Articles

THE IMPORTANCE OF INSURANCE By C.J. Czaia

Every time you get in your car or on your motorcycle you are putting yourself at risk if you don’t have the right insurance.

Unlike almost all states, Florida state law doesn’t require you to carry liability or uninsured motorist insurance, meaning the basic package that you presently have may not be enough coverage in the event of an accident. Florida is an extremely conservative state so don’t expect the government to protect you, as they won’t. Nor do many of the insurance agents that set up your policies. It is time for you to wake up, get educated and protect yourself.

As an advocate for the people, I am sick and tired of seeing the injustice that occurs time and time again due to lack of the right type of coverage. The cost is minimal, especially when you consider what your life is worth. What if you are injured and cannot work for a long time? Or worse, what if you are paralyzed and can not longer take care of your family?

Face facts: in spite of our beautiful cities and tourist economy, politically Florida is a backwoods state and as such you really need to stand up and educate yourself as to your needs. There is a huge misconception of what people believe is “full coverage”.

Carrying comprehensive/collision insurance simply covers repairs to your vehicle and does not take care of other claims that can arise from an accident.

Some think that having health insurance means they do not have to carry Uninsured Motorist coverage. This is completely untrue. Health insurance will not cover any disability suffered from an accident, pain or suffering sustained from a bodily injury, disfigurement or suffering, mental anguish, any earning or work loss time or the ability to earn money in the future. Only with the right uninsured motorist coverage would these damages be considered under your policy. Without it, you are pretty much out of luck.

You also need to carry Bodily Injury Coverage. If you are hurt in an accident and the other party is at fault, you can make a claim against them. Likewise, if you are at fault, they can make a claim against you. If you don’t carry this type of insurance, you are liable, in other words responsible, for all their expenses. Just imagine if that injured person has to be hospitalized and you have to pay the bills. Medical bills alone can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention pain and suffering and much more.

While you cannot be put in jail for failure to pay, you can have your license suspended for lack of financial responsibility. Then if you continue to drive, you are committing a criminal act and that spells jail. Getting the right coverage is definitely the answer.

As I said earlier, It is time for you to wake up and learn what you need. Do not rely on your insurance agent to do the job. Insurance companies don’t have to help you and nine times out of ten they don’t. Their business is making money. Most don’t care about you and they certainly don’t want to have to pay out on large claims. If they don’t sell you the right coverage, this means they don’t have to pay and they are not out any money.

In this country, we lose our souls to big business and many times insurance companies tend to prey on easy targets: immigrants, uneducated people and the poor. Taking charge of your life and learning what you need for you and your family will end this problem for you.

When buying insurance, it is good to stick with the bigger name companies. Many of the smaller companies are not nearly as reliable. Check out your agent and make sure they are ready to sell you what you need. Just because they are an agent, doesn’t mean they deserve your automatic trust. Many are ignorant and are selling only what they have been taught. Others are downright crooked. And, just because they speak our language, don’t be fooled. Being able to talk in Spanish doesn’t mean they won’t rip you off. If they tell you that you don’t need uninsured motorist and liability, find another agent.

If you have any doubts or questions about what you need, call me. I will be pleased to discuss your needs and help educate you as to available options and consequences. . At Czaia and Gallagher we care and have built a reputation on honesty and respect. We are dedicated to working for our clients’ interest and welcome your questions. Call me any time at 1-800-222-7520.

Always remember we live in a democracy and this is your country and your state. America’s constitution begins with “We, the people…” This means you must be actively involved, and not leave your fate in someone else’s hands. Let us help you learn how.