those coverages and get you even more coverage.
Joe Emer:
Is there anything anyone can do if they’re in an accident and they may not have the coverage they thought they had?
David Greene:
Well, if you don’t have it the day of the accident, you don’t have it. And so that’s important. A lot of people think, “Well, I could run out and buy it.” No — it’s timestamped at the date and time of the accident. But a lot of people learn the hard way. We don’t want you to learn the hard way. We want you to learn today, here on Fox 10, that you need uninsured motorist coverage, and you need to make sure that you have it on every vehicle that you have in your household. That can make a huge difference. I’m glad to talk to anybody — I can sit down with you and explain it to you. It can make a huge difference in your case and making sure you’re compensated after a wreck.
Joe Emer:
And some people may want to take you up on that. So, how do they do that, David?
David Greene:
It’s very simple. You can always come by and see me at 51 North Florida Street in Midtown Mobile — the white building across from Butch’s — I know, I know, my friends over there will like the plug — or across from Old Dutch Ice Cream Shop. Everyone knows where that is. Stop in and see me, I’ll be glad to talk to you. Or reach out at greenephillips.com.
Joe Emer:
And will the dog, the Judge, be there too?
David Greene:
Judge is always there.
Joe Emer:
All right. Good stuff. We’re gonna have their contact information and that address we’re talking about on fox10TV.com under Studio 10. David, thanks a lot.
David Greene:
Thank you.
