What Does 'Full Coverage' Mean With Auto Insurance?

Full coverage auto insurance usually refers to state-mandated auto insurance requirements and is not an assurance that an at-fault driver was adequately insured to fully cover all expenses arising from a car accident.

What Does Full Coverage Mean with Auto Insurance?

“Full insurance coverage” often refers to coverage for liability and property damage, which is the minimum legal requirement to operate a vehicle in Illinois.

However, full coverage is not a straightforward insurance term and does not always mean the same thing across the board.

For example, Illinois requires certain minimum coverage levels, but the minimum coverage might not be sufficient to reimburse all parties for their actual expenses.

Sometimes comprehensive coverage is included in the definition of “full coverage” but may not be mandated by law, like in Illinois. Comprehensive car insurance covers losses from things like vandalism and theft.

Unfortunately for an accident victim with serious injuries, state minimum “full coverage” falls far short of compensating his or her medical care, as most recoveries in automobile accident cases are significantly limited by the amount of insurance coverage in place at the time.

For example, if you are T-boned in an intersection and break your leg and need surgery, then you may have medical expenses of $100,000.

If the driver who caused your accident simply had the Illinois minimum full coverage levels, you would only recover $25,000.

Current mandatory minimum liability coverage in Illinois is $25,000 for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage—typically only a fraction of a serious accident victim’s actual costs.

What Other Problems Arise with Car Insurance Coverage?

Another common problem that comes up in many auto accident cases is that some drivers simply ignore the law.

Even though Illinois has required drivers to purchase liability insurance for decades, many drivers fail to comply with the mandate or fail to keep policies current and up to date.

With a significant number of drivers on Illinois roads without any insurance (some studies suggest nearly 10 percent of all drivers), it is crucial that you protect yourself and your family with the purchase of uninsured motorist coverage that exceeds the state minimums by a significant amount.

For a relatively modest premium cost, auto insurance coverage can be expanded greatly beyond what Illinois obligates drivers to carry.

What Does Full Coverage Auto Insurance Provide?

Normally, full coverage auto insurance provides for comprehensive car insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, comprehensive and collision coverage, and more.

These different kinds of liability coverage car insurance cover the following things:

• The harm and expense you cause others including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, etc.
• If you caused the crash, the value of your destructed car minus the deductible assuming the other driver does not have car insurance (full coverage auto insurance, comprehensive and collision coverage, etc.)
• Your injuries and medical expenses or medical payments coverage as well as those of the other driver (according to your uninsured motorist collision insurance, personal injury protection PIP car insurance policy, or other related collision and comprehensive coverage).

If you have questions about how to get a lower deductible on your auto policy and collision coverages liability limits, then call us for a free consultation.

We can review the national average cost (fair market value) and coverage pay for insurance coverages (bodily injury liability) as well as optional coverages for minimum insurance and try to get you the highest available liability limits according to your credit history and other factors.

What Does Full Coverage Insurance Like Car Insurance Not Cover?

Full coverage car insurance does not cover every situation you may encounter on the roads.

Some accidents may be outside of the full coverage car insurance policy by specific exclusion, and some will fall outside the full coverage insurance by omission.

These are some common examples of scenarios that your full coverage car insurance probably will not pay out on for medical payments, roadside assistance, property damage, and related losses:

• Speeding
• Driving off road
• Accidents involving car-share vehicles
• Intentional destruction or collision
• Government use or seizure
• War or other extreme circumstance

Full coverage insurance covers only specific things and insurance companies limit them as a matter of course.

Call our firm and review these topics today:  liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, full coverage car insurance, and personal injury protection today.

Our attorneys are experts in car insurance and can help you understand comprehensive and collision coverage limits in your auto insurance policy or that of the uninsured driver.

Auto insurance policies and coverage limits do not have to get in your way if you work with us.

How Much Liability Insurance Does a State Like Illinois Require?

State	Liability Insurance Coverage Requirement Type	Coverage Amounts
Alabama	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
Alaska	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	50/100/25
Arizona	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	15/30/10
Arkansas	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
California	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	15/30/5
Colorado	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/15
Connecticut	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured	20/40/10
Delaware	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	15/30/10
D.C.	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured	25/50/10
Florida	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	10/20/10
Georgia	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
Hawaii	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	20/40/10
Idaho	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
Illinois	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/50/20
Indiana	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/50/10
Iowa	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/40/15
Kansas	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured	25/50/25
Kentucky	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	25/50/10
Louisiana	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	15/30/25
Maine	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured	25/100/25
Maryland	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured	30/60/10
Massachusetts	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured	20/40/5
Michigan	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	20/40/10
Minnesota	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured; Underinsured	30/60/10
Mississippi	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
Missouri	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/50/10
Montana	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
Nebraska	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
Nevada	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	15/30/10
New Hampshire	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
New Jersey	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	15/30/5
New Mexico	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
New York	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured	25/50/10
North Carolina	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	30/60/25
North Dakota	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured	25/50/25
Ohio	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/35
Oklahoma	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/25
Oregon	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured	25/50/2
Pennsylvania	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	15/30/5
Rhode Island	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/50/25
South Carolina	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/50/25
South Dakota	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/50/25
Tennessee	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/15
Texas	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	30/60/25
Utah	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection	25/65/15
Vermont	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured	25/50/10
Virginia	Mandatory Minimum	25/50/20
Washington	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
West Virginia	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured	25/50/25
Wisconsin	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/10
Wyoming	Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability	25/50/20

Talk to our legal team if you are wondering how to get full coverage car insurance and what car insurance rates should be.

Full coverage insurance can help pay for medical expenses for medical coverages, property damage to your car, and bodily injury if the uninsured driver did not have comprehensive and collision insurance from auto insurance companies.

How Do I Know I Need Full Coverage or a Similar Policy?

As you can see from the table in the preceding section, your state will dictate the kind and amount of auto insurance you need.

All you need to do is identify the limits and buy accordingly from an insurance provider.  Of course, you can get more than the limits specify but that is at your discretion.

Our team can help you review common car insurance coverage and your car insurance bill or auto loan to see how much is full coverage for you.  Insurance costs for insurance coverages from insurance providers do not have to break the bank.

You can find a coverage policy (bodily injury liability) and additional coverages (like gap insurance for higher coverage limits) from a reputable insurance company to get money for damage to your car, medical payments

Where Can I Get More Resources for Liability Coverage on My Motor Vehicle?

If you are wondering about how to get and learn about full coverage insurance for your automobile in Illinois or anywhere else including comprehensive coverage and underinsured motorist coverage as well as medical payments coverage or other items, then use the following resources:

Illinois Full Coverage Auto Insurance Quotes (illinoisvehicle.com)

The Cheapest (and Best) Full Coverage Car Insurance - ValuePenguin

Car insurance in the U.S. - statistics & facts | Statista

Our offices are open 24/7 to field you questions about collision and comprehensive coverage especially if you were in an auto accident.  Let us know how we can help and get to work for you today.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me Determine the Best Liability Coverage?

A full coverage policy is the ideal product you should consider from an insurance carrier.  Although they will probably want to discuss other common car insurance coverages like comprehensive and collision coverages.

Here is how an attorney can help you decide what to pick out of all the various insurance options (full coverage, comprehensive or collision coverage, etc.):

• What kind of medical payments coverage do you think you will need?  This can require you to predict any ER visits, hospital bills, physical therapy, or related medical costs.
• How type and amount of car or personal property damage will you have to fix.  To better estimate this figure, you can start with the number it cost you to buy the goods in the first place.
• Will you need to miss work due to a potential crash?  If so, you might want to see if an insurance product can offer substitute wages; otherwise, you may need to file a legal claim in court.

Talk to our expert insurance attorneys about full coverage car insurance costs including collision and comprehensive insurance for your car.  We can make sure you got the right coverage package from the insurance company that complies with all government or civil authorities.

What Should I Do After an Auto Accident?

Here's a simple list of steps to take after a crash.  It is not exhaustive, but it should help you get the healing and legal process started.

• See a doctor.
• Write down what happened.
• Avoid the at-fault party and their representatives.
• Contact your employer.
• Hire a law firm to help you investigate and recover compensation for your injuries and expenses.

Full coverage auto insurance does not have to be insanely expensive.  You can afford it as well as collision and comprehensive insurance.  Contact us today to find out how.

Don't Assume That Other Driver's Insurer Will Automatically Compensate You for Your Injuries

Don't be lulled into believing that an insurance company for an at-fault driver will quickly furnish you with the funds needed to fairly compensate you for your injuries, medical bills and lost wages.

Even when drivers carry insurance, it may be insufficient to cover your costs or the insurer may not pay what you are owed until they are taken to court.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC, our Chicago car accident attorneys take pride in representing people from across Illinois in all types of serious car accident cases and are prepared to help you get the recovery and financial compensation you need.

Contact our office today for a free review of your case.