The Importance of Adding Additional Coverage to Your Auto Insurance Policy
When you’re involved in a car crash, your entire life can be disrupted in an instant. The damage to your vehicle might only be the beginning. Medical bills, lost wages, and liability disputes can all pile up, often costing more than the base level of auto insurance was ever designed to cover.
The experienced automobile accident attorneys at The Eskesen Law Firm have spent years helping drivers in New York fight for their rights after serious collisions. One of the most important things they emphasize before disaster strikes is the value of expanding your auto insurance policy.
Far too often, drivers believe their minimum coverage is enough—only to discover after a crash that their financial protection is dangerously inadequate.
Having the right additional coverage could make the difference between a full recovery and years of financial hardship. Let’s look at why more coverage matters and which policies are worth considering.
Why Minimum Auto Insurance Isn’t Always Enough
State-required auto insurance policies exist to meet legal thresholds—not to protect your personal finances. Most states, including New York, only require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. While that meets the legal bar for operating a vehicle, it may not be anywhere near what you need in the event of a serious accident.
If you’re at fault in a collision that results in multiple injuries or significant property damage, the limits of a basic policy could be exceeded quickly. Once that happens, you're responsible for paying the difference. That could mean your personal savings, your home, or even your future earnings are at risk.
Even if you're not at fault, other drivers might be uninsured or underinsured, leaving you with limited options for recouping damages. That's where additional insurance options come in—they're not just "nice to have." They're financial protection tailored to real-life risks.
Core Types of Additional Auto Insurance Coverage
Adding extra coverage options to your auto insurance doesn’t mean starting from scratch—it means identifying where your current policy leaves gaps and taking steps to fill them.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This is one of the most important forms of additional coverage you can buy. It protects you if you're hit by someone who has little or no insurance. While it might seem rare, the Insurance Research Council estimates that roughly one in eight drivers in the United States is uninsured.
Without this coverage, you could be left paying out of pocket for:
Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and follow-up treatments
Lost income: Missed time at work during recovery
Vehicle repairs or replacement: Especially if the other driver can’t pay
Frank Eskesen, as a seasoned automobile accident attorney, has worked with many individuals who didn’t realize how common these situations are. He encourages drivers to think about this kind of coverage as a shield against the risks posed by others’ irresponsibility.
Collision and Comprehensive Coverage
These coverages address damage to your own vehicle, whether or not another car is involved.
Collision coverage: Covers damage to your vehicle caused by an accident, whether it's with another car, a tree, or even a building.
Comprehensive coverage: Pays for non-collision incidents like theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, or even hitting a deer on a backroad.
Without these types of coverage, you’re responsible for all repairs—or the cost of replacing your car—after certain events. That’s a huge financial burden, especially if you rely on your car daily for work or family.
Medical Payments and Personal Injury Protection
If you're injured in an accident, your medical bills can skyrocket—fast. Even with health insurance, there are often co-pays, deductibles, and non-covered services that pile on top of each other.
Medical payments coverage: This helps pay for immediate medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who was at fault.
Personal injury protection (PIP): A broader version that covers medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with an injury.
In states like New York, PIP is required, but the minimum limit may not be sufficient if injuries are serious or long-term. An automobile accident attorney like Frank Eskesen often advises clients to opt for higher PIP limits to prevent out-of-pocket expenses that can arise during extended treatment.
Gap Insurance
If you lease or finance your car, your loan might be more than what your car is worth. If the car is totaled, your standard insurance policy pays out the actual value of the vehicle—not the amount you still owe.
Gap insurance covers that difference, so you're not left paying on a loan for a car you no longer have. This can be especially valuable in the first few years of a car loan when the vehicle’s depreciation happens most rapidly.
Rental Reimbursement and Roadside Assistance
Accidents don’t just cost money—they cause major inconveniences.
Rental reimbursement coverage: Helps pay for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered accident.
Roadside assistance: Offers services like towing, battery jumps, and tire changes when you're stranded.
These optional additions aren’t just about luxury—they’re about getting your life back on track as quickly as possible after an incident.
What Happens When You Don’t Have Additional Coverage
Too many people only find out the weaknesses in their policies after a crash. The Eskesen Law Firm has seen this play out in numerous real-life cases. A driver gets rear-ended, suffers neck injuries, and discovers the at-fault driver has inadequate insurance. Without ample uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, that driver might have to pay for:
Injuries suffered in car accidents: These may include whiplash, back injuries, neck injuries, or worse—requiring surgery or long-term care
Time away from work: Lost income, reduced job performance, or permanent disability
Vehicle replacement: When the value of the totaled car isn’t enough to cover a new one
Pain and suffering costs: Out-of-pocket expenses not reimbursed by limited insurance
These financial setbacks can follow someone for years, and they often strike those who thought they were already “covered.” A qualified automobile accident attorney can walk you through what your policy does—and doesn’t—include before you’re put in that position.
Tailoring Your Policy to Your Personal Risks
The right additional coverages for you depend on your unique situation. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when it comes to protecting yourself and your family. A smart next step is to evaluate your lifestyle, driving habits, and vehicle value:
Do you commute long distances daily? More miles mean more exposure to potential crashes.
Do you own a newer car or lease a vehicle? Consider collision, comprehensive, and gap insurance.
Do you often have passengers? You may want higher PIP or medical payments coverage.
Are you concerned about theft or natural disasters? Then comprehensive coverage is worth prioritizing.
A consultation with an automobile accident attorney is one of the most effective ways to identify where your policy needs improvement. With legal knowledge, you can make changes before you're left paying the price.
Why It’s Worth Revisiting Your Policy Every Year
Your life changes. Maybe you've changed jobs and now drive more, or maybe you bought a new car, got married, or added a teen driver to your policy. All of these changes affect your insurance needs. Making it a habit to revisit your policy annually—especially with input from someone like Frank Eskesen—can make a major difference when something unexpected happens.
The Eskesen Law Firm encourages clients to review the following annually:
Policy limits: Are they high enough to cover your current financial situation?
Deductibles: Are they still affordable if you need to file a claim?
Covered drivers: Is everyone who drives your vehicle listed on the policy?
Coverage types: Do you have uninsured motorist, PIP, or roadside assistance?
Reviewing and adjusting your policy with professional guidance from an automobile accident attorney gives you a proactive way to stay protected.
Reach Out to an Attorney
Don’t wait until after an accident to find out your insurance wasn’t enough. Talk to a lawyer who understands both the law and the risks drivers face. The Eskesen Law Firm is here to help you explore additional coverage options and handle any claims that arise. We proudly serve clients in New York, New York, and we’re committed to helping you protect your health, your finances, and your future. Contact us today.