Driving is often a necessity, but it brings with it a number of risks. Learn how to minimize your financial risks with a few easy tips from Warren Luccitti, Esq. at The Luccitti Law Firm!
For Those Who Drive Here in the Valley
With everyone from a teenager to a 90-year-old being capable of having a license to drive, it is no wonder there are so many cars on the road. Couple that with the influx of several thousand people each month to the Valley, with no significant railway system and a bus system in its infancy, and you can guess why there has been such a significant increase in traffic over the years. With more vehicles, there are bound to be more accidents. All of us want to be responsible, so we maintain insurance coverage on our vehicles. That coverage will protect us from claims by others who are injured by our own negligence. But what happens when we ourselves are injured in that same accident and we are at fault. Who pays for our medical bills in that scenario? Unfortunately, if you don't have Health Insurance coverage through an employer or elsewhere, no one will pay... unless you had the foresight to obtain "Medical Payments" coverage (also known as "Med Pay") on your Automobile Policy.
Despite its availability, few injury victims have taken advantage of "Med Pay" coverage, which is aimed specifically at paying your medical expenses no matter who's at fault. This type of coverage is important because we all know how expensive medical bills can be. For a relatively low and reasonable cost (i.e. it varies among insurance carriers but it’s about five (5) dollars a month) you and each person in your car can have between $5,000 and $10,000 in medical bills covered by "Med Pay" no matter who's at fault for the accident.
For those of you without Health coverage, "Med Pay" is a necessity. For those of you who already have Health Insurance through your job or elsewhere, the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" recommends that we prepare for the unfortunate, unexpected events (like losing one's job or getting a divorce from the spouse who had the health coverage through their employer) by obtaining "Med Pay" coverage.
In a number of other states, drivers have about $50,000 available to them to cover their medical bills, no matter who's at fault. It's even called "no-fault insurance". "Med Pay" coverage is the closest thing we have to no-fault automobile coverage here in Arizona. Why not take advantage of Med Pay's availability and reasonable cost? I would like to see more people with Med Pay coverage than without. Ask your insurance agent for details.
Warren Luccitti, Esq., practices law in Maricopa County, AZ. He is a 1989 graduate of St. John's University School of Law in NYC, and is licensed to practice law in Arizona and New York. For questions or comments, or to get the help and justice you deserve from your personal injury, call The Luccitti Law Firm now at 623-533-7091.
Disclaimer: Please bear in mind that this is for general interest and informational purposes only, and not legal advice. Exceptions to general rules will often exist. Speak directly with an attorney when seeking legal advice.