Coverage spotlight: Automobile liability

Coverage Spotlight: Automobile Liability

From firetrucks to snowplows, police vehicles to school buses, and more, VRSA has you covered when it comes to automobile liability.

Automobile liability coverage has two parts – both designed to protect members from damages caused to a third party.

First, this coverage protects members from bodily injury liability.

Example: A member public utility truck rear-ends a third-party vehicle at an intersection. The driver of the third-party vehicle receives neck and shoulder injuries. This coverage pays for the injured driver’s medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering as well. It will also pay to have an attorney to represent you and/or your employee should the injured person pursue litigation.

Secondly, this coverage protects members from property damage liability.

Example: A member firetruck sideswipes a third-party vehicle when making a tight turn at an intersection, causing damage to the third-party vehicle. This coverage pays for the costs associated with repairing the third-party vehicle. If, however, the third-party vehicle is non-repairable, then we will pay what the vehicle was valued at the time of the accident. It also pays when a member vehicle causes damages to additional types of property, such as fences, mailboxes, or other third-party property.

Our automobile liability policy also carries uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect against damage to our member’s vehicles when the at-fault party either does not have insurance (uninsured) or does not have enough insurance (underinsured).

Members may also elect to carry auto physical damage coverage on our automobile policy. This coverage will protect a member’s vehicle from damage regardless of fault. A member may either have Collision-Only coverage or Collision and Comprehensive coverage on their vehicles. Collision coverage is when a vehicle strikes or comes into contact with another object.

Comprehensive coverage is when the damage to a vehicle is caused by means other than striking or coming into contact with another object. Comprehensive coverage includes damages caused by deer (animal) strikes, lightning, theft, or flying objects. Unlike other carriers, VRSA offers options to replace a new member vehicle at current vehicle prices.

When property damage occurs and our member is not negligent in their operations, No-Fault Property Damage is an optional coverage available to VRSA members. We created this coverage to assist members and their communities in making parties whole.

Types of incidents covered under no-fault coverage include trash operations, snowplow operations, or debris damage. For example, this coverage can be used to cover the costs of mowers or string trimmers unknowingly throwing a rock, which may hit a vehicle or building.

For more information on VRSA’s automobile liability coverage, contact your VRSA member services specialist today.

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