Avoid Bankruptcy by Protecting Yourself from Winter Bang Ups
Princess Clark-Wendel January 18, 2013
In most areas of the country, winter means snow and slippery roads, which can lead to car accidents. Even if you are a safe driver, a car accident can put a dent in your bank account as well as your car.
Consider the case of Sally the Safe Driver.
Sally the Safe Driver was very conscientious, especially when it came to protecting herself against the hazards of winter driving. Every year before winter hit, she’d make sure her car was properly maintained. Her mechanic would perform a complete check of her car, analyzing everything from the safety of her brakes to the condition of her engine. She even checked her windshield wiper fluid levels. This was especially important because visibility is often compromised during winter storms.
In order to get good traction on her vehicle Sally replaced her standard tires every year with snow tires. She knew that in order to avoid winter skids, she’d need good traction. She even kept a tire pressure gauge in her glove compartment to monitor her tire pressure on a regular basis.
Sally lived in an apartment and usually parked her car on the side streets of Chicago; however, during the winter months she rented a garage. This way she was able to avoid her car being hit while parked on the street. Fender benders on slippery roads are a major cause of car accidents.
At first look, one might think Sally the Safe Driver made all of the right moves, especially when it comes to getting her car ready for winter. However, there is one thing Sally missed.
Here’s the back-story; Sally the Safe Driver recently graduated from medical school. She is currently a full-fledged pediatrician. Her income substantially increased from the days when she was a starving student, however her insurance coverage did not. As a struggling college student, Sally purchased the minimum auto liability coverage limit in her state in order to save money. The lower the coverage limit, the less the premium she had to pay for coverage.
Although buying inexpensive coverage saved her a few bucks as a student, she did not update her coverage to protect her changed financial status and Sally got sued.
