What is considered property damage in a car accident?

PLPD is shorthand for Personal Liability and Property Damage insurance. PLPD insurance covers injuries and property damage for the other driver if you are found to be at fault in a car accident but it does not reimburse you for your own medical expenses or damage to your own property, however.... read full answer

The term PLPD is most commonly used in Michigan; it is known as “basic liability” in the rest of the nation. Because PLPD auto insurance is mandatory in almost every state, it is the most basic form of car insurance.

How PLPD Insurance Works

PLPD insurance is divided into two groups: personal liability (PL) and property damage (PD).

How Personal Liability Insurance Works

Personal liability insurance covers medical costs for the victim of an accident. If you are the victim of a crash, the other driver’s PLPD will cover your costs. If the other driver is the victim, your PLPD will cover theirs.

Also called “bodily injury” coverage, personal liability insurance is often referred to in a split numeric form—$15,000/$25,000, for example. The first number to appear—in this case, $15,000—is the most an insurance policy will pay per person for injury care after an accident. The second number ($25,000 here) refers to the maximum payout per separate accident. The minimum amount of personal liability insurance a motorist must purchase varies by state.

How Property Damage Insurance Works

Property damage insurance covers the physical damage to other objects caused by your vehicle. The PD portion of PLPD can cover damage to another car, as well as government or personal property. That can include street lamps, landscaping, lawn furniture, or signage.

Property damage insurance is usually listed after the two maximum payouts for personal liability. So, for example, if a policy offers $15,000/$25,000/$20,000, the PD coverage is a maximum of $20,000.

Does PLPD Insurance Cover Theft?

PLPD insurance does not cover theft, as this is considered damage that affects you, not another driver or owner of property you might have damaged with your vehicle. Instead, theft falls under what’s known as comprehensive insurance, which addresses any repairs to your car which might take place outside of a collision. That includes hail damage, falling trees, vandalism, and theft. However, even comprehensive insurance will not cover the items stored in your car when it was stolen.

While PLPD does not cover theft, it does provide coverage in the event of an accident. As a result. if you are involved in an accident, and especially if the accident is your fault, the premiums for your PLPD insurance will likely rise. That means it’s more important than ever to comparison shop for the best rates. Know what’s required in your state, and compare quotes from several insurance companies.

No, property damage liability insurance does not have a deductible. Property damage liability car insurance pays for other people’s property damage after accidents that the policyholder causes, up to the limits of the policy, and it does not require the policyholder to pay anything out of pocket.

Although there isn’t a property damage deductible, a ... read full answerproperty damage liability claim will cause a driver’s rate to go up. On average, insurance rates go up by about 48% after an at-fault accident, depending on the extent of the damage.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guides to car insurance deductibles and property damage liability insurance.

If you didn’t get the other driver’s insurance information after a car accident, you should file a police report and report the accident to your insurance company. If you have the other driver’s personal information like their name and license plate number but not their insurance info, the police will be able to help you track it down.... read full answer

Although not having the other driver’s information can make the insurance claims process more complicated, especially if you’re not at fault, you still might be protected by your policy.

What To Do If You Don’t Get The Other Driver’s Insurance Info

• Call the police and file a report. You’re only required to do this if there are injuries or significant property damage, but a report is always important when filing a claim.

• Write down as much as you can remember about the details of the accident and the driver’s car. This includes the make, model and license plate number.

• Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Even if you’re at fault, you need to let them know in case the other driver files a claim.

Filing a police report is crucial because the authorities might be able to locate the other driver based on what you remember. If they’re identified, then their insurance will pay for the damage if they were at fault. But if not, your insurance will have to pay. If you carry collision coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, then your insurer will pay for your costs. However, this will likely cause your premium to increase slightly.

Finally, it’s important to point out that it’s possible the other driver might outright refuse to share their information with you. If you find yourself in this scenario, then you need to keep calm and wait for the police to arrive. Escalating the situation will only make things worse, and the police will take down everyone’s information to include in the report.