Legal Definitions - collision insurance

Collision insurance is a type of automobile insurance coverage that pays for damage to your own vehicle resulting from a collision with another object, such as another car, a tree, a fence, or even a pothole. This coverage applies regardless of who was at fault for the accident and typically involves a deductible, which is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage begins.

Here are some examples to illustrate how collision insurance works:

• Scenario: While backing out of a parking space, Sarah accidentally misjudges the distance and scrapes the side of her car against a concrete pillar, causing significant denting and paint damage.

  Explanation: Sarah's collision insurance would cover the cost of repairing the damage to her vehicle, even though no other car was involved and she was solely responsible for the incident. After she pays her deductible, her insurer would pay for the remaining repair costs.

• Scenario: Mark is driving on the highway when another driver suddenly swerves into his lane, causing Mark to hit the guardrail to avoid a direct impact. Mark's car sustains damage to its front bumper and headlight.

  Explanation: Even though Mark was not at fault for the incident, his collision insurance would cover the repairs to his vehicle. His insurance company might then pursue reimbursement from the at-fault driver's insurance company, a process known as subrogation, but Mark's collision coverage ensures his car can be fixed promptly.

• Scenario: During a heavy rainstorm, a tree branch breaks off and falls onto Emily's parked car, crushing the roof and windshield.

  Explanation: While this involves damage from an object, it's important to note that collision insurance specifically covers damage from a *collision* with an object. Damage from falling objects (like a tree branch falling onto a parked car) is typically covered by comprehensive insurance, not collision insurance. However, if Emily was *driving* and collided with a fallen tree branch on the road, her collision insurance would then apply to the damage to her vehicle.