| Have you ever tried to read through your options | | | | property damage liability coverage will take care |
| with an Illinois car insurance agent only to realize | | | | of damages to the other vehicles and private and |
| that you don't understand half of the legal-ese | | | | or public property involved in the accident. State |
| and insurance-ese they're using? We've all been | | | | requirements are a minimum of $15,000 in |
| there. If you're not familiar with the ins and outs | | | | coverage, but if you take out a light pole that |
| of insurance it isn't hard to find yourself | | | | $15,000 is just going to scratch the surface! |
| completely lost in the mix of options available to | | | | Most experts recommend that drivers carry |
| you. Here's a look at the different types of | | | | between $100,000 and $500,000 worth of liability |
| insurance offered by most Illinois car insurance | | | | insurance to make sure they're ready for |
| providers and the straight facts on how much | | | | whatever comes their way. |
| coverage you really need. | | | | UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE |
| LIABILITY COVERAGE | | | | If you're in an accident and the other driver |
| When you're in an accident you're considered to | | | | doesn't have any insurance, who do you think is |
| be "liable" (responsible) for the damages you | | | | going to be responsible for the damages caused |
| cause to your vehicle, other vehicles, other | | | | by the accident? Right, they are. The problem is, |
| drivers, passengers (yours and theirs), onlookers | | | | if they can't afford insurance they're probably not |
| and any street signs or lampposts too slow to | | | | going to be able to afford to pay for your vehicle |
| get out of your way. Unless you've got liability | | | | and/or medical bills. Illinois car insurance laws |
| coverage you're going to be paying for those | | | | require drivers to carry up to $40,000 per |
| damages out of your own pocket-and with | | | | accident in uninsured motorist insurance to make |
| ambulance rides starting at $80 a pop and the | | | | sure they're never left without options if they're |
| ICU charging you $5,000 a day to visit in their | | | | hit by one of the thousands of drivers on the |
| "coach" section, those numbers can add up fast! | | | | Illinois highways driving without insurance. |
| There are two types of liability insurance you're | | | | COMPREHENSIVE/COLLISION COVERAGE |
| going to be required to have before Illinois will let | | | | Who's going to pay to fix your car if the accident |
| you hit the highways: | | | | was your fault? Even worse, who's going to pay |
| 1) Bodily Injury Liability-This is the insurance | | | | if it was nobody's fault? These questions are the |
| coverage that's going to take care of those | | | | reason that most experts recommend you carry |
| pesky medical bills, including any rehabilitative | | | | comprehensive and collision coverage on your car, |
| therapy a judge decides you're responsible for. | | | | even if you don't share joint legal custody with a |
| Illinois car insurance requirements state that you | | | | lender who's making you do it! Comprehensive |
| have to have at least $20,000 coverage per | | | | coverage will pay for the damages if you park in |
| person and $40,000 per accident; however, the | | | | front of Macy's and someone decides to smash in |
| way medical expenses add up you're probably | | | | your windows, and collision will get your car back |
| going to want to carry more than that! | | | | on the road after you slide on a patch of black |
| 2) Property Damage Liability-You break it, you | | | | ice and rear-end the car in front of you. |
| bought it. At least, you have to pay to fix it. Your | | | | |