USAgencies

There’s more than just fabulous food and music in the bayou! Lafayette also has a high number of uninsured and underinsured drivers. Liability insurance for your car — it may not be the most exciting topic, but being properly insured will help keep you and your family safe and healthy. At USAgencies, we’ll help you understand your insurance needs, do all the research, and find you the best deal. Let’s look at what liability insurance is and four specific situations where it comes in handy in Lafayette. 

What Is Liability Insurance? 

In short, if you are in a car accident, liability insurance pays for damage up to the dollar amounts stated in the insurance policy. This can include damage to property (i.e., the other person’s car) or medical expenses (i.e. if the person or people in the other car are physically injured). Liability insurance is required by law. 

Louisiana law sets forth the following amounts as the minimum allowed for auto insurance liability coverage: 

• $15,000 coverage for bodily injury to any one person 
• $30,000 coverage for total bodily injury for all people per accident 
• $25,000 coverage for property damage (i.e. damage to a vehicle) 

This state-required minimum coverage is often referred to as a “15/30/25 Policy.” 

Situation 1: You get into an accident and damage another person’s vehicle. 

Let’s say it’s a rainy night and you are usually a safe driver, but you don’t anticipate that the car in front of you is going to stop when it does. You rear-end the car (which means that it is legally your fault even if the roads are slippery and the other driver isn’t the best one on the road). At this point, you need to activate your car accident plan. Stop your car, get your driver’s license and proof of insurance out, and call the police to have them write up a report. 

The sad truth is that even if you just scratched or barely dented the other car, it could cost them a lot of money to get it fixed, and you will be on the hook for every penny of it if you don’t have liability insurance. If you are in anything beyond the most minor of accidents, costs can go into the thousands of dollars in the blink of an eye. 

Situation 2: You get into an accident and someone in the other car is physically injured. 

This is just a nightmare for everyone involved. Regardless of how it happened, you don’t want to cause anyone else harm. Hopefully, they are not badly injured, but even minor injuries can require medical attention, and medical bills usually start high and skyrocket from there. Let USAgencies help you.  

If something like this happens, you need the peace of mind of being properly insured so that you can focus on what is important — helping the person get medical attention and not worrying if this one mistake will cost you every penny you have, and potentially garnish your future wages. 

Situation 3: You get pulled over and need to provide a valid driver’s license and proof of liability insurance. 

Let’s face it. Sometimes it happens. Maybe you were driving a little (or a lot) too fast. Maybe you had a taillight out. Maybe a dozen other reasons. Getting pulled over is never fun, but by having proof of liability insurance, you can help change this situation from a potentially major problem into a minor inconvenience.  

Being able to calmly provide the officer with your driver’s license and proof of insurance will make this situation better no matter what else is happening. The last thing you need is to be fined or perhaps even have your car impounded. Stay safe and stay on the road with the help of USAgencies. 

Situation 4: You need to renew your driver’s license or car registration. 

Isn’t it everyone’s favorite activity to visit the DMV? Not. If you want to keep your wheels on the road, however, having a valid driver’s license and car registration that is up to date is just part of the deal.  

Even if you just let one of them lapse for a bit, you are risking fines and could be opening yourself up to major financial problems if you are in an accident. And for yearly car registration, you’d better believe that the authorities keep an eye out for those little stickers on your license plate and will pull you over if they spot one that is out of date. 

By having proof of liability insurance, that handy card with the insurance provider’s name, the policy number, and the expiration date that clearly shows you are currently insured, your life will be much easier. When you need to renew your driver’s license, all you’ll need to worry about are the ridiculous lines at the DMV and whether you can get a good picture on your license. Now, that’s peace of mind. 

Let Our Experts Help You 

Established over two decades ago, USAgencies is recognized as the brand to trust for low-cost auto insurance and has 83 convenient locations throughout Alabama and Louisiana, including one near you in Lafayette. 

We’ve worked with thousands upon thousands of drivers, and many of them have made a few mistakes. Maybe they missed a few payments and let their insurance lapse. Maybe they’ve made some mistakes on their driving record and it seems like car insurance is just too expensive for them now. Maybe they aren’t familiar with how liability insurance works and how it can help them keep driving safely in Lafayette. 

Whether you are currently in a situation without liability insurance for your car, you’re wondering if you have the right amount of insurance, or you are wondering if your current insurance company is charging you too much, act today. We can restore your peace of mind by making sure you have the liability insurance you need at the best price available. Give us a call today at 800-420-3712.