Many of us in the Rochester Hills, MI, area have experienced that unsettling sound of a stone hitting our windshield as we travel down the highway. It can take a minute or two to process the event, and then we usually go on an immediate search to see if there was any damage.

At Guy Hurley McNeil, we frequently get calls asking who is responsible if a windshield gets damaged while traveling. The answer is that it will likely fall on you. Here’s why.

Proving fault is difficult.

When a stone or pebble gets kicked up on a freeway, it can be hard to determine what caused it. Even if you see a potentially liable vehicle, it can be challenging to prove blame.

You will likely need to pay your deductible.

While some states have a zero deductible for windshield repair or replacement, Michigan is not one of them. If you incur windshield damage, you will, at the minimum, be responsible for your deductible. In many cases, that deductible will cover the cost of repair or replacement. A claim would not likely result in a monetary reimbursement under normal circumstances.

Would a glass damage claim impact insurance rates?

It is not likely any glass damage claims would increase your auto insurance rates in Michigan. Many glass damage claims remain unreported.

The bottom line.

If you have windshield damage that will cost $700 to repair and you have a $1000 deductible, you will ultimately pay for the full cost of replacement. This is one of the downsides of increasing the deductible to save on monthly car insurance premiums.

Get a quote today.

If you live in the Rochester Hills, MI, area and have questions about car insurance, your specific coverage, or how you may be able to improve your protection, we invite you to contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil. We want you to feel comfortable about your coverage and what you pay. Reach out to us for a free, no-obligation auto insurance review and price quote today.

Car insurance is a critical safeguard that provides financial protection should you be involved in a vehicular accident. Here are some guidelines to help you calculate the amount of coverage you need.

Reflect on Past Incidents

Reviewing past incidents that required out-of-pocket expenditure is an excellent place to begin. If you currently only have liability coverage, for example, you might have been liable for the costs associated with vehicle repairs. Upscaling the type of coverage may cover expenses arising from an accident that is your fault.

Consider Car Value

Take into account the value of your car. Naturally, if your vehicle is expensive, increasing the amount of coverage would be advisable. Make sure to reassess your coverage needs each time you replace or upgrade your vehicle.

Your Net Worth

Calculate your net worth. This is a critical factor to consider when determining the coverage amount. Your policy should not only provide adequate coverage but also comfortably fit within your budget.

Special Circumstances

Consider specific circumstances that may warrant extra insurance coverage. Add-on insurance products offer an additional layer of protection. For instance, an add-on insurance product might be beneficial if you frequently tow other vehicles.

A wide choice of add-on products is available. These insurance features are optional, allowing you to pick what best suits your needs based on your driving patterns.

Consult with Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance

Schedule an appointment with one of our proficient Guy Hurley McNeil insurance agents. An agent serving Rochester Hills, MI, will provide you with a customized automotive insurance policy tailored to your specific needs.

When you own a vehicle, you are required to have an auto insurance policy for it. It’s never a good idea to try to go without this insurance. This will put you in danger of fines and fees and make you vulnerable to the high cost of accidents. Different kinds of coverage can be included in auto insurance policies. Here are three of the types that policies should have to keep you protected. When you need auto insurance, call us at Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI, to get started. 

Liability Coverage 

Every auto policy needs to have two types of liability coverage. Both are required in Michigan. Your auto policy should have both property damage and bodily injury liability coverage. Each of these protects against different costs you may be responsible for. When you have property damage liability, this pays for the cost of repairs to the other vehicle involved in the accident. The bodily injury coverage pays for the other party’s medical bills when they are injured in an accident with your vehicle. 

Collision Coverage

When you have collision coverage, it protects you against damage to your own property. When you’re in an accident, this coverage can pay for the repairs you need for your vehicle when you’re at fault for the accident. This is important to have with the high cost of repairs today. 

Comprehensive Coverage

This protects you against the many dangers of your vehicle when it isn’t being driven. Many things can happen to a car; you can protect against them with this type of coverage. 

Get Auto Insurance in Rochester Hills, MI

If you don’t have the needed coverage, now’s the time to get it. Call us at Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI.

Auto insurance companies use various information sources to determine the risk they take when insuring an individual or family. Some information is the applicant’s demographic characteristics, previous driving and accident history, vehicles, and other factors. The information is used in formulas to determine the premium required to insure the applicant or others like them profitably. Guy Hurley McNeil, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, is here to help you understand and acquire the insurance coverage that will best protect you and your family.

Auto Insurance Risk Factors

Auto insurance companies have decades of information on driver profiles, accident histories, claim volumes, and the money paid in claims. That information helps them understand how accidents and claims vary by age, gender, marital status, and similar applicant characteristics. While the insurance company cannot know how safe a specific 16-year-old driver will be, history tells them that new drivers experience more accidents than experienced drivers, so all else equal, younger drivers have higher premiums.

Besides demographic characteristics, previous accidents, traffic tickets, and other driver record elements influence the risk calculation. Likewise, the vehicle’s value, safety equipment, and performance characteristics affect the likelihood of accidents and the cost of repairs if one occurs. Of course, the coverage limits and deductibles an applicant chooses also affect the expected risk.

An emerging trend for assessing and incorporating risk is usage-based insurance (UBI). UBI uses vehicle telematics to track driving habits, such as speeding, hard braking, and miles driven, with premiums adjusted based on the risks posed by such driving.

Working With Guy Hurley McNeil

Our team at Guy Hurley McNeil serves the Rochester Hills, MI area and will happily answer your insurance questions and prepare a policy to meet your needs best. Call or stop in to see us today.

Our agents at the Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance Agency, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, want you to know that auto insurance is required in Michigan.

Auto Liability Insurance

All drivers in the state of Michigan must have at least an auto liability insurance policy. If you drive a vehicle, you better have auto liability insurance if you are pulled over or involved in an accident. The reason for this is to protect you and the other driver if you cause an accident and the other driver or their passengers suffer injuries or property damage. While auto liability insurance coverage is required, there are several different auto insurance options you can choose from to add to your policy.

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive insurance is a wonderful policy to have in place. This is because it will help you financially if your vehicle is destroyed or damaged by a tornado or some other natural disaster. It will also help you cover expenses if your car catches on fire or someone vandalizes it. If you walk outside to get in your vehicle and it’s gone because somebody stole it, your comprehensive insurance policy will help you replace it.

Collision Insurance Coverage

Collision insurance is also important. This is because at any time, while you’re driving on the road, you could collide with another vehicle or some sort of object, such as a pole or sign. If this happens, this part of your policy will help you repair your vehicle.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

You never know when you will become involved in an accident, and the other driver may not have enough insurance to cover your injuries or property damage. This is the reason it’s a good idea to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to make up for the lack of insurance on the other person’s part.

Contact Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance Agency

There are other types of auto insurance coverage that our agents at the Guy Hurley McNeil Insurance Agency, serving the Rochester Hills, MI area, can help you choose from, along with the main ones listed above. Call today for an appointment and get your policy started!