Many of us are hunkering down in our homes because of the current Coronavirus pandemic. The oxymoron “Social Distancing” has gripped our country. Recently, we were asked “We’re barely driving. Should we reduce our auto insurance coverages and save a few bucks?”
The answer is an emphatic “No”! Remain well-insured, relative to your risk tolerances and assets, as any one of us could still be liable for seriously injuring another in a motor vehicle collision. Liability insurance coverage, provided you have purchased it in great enough limits, will protect you from financial harm should this unfortunate event occur.
There is another reason to maintain your current levels of auto insurance coverages. Andy and I have started to go on long daily walks as our children are engaged in their at-home online school classes (or Fortnite!). More people are exercising outdoors, mostly riding bicycles and walking to stay in shape, during this current “social distancing” environment. If a pedestrian or bicyclist suffers injuries because of a motorist’s negligence, will that motorist have enough liability insurance coverage to fully compensate the injured pedestrian or bicyclist for their injuries? Was the motorist even insured?
This is another good reason to maintain adequate levels of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in limits equal to the liability coverage under your auto insurance policy. These coverages will compensate you and family members up to your coverage limit, even if you were riding a bicycle or walking at the time of the collision, for all of your damages (past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings and pain and suffering) in the event the responsible driver has no insurance, is not identified (for example, a hit-and-run driver), or has an insufficient amount of liability insurance.
So stay safe, get outdoors and stay active. . . And please, stay well-insured!