Accidents can happen unexpectedly, and when they do, the financial fallout can be devastating for people who drive without adequate auto insurance. Having minimum state liability insurance is mandatory for all drivers on Ohio roads. 

Looking for ways to drive safer in Ohio? Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH understands local area drivers’ unique needs and concerns.

We put together this guide to help you navigate your insurance options and get adequate coverage to safeguard your four-wheeled investments. 

Navigating Auto Insurance Options in Niles, OH

Liability-Only

Liability insurance policies meet state minimum requirements and offer basic financial protections for at-fault drivers in an accident. A liability insurance policy will not cover the cost of damage to your automobile or help you replace it in the event of a total loss. 

Local residents who choose not to extend their coverage limits may find themselves in a precarious situation. Without an auto insurance policy that includes comprehensive coverage and collision coverage, they could face significant financial strain in the aftermath of an automobile accident. 

Comprehensive and Collision

Savvy local drivers understand that investing in comprehensive auto insurance is the best way to protect their automobiles, themselves, and their passengers from collision and non-collision-related events that can lead to personal injuries, property damages, legal claims, and the total loss of their vehicles. 

Contact Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH

Don’t wait until it’s too late to boost your auto protections. Talk to a knowledgeable local insurance agent near you to learn about your best options for coverage and get an automobile quote based on your individual driving history. 

Contact a licensed and friendly insurance agent at Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, Ohio, to start an upgraded policy today! 

Are you a motorcycle enthusiast in Niles, OH? Everyone loves to ride, but sometimes you can’t control the weather. As responsible motorists, it’s crucial to prioritize your safety when unexcepted weather conditions arrive. Ruddy Insurance Group is an insurance agency that wants to share some essential tips for driving your motorcycle in the rain. Follow these tips to reduce the chances of an accident.

Best Practices For Driving A Motorcycle In The Rain

Every rider, regardless of experience level, should follow these safety tips when it rains. Before getting on the road, check your tires to ensure they’re the correct tread depth. Compromised tires can make it easier for your motorcycle to hydroplane on wet surfaces.

• Decrease speed– It’s essential to bring your riding speed down as the visibility worsens. It can be more challenging for other drivers to see motorcycles when it rains.
• Avoid hard turning– Jerking the motorcycle hard, either way, can cause you to lose control.
• Wear the right gear– Waterproof jackets and bright colors are critical for riding in the rain. A waterproof jacket will help keep you dry and prevent your body from getting too cold. Wearing bright colors can improve your visibility to other drivers on the road.
• Maintain a safe distance– Increase the distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Wet roads often result in longer braking distances. Giving yourself ample space can prevent accidents caused by sudden stops.

Call Ruddy Insurance Group For A Motorcycle Insurance Policy In Niles, OH

At Ruddy Insurance Group, we’re here to ensure you have the right policy for your motorcycle. Don’t hesitate to call today to get an estimate or if you have questions. The safety of every client is always our main priority.

 

Understanding insurance concepts or terms is a smart way to ensure you select the right coverage, find the most cost-effective policies, and avoid surprises. The insurance professionals at Ruddy Insurance Group can help you understand the available ways to protect your family and home in and around the greater Niles, OH, area.

Premiums

A premium is the ongoing cost of maintaining the insurance policy and coverage.

Deductible

The dollar amount the policyholder pays before the insurance company pays for related damages.  

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance pays for damages that may be caused by an accident if it results in someone’s injury or damage to their property.  

Comprehensive Coverage

This insurance protection will cover the cost to repair a car after it collides with an animal or various non-collision events, which include –

• Car theft.
• Falling objects.
• Fire and more.

Collision Coverage

Collision insurance reimburses the insured for repair expenses of the insured vehicle if the insured causes a crash or is responsible for a one-car accident.

Additional Insured

This refers to the other family members covered under the policyholder’s insurance.  

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

This refers to the coverage available for medical expenses & lost wages for the driver and passengers in an accident.  

Insurance Claim

A payment request to the insurance company for medical costs or vehicle repairs.  

Contact our Office

Insurance offers adequate protection. Understanding the terms related to insurance simplifies the process and helps you get the coverage you need. The insurance professionals at Ruddy insurance group are ready to help if you live or work in the Niles, OH area. Give us a call at 330-652-0202 or reach out online.

 Except for New Hampshire and Virginia, having car insurance is mandatory. As a resident of Niles, OH, picking the right auto insurance for you might seem too complex because of the numerous options available. We at Ruddy Insurance Group have been helping car owners like you solve this problem for a while now. Here is a simplification of choosing the right auto insurance for you. 

1. What Car Insurance Coverages Are Available for You? 

There are five common auto insurance coverages that most drivers go for, and they are:  

• Liability: It takes care of medical bills if you injure someone with your car and repays damage to someone’s property
• Collision: It takes care of damage to your vehicle after an accident
• Comprehensive: It takes care of damage to your car that occurs when you are not driving
• Medical/personal injury: It takes care of medical expenses for you and the passengers in your vehicle after an accident
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Covers repair costs for damages to your car if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured car

2. Additional Car Insurance Coverage Options

• Roadside assistance: It’s necessary if you aren’t a member of an auto club like AAA that offers roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement: Takes care of rental costs as you wait for your car to be replaced or repaired by the insurance after an accident.
• Gap insurance: Fills the gap between your vehicle’s depreciated value and the amount of loan or lease you still owe
• New car replacement coverage: Takes care of replacing your car with a comparable one it’s totaled within the first 24 months of ownership. 

3. Making the Decision

Before choosing what policy to go with, determine how much coverage you and your car need and what you can comfortably afford. Also, consider picking an excellent insurer with a good record. Contact us at Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH, for all inquiries about auto insurance. 

Most states require drivers to carry auto insurance. You will most likely pay for your auto insurance every six months or every year. When your auto premium comes due, you will be sent a declaration page. This page includes all the important information about your policy. If you are not looking at it when it arrives, you are missing out. At Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH we try to make sure our customers understand their coverage, and we work with them to make sure they have the coverage they need. 

When you get your declaration page

One of the best times to review your auto insurance is when you get your declaration page. It tells you the amount of coverage you have, the types of coverage you have, the drivers who are on your policy, and the vehicles that are covered. Take a minute to look at the figures. Your liability coverage is one of the most important coverages you have; make sure that it is adequate. Your deductible is also shown and if you are feeling that you might like to lower your premium, you may want to raise your deductible. 

When you need to add or remove a driver

In most families, people may be on the auto policy for some period of time and when they move out or grow up, they may get their own auto insurance policy. If you have children aging into drivers, you may want to take a good look at all your coverage. 

When you add or remove a car

Cars come and go on your insurance policy. When you are making changes, it is a good time to take a look at the coverage you have. Do you need to add or remove collision and comprehensive coverage? 

If you are in the market for auto insurance, give Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH a call or stop by our office. 

All drivers in Ohio are required to have auto insurance on their vehicles. State law also makes it illegal for the owner of a vehicle to have someone else drive the vehicle if it is not insured. Proof of suitable auto insurance has to be shown anytime someone asks for it. This may be vehicle inspectors or police officers at accidents or traffic stops. If you don’t have your auto insurance in place, call us at Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements

Your auto coverage must meet the mandatory minimum coverage for the injury or death of one person and another amount for the injury or death of more than one person. It also requires a specific minimum of coverage for property damage that is caused by an accident. 

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance is not mandatory in the state of Ohio, but it is an extremely helpful policy type to have. With this coverage, the damage to your own vehicle is covered, not just your liability. If you were in an accident and had severe damage to your vehicle, this saves you from having to pay for everything out of your own pocket. 

Auto Insurance in Ohio

If you do not yet have auto coverage, or you want to increase the amount you have, give us a call at Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH. You can make an appointment to talk with an agent about your auto insurance needs. Your agent can specify to you exactly the amounts that the law requires you to have in coverage as well as talk to you about suggested coverage that could make a big difference to your future. 

When you own a vehicle that you drive, you may have questions about auto insurance, especially if you are a new driver or have just bought your first vehicle. If you are a resident of Niles, OH, you may have wondered, "Do I need auto Insurance"?  At the Ruddy Insurance Group, we have years of insurance experience, and our focus is superior customer service. We are independent agents, which means we can offer you insurance products from the top carriers in the business, and we can offer the affordability you are looking for. 

In Niles, OH, and all over the state of Ohio, you are mandated by law to carry liability insurance on your vehicle. You must carry at least $25,000 bodily damage per person and a total of $50,000 per accident. You must also have an additional $25,000 in property damage. This is the bare minimum that you must carry, and it doesn’t mean that it is the right amount for you if you have assets. If you have a loan on your vehicle, your lender will require that you carry additional insurance. Collision and comprehensive both protect the vehicle itself in the event you are fully or partially at fault. 

Once your loan is paid off, you are not required to carry collision and comprehensive insurance. Just because it is not a requirement, it doesn’t mean that you should let it lapse. If you are like most people, you depend on your vehicle, and unless you have plenty of money to pay for repairs or replacement, it can be a real hardship to have to pay these expenses on your own. 

When you are ready to sit down and discuss your auto insurance needs, Ruddy Insurance Group in Niles, OH is ready and waiting to help you out. Give us a call or stop by our office and let us find the right coverage for you. 

When considering the 5 essentials of car insurance in Ohio, you might just want to meet the minimum liability requirements. On the other hand, you may wonder if the minimum insurance mandated by law will fully cover accident expenses. It’s up to you to decide what to include in your policy. Still, Ruddy Insurance Group of Niles, OH recommends five auto insurance coverage essentials even if not all are required by the state of Ohio.

1. Liability

Bodily injury/death coverage of at least $25,000 for one person or $50,000 for more than one person will satisfy Ohio requirements. You also need a minimum of $25,000 property damage coverage according to this state’s mandatory insurance laws. It covers the costs of damages and injuries to others but not for you.

2. Comprehensive

This coverage provides you peace of mind in case of unexpected weather or other causes of damage besides a vehicle crash. You can ask about a variety of other scenarios (i.e. winding roads, theft, and vandalism, or animal accidents) to make sure all your protection needs are met.

3. Collision

This could save you from shelling out money you may not have for a new vehicle. It also can possibly provide you funds for repairable auto damages. This extends beyond what basic liability insurance offers.

4. Underinsured/uninsured motorist

It never hurts to make sure you can pay for damages in case someone else does not have insurance. This kind of coverage also prevents unpleasant surprises associated with finding out another driver does not have enough insurance.

5. Personal injury/medical

Hopefully, you would not need this after an accident, but you have the option of adding it to your policy. It could pay for any injuries you have, and it could cover some post-accident medical costs. It pays more for you rather than just for people in the other vehicle(s) involved in an accident.

You may need more information about specific policy inclusions. Ruddy Insurance can answer all your questions about auto insurance in Niles, OH. Contact us anytime to find auto coverage that works for you.

Shopping for car insurance isn’t exactly fun. Living in Youngstown or Niles, OH, there are requirements you have to consider. That says nothing about comparing costs and coverages. It’s a general headache, but a little help can go a long way. 

Can we have too much auto insurance?

Yes, it is possible to have too much coverage on a vehicle. You can have redundancies that you don’t need — like having AAA and roadside assistance on your insurance. More important than any of that is the premiums. If your premiums are high enough that they’re hurting your ability to pay the bills, then you have too much insurance. Before you go slashing coverage, though, there are some ways you can lower the monthly bill. First, you want to look at deductibles.

In many cases, a higher deductible will lead to a lower monthly payment. Second, you want to hit the discounts. Bundling, military service, company contracts, and a bunch of other factors can save you money. Talking with your Ruddy Insurance Group agent can help you find every last discount.

There is more to this than excessive insurance

Technically, you can carry excessive coverage on a vehicle, but it’s pretty uncommon. Remember, the point of protection is to make sure you have a working car after an accident. You also want a policy that covers potential injuries. Those two things make up the bulk of the cost of your plan. If you’re trying to lower your premiums, you want to reduce the payout for these two things only as a last resort. In many cases, state requirements will prevent you from lowering personal injury coverage anyways.

The best way to make sure you aren’t paying too much or covering too little is to invest a little time. Compare prices, shop around, and then let Ruddy Insurance Group help. If you do the work, you can save some money, maintain peace of mind, and get back to life in Niles, OH.