What is liability insurance in simple terms?

• A property damage lawsuit. For example, say you rent the building your restaurant is in. ...
• A slip and fall incident. Say a customer slips and falls in your business after you mop the floor. ...
• A product liability lawsuit. ...
• A customer injury lawsuit. ...
• An advertising lawsuit.

• Short-term liabilities are any debts that will be paid within a year. ...
• Long-term liabilities are debts that will not be paid within a year's time.

What are the two most common liability coverage?

There are two types of liability insurance — bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage — and most states require you to have both.

Is liability insurance an asset?

All insurance policies become an asset once the plan matures — that is, you have paid for it and are credited with a lump sum. ... As long as the surrender value of your insurance policy is less than the paid-up premiums, your policy cannot be considered an asset.

What's the difference between full coverage and liability?

There's a big difference when it comes to liability insurance vs. full coverage. ... Liability covers you for accidents you cause, but full coverage protects you in other important ways as well. If you own your car outright, the choice can be up to you to set the coverage limits that best protect you and your family.

What is the best liability coverage for car insurance?

The best liability coverage for most drivers is 100/300/100, which is $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $100,000 per accident in property damage liability. You want to have full protection if you cause a significant amount of damage in an at-fault accident.

At what point do you drop full coverage on my car?

The standard rule of thumb used to be that car owners should drop collision and comprehensive insurance when the car was five or six years old, or when the mileage reached the 100,000 mark.

What does liability insurance cover in a car accident?

Liability coverage pays for property damage and/or injuries to another person caused by an accident in which you're at fault. This coverage is required by most states to legally drive your vehicle.

Is paying insurance a liabilities?

Insurance expense does not go on the balance sheet because it reflects a specific amount you have spent, rather than an asset or liability at a particular moment in time.

What happens if I only have liability insurance and someone hits me?

If you only have liability insurance and were hit by another car, the at-fault driver's liability insurance will pay for your injuries or property damage. ... Consequently, if you have liability-only insurance, you will need to pay out of pocket for your own bills if you cause an accident.

What happens if your insurance coverage is not enough?

Generally, you are responsible for paying the excess cost over your liability coverage. If you can't pay, you could end up in serious trouble. The other party could come after you personally. You might have to take out loans or extra mortgages, which could put you in debt.

Why is liability coverage so important?

Liability is car insurance coverage that protects you from any injuries or property damage you cause to other drivers. ... Worse yet, if you do get into an accident and you're without liability coverage, you are responsible for the damages you caused, including any medical expenses as well as any property damage.

Can my son drive my car if he is not insured?

Most insurers cover someone else driving the policyholder's car with their permission once in a while. But, if you're going to start driving one of your parent's cars regularly, you'll need to be added or named on their auto insurance. You can't legally drive your parents' car without any insurance at all, either.

Should I call my insurance if it wasn't my fault?

Yes, you should call your insurance company if you were in a car accident that was not your fault. ... First, your insurance company may require you to contact them as outlined in your policy. Second, you may discover available coverage to help you with your damages, even if the accident is not your fault.

Does liability insurance cover no-fault?

If you want your insurer to cover these damages, you will need collision and medical coverage. The exception is no-fault states, in which your liability policy will cover personal injury expenses. Liability coverage will not pay for property damages and medical bills for the other driver if you are not at fault.

Does liability insurance cover the car or the driver?

Generally, car insurance follows the car. That means if someone borrows your car and is at fault for an accident, your policy's liability coverage will cover them. There are instances when car insurance follows the driver, like when you rent a car.

Should you have full coverage on a 10 year old car?

Between 10 and 15 years after a vehicle's model year, full coverage is a poor investment. While the cost of full coverage by itself likely won't be more than what a car is worth, the cost of insurance is more likely to be higher than the value of the car after an accident.

Is it more expensive to insure a new or old car?

Older cars are cheaper to insure than newer cars, all else being equal. An older vehicle is cheaper to insure mainly because older cars are less valuable, so an insurer won't have to pay out as much in the event of a total loss.

When should I switch from full coverage to liability?

As your vehicle ages, its value will depreciate. At a certain point, it may no longer be worth it to maintain a full coverage insurance policy. In general, 10 years is a good time to consider switching from full coverage to just liability.

Is it worth having comprehensive insurance on an old car?

While the rule for older cars was to drop comprehensive coverage after six years or 100,000 miles, modern cars last longer and cost more to repair. Most experts now recommend keeping comprehensive insurance on your car if 10 percent of the car's market value minus the deductible exceeds the premium cost.

Is it better to have collision or comprehensive?

The main difference between comprehensive and collision insurance is the scenarios they cover. Collision insurance pays for damage to your car if you hit an object or another vehicle, while comprehensive coverage pays for theft or damage from causes such as bad weather, fire or fallen trees.