Andrew Gillin recommends January for auto insurance check-up

SAN JOSE (December 10, 2009)—GJEL Accident Attorneys is encouraging everyone to begin 2010 with an annual auto insurance check-up about coverage and liability. As drivers begin these check-ups, this third in a series of GJEL auto insurance and safety quizzes provides possible insurance quirks not typically covered in casual conversations with agents.

“Everyone should have a once- or twice-annual check-up chat with insurance agents to ensure auto insurance covers all driving situations and today’s higher costs,” said Andrew Gillin, managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys, a catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm in the San Francisco Bay area. “Gillin Jacobsen Ellis & Larsen suggests January is perfect to schedule that conversation since people typically review goals at that time. We also recommend insurance coverage grow on average 15 percent annually to protect drivers against uninsured motorists, as there are more of them on the road.”

GJEL Accident Attorneys Auto Insurance Quirks, Quiz 3

The quirky items below may help fuel a conversation with an insurance agent who can inform drivers whether their insurance policies are up to par. Andrew Gillin, managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys recommends January for an auto insurance check up. Any “false” or “don’t know” answers for the questions below may suggest more homework to protect drivers with appropriate levels of insurance.

1. When transferring auto insurance policies, people should overlap insurance coverage by about 30 days to ensure coverage in the event of accident.

True   False   Don’t Know

2. When a college student returns home after graduation and is in an auto accident while driving the family car, s/he is considered an uninsured motorist.

True   False   Don’t Know

3. If someone without auto insurance drives another’s vehicle, the vehicle owner’s insurance policy covers all liability.

True   False   Don’t Know

4. When a family member is in an auto accident and leaves the scene but reports to the police later, s/he cannot be charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

True   False   Don’t Know

5. A driver involved in an accident should only involve a personal-injury lawyer if it’s a fatal crash.

True   False   Don’t Know

6. A driver involved in an accident should forego hiring a personal-injury lawyer if the other driver is uninsured because medical claims will not be recouped.

True   False   Don’t Know

7. Anyone with more than five traffic violations will pay higher auto insurance premiums. True   False   Don’t Know

8. When purchasing auto insurance, each state has required minimum coverage limits, and all insurance companies must adhere to these requirements.

True   False   Don’t Know

9. Medical injury claims from vehicular accidents should be handled quickly and without an attorney.

True   False   Don’t know

10. When a personal auto is involved in an accident with a municipal vehicle, the latter is not at fault.

True   False   Don’t know

11. Parents with clean driving records may be extended accident forgiveness for teen drivers.

True     False    Don’t know

12. Credit scores affect insurance rates.

True     False    Don’t know

13. U.S. auto insurance covers car rental, driving and accidents in foreign countries.

True     False    Don’t know

14. Auto insurance policies include coverage for all passengers including pets.

True    False        Don’t know

15. Both zip-code and gender affect insurance rates.

True     False    Don’t know

GJEL Accident Attorneys is a San Francisco bay area law firm representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Since 1972, Gillin Jacobson Ellis & Larsen has obtained recoveries in more than 99 percent of its cases. For more information, visit www.gjel.com or email lawfirm@gjel.com.

Author Photo

Andy Gillin received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury law for numerous organizations. Since 1972 he has been helping seriously injured victims throughout northern California fight & win their personal injury cases. Andy is one of the top awarded & recognized wrongful death lawyers in northern California.