Reader’s Question:

Where can I verify information regarding the limits of personal car liability insurance in Louisiana LA?

Vicky

Monroe, LA

You are required by Louisiana law to vehicle 10/20/10 liability insurance coverage on your motor vehicle. This means that if you are liable for injury or damage in an car accident, the minimum liability policy will pay up to $10,000 for bodily injury for one person up $20,000 for bodily injury for more than one person per accident and a total of $10,000 for property damage per accident.

If you are thinking what your current policy is you can speak with your insurance agent. If you want to buy a policy with greater limits you can again talk with your insurance carrier or shop around for Louisiana car insurance. If you have other insurance inquiries you can contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance or office of Motor Vehicles which can also help you.

Reader’s Question:

What does uninsured motorist insurance cover in Louisiana?

Jim

Metairie, LA

The state of Louisiana Law requires drivers to carry liability coverage on any car they own. This coverage pays for personal injury or property damages for which you may be legally responsible, up to your policy’s dollar limits.

You may choose to buy uninsured motorist economic-only coverage. This coverage is similar with uninsured motorist coverage except that it covers only the actual costs of injuries to you and the passengers of your car. Pain and suffering are not included in this type of coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist property damage coverage provides for repairs to your car if you get involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. A $250 deductible applies under this type of coverage, and your recovery is limited to $10,000 or the actual cash value of the car, whichever is less. If your insurance policy includes collision and comprehensive insurance, this coverage is not available.

Reader’s Question:

I was wondering how car insurance companies is assessed. Where the cheapest auto insurance rates are is what I am curious about, but since that is too general I am interested in searching how I could better understand how an insurance rate is calculated in any given area.

Mark

Baton Rouge, LA

Car insurance rates are based on different factors which can vary depending upon state insurance laws as well as individual insurance company’s underwriting guidelines.

The basics though of how an auto insurance rate is that the premium you pay consists of a “base rate” in addition or minus amounts reflecting factors such as your age, marital status, gender, driving pattern, claims history, vehicle type, driving record.

Normally there is a different base rate depending upon the type of car being insured and the geographical area where the motorist resides. While individual carriers may vary in the amounts they assess for each factor, the major rating factors are fairly universal.

Reader’s Question:

My wife was involved in an auto accident involving a drunk motorist. It was the drunk driver’s fault, unfortunately though we didn’t have auto insurance. Our vehicle was totaled, so I need to know what will happen now? Does the other at fault driver pay for the damages, or do we pay for it?

Rick

New Orleans, LA

Generally, even though you didnt have inurance sat the time of the accident your ife should be able to make claims for the damages she and the car sustained because of the accident caused by the drunk driver. You should contact the at-fault party’s insurance company to make a claim for the damages of your car in this accident.

There are some states that limit your claims if you didnt have auto insurance at the time of an accident, but typically if the at-fault party was a drunk driver then you can make a claims. In Louisiana, they have a “no pay / no play” law which normally means if you do not have insurance and got involved in an accident then you cant recover for the first $10,000 of bodily injury and no recovery for the first $10,000 of property damage based on any cause or right of action resulting out of a motor vehicle accident, for such injury or damages occasioned by an owner or driver of the car involved in such accident who fails to own or carry compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance.

Reader’s Question:

I got a speeding ticket five months ago and I received another speeding citation again. How is it going to affect my insurance rates in Louisiana?

Larry

New Orleans, LA

Since in Louisiana minor moving convictions stay on a driver’s driving record for three years from the date of conviction, your insurance carrier will see both speeding tickets the next time they pull your motor vehicle record (MVR).

Your insurance rate could increase due to having two traffic violations, speeding tickets, on your driver’s record. It will depend on how your insurance carrier’s rating system works as to how much your insurance rates will be affected. To check about their rating system, ask your insurance agent or company for information or you can contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance since insurance rates must be filed with them.

Reader’s Question:

What is the reason why the state of Louisiana require liability insurance?

Sean

Shreveport, LA

Liability insurance pays claims if you are responsible for damaging or hurting another individual or for damaging another individual’s property. Without insurance you would be personally responsible for taking care of these expenses which could run in to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending upon the type of injuries and the type of damaged car the other motorist and their passengers may have sustained.

According to Louisiana law, the only insurance you are required to carry is 10/20/10 liability coverage on your car. That is, if you are liable for injury or damage in an car accident, the minimum liability policy will pay up to $10,000 for bodily injury to one person up to $20,000 for bodily injury per accident to more than one person and $10,000 property damage per accident.