Category: Auto Insurance

Causing an accident is certainly stressful, but knowing that you hurt a friend or family member who was riding along with you can be even more so. Our team at Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. knows the guilt and anxiety that can come with hurting a loved one, and we’re here to hopefully give some comfort. If you’re wondering whether your insurance company will assist in medical care reimbursement for your passengers following an accident you are deemed at fault for, the short answer is yes. Your insurance company will take care of them! 

But, there are some limitations and things to know about how much to expect from your Huntington, WV or other West Virginia policy. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to know:

Understanding Passenger Expenses Following an At-Fault Accident

West Virginia’s laws on insurance and liability make ours what is called a modified comparative fault state. This means that accidents may not be considered completely your fault. When an officer comes to the scene of an accident, they’ll write a report and consider what degree of fault each party is. Sometimes, a person may be 100% at fault for an accident, but in others, it may be 80% with the other party considered 20% at fault. Whatever percentage of fault you are found at fault of, that is the amount you are responsible for.

So, following an accident for which you are found at fault, your insurance company will pay out bodily injury liability according to your comparative responsibility and up to your policy’s limits. If your insurance policy offers Medical Payments Coverage, or "MedPay", they will use that to assist in paying for medical expenses incurred by you and your passengers regardless of fault. 

Learn More About West Virginia Auto Insurance

For more information about auto insurance and protecting your household, give our team at Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. a call. We’re proud to serve Huntington, WV and other communities throughout the state with quality insurance. 

Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most important safety measures you can take when driving here in the Huntington, WV area and everywhere you go. Not wearing one can lead to serious injury or even death in the event of a crash. Wearing a seatbelt is also required by law in most states and strongly recommended by us at Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc., so it’s important to make sure you and your passengers always buckle up before hitting the road. 

Why you should always wear a seatbelt

There are several reasons why you should always wear a seatbelt when driving. One important reason is that wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces your risk of serious injury or death if you’re involved in an accident.

Studies have shown that seatbelts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45% for front-seat passenger car occupants and by 60% for light truck occupants. In other words, the use of seatbelts can drastically reduce your chances of being severely injured or killed in an accident. 

Another reason to wear a seatbelt is that it keeps you and your passengers secure in case of sudden stops, swerves, or sharp turns while driving. Without a seatbelt, you run the risk of being thrown from the vehicle and suffering catastrophic injuries when this happens. Seatbelts keep everyone inside the car and reduce potential damage to people and property in case of an accident or sudden stop. 

Finally, always wearing your seatbelt helps to protect others on the road as well as yourself. When you don’t buckle up, not only are you putting yourself at risk but also any passengers who might be riding with you as well as drivers around you on the road.

Need Auto Insurance? Reach Out To Us!

For more safety tips, call us at Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. today. We proudly serve the Huntington, WV area.

Technology makes it easier than ever for auto insurance companies to rate drivers and rate individuals who live in the same home. The ratings are then used to help determine how much you should pay in auto insurance premiums. One of the tools that are becoming more and more common is a tool called household ratings.

At Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc., serving the greater Huntington, WV area, we have had clients ask what household ratings are and why insurance companies use them. Keep reading to find the answer to this question. 

What Does It Mean If an Auto Insurer Utilizes Household Ratings?

When an auto insurer uses a household rating system, they assess every driver over the age of 18 who lives at one address. They determine how many accidents or tickets each of those drivers has had recently, and then they base your policy premiums on this. The logic behind this is that you and those who live with you may share vehicles. 

What If You Don’t Agree With the Household Rating System? 

If you have a driver at your residence who has a bad driving record, they can cause the insurance company to provide you with a rating that causes your rates to skyrocket. However, most insurance companies will allow you to exclude the bad driver from your policy, meaning that that driver will not be covered if they drive your car. This helps to ensure your auto insurance rate is set based on your driving record, not your household driving record. 

Contact Us Today

Technology has changed the way that auto insurance companies decide how much someone will pay for auto insurance. However, this does not mean that you have to pay more than you should for auto insurance. If you are looking for fair and reasonably priced auto insurance in the greater Huntington, WV area, the agents at Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. can help you find a new auto insurance policy. Call us now to get started. 

If you’ve recently made a major life change such as getting married, moving to a different state, or adding a child to your family, you’ll want to be sure to update your auto insurance policy to reflect these changes. Out-of-date auto insurance policies can be a hassle and can be especially bad if you discover you’re not covered for something because of it.

At Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc., serving the Huntington, WV area, we pride ourselves on helping drivers navigate the world of auto insurance and find a policy that suits their needs.

When To Update Your Auto Insurance

If you’ve recently added a new car or a new driver to your house, it’s time to update your auto insurance policy to reflect that change – and the sooner, the better! Updating your policy helps to ensure that the new car or driver is properly covered under the terms of the policy so that, in the event of an accident, they’ll be able to access the help that insurance can provide.

Leaving a new car or driver off of your policy can spell trouble for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is simply not being covered in the event of an accident, fire, theft, attack by vandals, etc.

Give Us A Call

Contact us at Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. today and we’ll help you find the right auto insurance policy for you, or help you update your existing policy to one that suits your needs better. We’re proud to serve the Huntington, WV area, and are glad to be of service to all drivers in the community. You deserve to enjoy driving, and having a good, up-to-date insurance policy will go a long way toward giving you that peace of mind.

Getting the right auto insurance coverage is crucial to budget and financial stability. At Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. serving Huntington, WV and the surrounding areas, we can help you make the best insurance choices. Keep reading to learn more about auto insurance do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind. 

Auto Insurance Do’s and Don’ts 

Do Shop Around

The best way to always get a great deal on car insurance is to shop around often. You will want to compare quotes when you are about to buy another vehicle or when you are replacing your vehicle. 

You will also want to compare quotes when you add a driver to your policy. Be sure to only add drivers you trust who have a good driving record.

If you are about to add teen drivers to your policy, you will also want to compare rates. Another good time to shop for quotes is if you are about to get married. 

Even if none of these apply to you, then you will at least want to shop around once a year to make sure you are getting a good deal. 

Don’t Let Coverage Lapse

If you allow your auto insurance to lapse, it can cause a great deal of problems for you financially and legally. In some states, you will not be able to keep a vehicle properly registered if the insurance lapses. If you are in an accident while the insurance has lapsed, you will be held liable for many expenses and could face legal consequences. 

If you would like to learn more about auto insurance, or any of the other services that we provide, please contact us at Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. serving Huntington, WV and the surrounding areas. 

 

If you are a car owner, you probably understand how important auto insurance is. It is one of the best ways to protect you as a driver, your car, and your passengers. However, many people do not know the insurance details, which makes misconceptions about auto insurance appear. Here is a list of the most common car insurance myths that should be debunked:

Red Cars Are Associated With Higher Insurance Premiums

Many people mistakenly believe that insurance companies charge red car owners more for auto insurance. However, the truth is that insurance agents do not care about the color of your car, and there is no link between your car color and the cost of auto insurance. There are other things that have an impact on the cost of your insurance, such as a car model for example. 

Traffic Tickets Automatically Increase The Cost Of Insurance

Obviously that getting a traffic ticket is not a good thing. However, if your violation is minor and your driving record remains clean, the cost of your auto insurance will probably stay the same. However, if you keep getting traffic tickets, your insurance will most likely get more expensive. 

Your Credit Does Not Affect The Cost Of Your Insurance

Unfortunately, it does. Insurance companies are allowed to use credit scores to set insurance rates because people with higher credit scores are less likely to get involved in car accidents. Therefore, if your credit score is not good enough, you may have to pay more for your auto insurance. 

Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Serving Huntington WV – We Care For You And Your Safety

If you live in Huntington, WV or any other nearby town, and you are looking for car insurance to protect your vehicle and yourself, feel free to contact Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Our insurance agents who have years of professional experience will help you find a perfect insurance plan. Do not hesitate to give us a call or visit our website for more information. 

You faithfully renew your auto insurance in Huntington, WV, but have you ever asked whether it’s enough? If an unfortunate event were to occur today, would your car insurance protect you optimally? While renewing your auto insurance, you need to determine whether you are carrying adequate coverage to avoid overpaying or underpaying your premiums. 

Not sure where to start? In Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc., you have a trusted and knowledgeable insurance agent to guide you in matters regarding auto insurance. And today, we help you determine whether you have adequate car insurance. Let’s dive in.

Meet state-required minimums

At the very least, ensure you carry state-required auto insurance to avoid non-compliance penalties and fines. For West Virginia, you need a “25/50/25” auto insurance policy. This means your car insurance should have the below liability coverages:

• Bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per person and twice the amount per accident
• Property damage coverage of a minimum of $25,000 per accident

Remember, liability coverages cover losses you cause to other persons. It never covers you or your property. With that in mind, you need other coverages for optimal protection. 

How much liability coverage should you have?

While meeting the state minimums is essential, most drivers opt for broader limits for maximum coverage. At a bare minimum, we recommend motorists to buy bodily injury liability of at least $300,000 per accident. However, if you have high-value properties to protect, you should aim for higher limits. 

How much PIP should I have?

This question depends on whether you have a medical insurance plan since PIP coverage covers a percentage of your medical costs. However, PIP is more versatile than your medical insurance plan since it covers partial loss of income and funeral expenses on top of medical costs. 

At Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc., we recommend you purchase PIP coverage of between $50,000 and $100,000 to cover you optimally.

Auto insurance in Huntington, WV

Still not sure how much auto insurance you should have? Don’t fret. Instead, get in touch with Partners Insurance & Financial Services Inc. for more information.