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What I Learned About Car Insurance While Defending Accident Cases

30-06-2025

Before opening my law office, I worked for a few years at a firm handling auto insurance defense cases. One of the most delicate and, honestly, sobering aspects of that job was meeting with people who had just been in a car accident. Their stories were often emotional, sometimes chaotic, and always surprising. What I remember most is how often people said the same thing: “I never thought this would happen to me.”

While I no longer work in this area of law, I still think about those conversations often. And while I don’t offer car insurance advice, I do think it’s worth sharing how the system works, especially for anyone driving in Ohio. Most people have insurance because the law requires it, but few really understand what they’re paying for or how it protects them.

The Basics: Ohio’s At-Fault System and Minimum Coverage

Ohio is an “at-fault” state, which means the driver who causes an accident is legally and financially responsible for any resulting damage. That includes medical bills, car repairs, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs. To meet this responsibility, Ohio law requires every driver to carry liability insurance.

At a minimum, drivers must carry what’s known as 25/50/25 coverage: $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. While these numbers might sound reasonable, they don’t always hold up in real-world situations.

Imagine you cause a multi-car accident, and one of the other injured drivers ends up with $60,000 in medical bills. If your policy only covers $25,000 per person, your insurance may pay that amount, but you could be personally “on the hook” for the remaining $35,000. That’s the kind of gap that catches people off guard.

It’s important to remember that these minimums are designed to protect others if you’re at fault, but they don’t offer any protection for you or your vehicle if you’re the one who’s injured or facing major repair costs.

Optional Coverage That Can Protect You

This is where optional coverage comes in. While not required by law, certain types of insurance can go a long way toward protecting your own health and finances.

One of the most important is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This type of coverage helps pay your costs if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance (or doesn’t have enough to cover all your damages). In Ohio, you have to opt in to this kind of protection, but it can be critical in the right situation. For instance, say you’re rear-ended at a stoplight and end up with $40,000 in medical bills. If the other driver only has the state minimum of $25,000 in coverage, you could be left with a significant shortfall. With underinsured motorist coverage, your policy could step in to help cover that $15,000 gap.

Collision coverage is another key option. It helps pay for your vehicle repairs after an accident, no matter who was at fault. So if you hit a guardrail, skid off the road, or back into something, this coverage helps get your car back in shape. Comprehensive coverage is similar, but it deals with non-collision damage (things like falling trees, vandalism, hail, or even hitting a deer).

Medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, can help cover medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who was at fault. This can be especially helpful for paying deductibles or costs not fully covered by your health insurance. Another helpful option is rental reimbursement, which covers the cost of a rental car if your vehicle is in the shop after an accident.

Why It Matters

In my experience, most people don’t realize their insurance coverage might fall short until it’s too late. It’s easy to assume that having a policy means you’re fully protected, but the details really matter. Meeting the state minimums is one thing. Being financially prepared for the fallout of a serious accident is something else entirely.

Again, this isn’t legal advice, just some perspective from someone who’s seen what happens when coverage doesn’t match reality. If it’s been a while since you reviewed your policy, it might be worth having a quick conversation with your insurance agent. A few small changes now could make a big difference later.

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