Understanding Automobile Insurance In The Garden State

By: Robert C. Shea, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates

New Jersey offers two types of automobile insurance policies that may be purchased: a Standard Policy and a Basic Policy. A Standard Policy provides liability, uninsured motorist, and personal injury protection (medical) coverage. A Basic Policy only provides personal injury protection (medical) coverage limited. Protect yourself and choose the standard policy.

Liability Insurance insures you against claims made by others for the property damage or personal injury you caused while operating your vehicle. Liability Insurance protects you from paying money to someone from your own pocket. Your insurance coverage will pay any monetary damage that you are required to pay to someone else but only up to your insurance policy limits. Choose your liability policy limits wisely. Most people choose liability coverage of $100,000.00, but I recommend choosing at least $250,000.00 of liability insurance. The additional cost is usually nominal.

Personal Injury Protection coverage is also known as “PIP” or “No Fault” Insurance. The “No Fault” concept means that your automobile insurance will provide you with personal injury protection insurance (PIP) coverage regardless of fault. In other words, it does not matter who caused the car crash. As long as you were operating, using, or getting in /out of an

Michael J. Deem, Esq.

automobile at the time of the injury then you are covered. The “No-Fault” concept does not mean that the other driver is responsible for your medical bills. Protect yourself and choose the standard $250,000.00 in PIP Medical Expense Benefits.

Uninsured /Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) protects you against financially irresponsible drivers. Sometimes people operate their vehicles without insurance coverage or with only very little insurance coverage, like those who operate their vehicle with a Basic Policy which was discussed earlier. If you sustain property damage or bodily injury and the person responsible does not have enough insurance to cover your loss, then you can file a claim with your insurance company under your Uninsured /Underinsured Motorist Coverage. This coverage protects you and your family by providing additional insurance coverage for your loss, but only up to the policy limits that you choose. UM/UIM insurance coverage should never be less than your liability coverage. Most people choose liability coverage of $100,000.00, so your UM/UIM coverage should equal your liability coverage.

At R.C. Shea & Associates, our automobile insurance attorney, Michael J. Deem. Esq. is here to help you with your automobile insurance questions. Please give him a call.

Huckleberry Pogoda, who lives in Medford with his family, was visiting the Barnegat Lighthouse on Long Beach Island recently. He was very impressed with the new paint job and the restoration upgrades. Special thanks to Clarissa Pogoda for sharing this with us! Want to see your pix in this space? Wanna win a prize? Email your Jersey Shore pix to photos@jerseyshoreonline.com and you may hear from us!

Floriography: The Victorian Language Of Flowers

TOMS RIVER – These days, social media and texts make it easy to let someone know how you feel about them. Back in the late 1800s, though, directly expressing your feelings was frowned upon.

So, what did those straight-laced Victorians do? They developed a “language” of combining flowers to let that special someone know how they were feeling… whether it was love, compassion, jealousy, or even “I can’t stand the very thought of you!”

Learn to use flowers to express your emotions with this fun and informative presentation. Lecture will be held on July 17 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Cooper Environmental Center, Cattus Island County Park, Toms River. Fee is $5 per person. Open to ages 16 years and older.

Laser David Bowie At Robert J. Novins Planetarium

TOMS RIVER – Be a Rebel Rebel and put on your red shoes to dance the blues!

Enjoy the music of David Bowie, aka Ziggy Stardust set to dazzling laser lights. From Fame to Suffragette City, you’ll be singing and clapping along.

Laser David Bowie At Robert J. Novins Planetarium will be on July 14 from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. Purchase tickets at novinsplanetarium.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket#.