Which Auto Insurance Company Should You Pick? Car Accident Lawyers Weigh In

Ron Cox

Shopping for car insurance can be an overwhelming process; with so many options available, how do you know which insurance company is right for you? It can be a daunting process, but choosing the right car insurance is crucial for protecting your vehicle and finances in case of an accident.

Car insurance is not only a legal requirement in most states, but it also provides peace of mind while on the road. With so many companies offering different policies and coverages, it’s important to know what to look for when shopping around.

When shopping for car insurance, there are key factors to consider beyond just finding the cheapest rate. Understanding these factors will help you make an informed decision and ensure that you have adequate coverage when you need it most. In this article, we gathered two sets of data: general customer satisfaction scores from a recent JD Power and Associates survey and the input from our two experienced car accident attorneys, Ron Cox and David Proffitt, to give you a feel for how they respond in these worst case scenarios. For most of us, cost is still the primary factor in picking an insurance company, but if it comes down to deciding between a few similar quotes, we hope this will empower you to pick the company that treats its customers the most fairly.

How Much Does Your Insurance Company’s Claims Treatment Really Matter?

In South Carolina, insurance is handled on a fault basis. Basically, the at-fault party’s insurance is required to pay for the victim of the accident’s damages (Compare that to some “no fault” states, like New York, where you turn to your own company for coverage even if the accident was not your fault.)

Because of this, if your insurance company is a pain to deal with, it may feel like “the other driver’s problem,” not yours. But, if the claim exceeds coverage limits or your insurance company denies the claim unfairly, you could end up as the defendant in a high-stakes auto accident lawsuit because your insurance company was playing hardball.

How Does Car Insurance Work In South Carolina?

Car insurance is an essential aspect of driving in South Carolina. It’s important to understand how insurance works, the different types of coverage available, and how they provide protection in sensitive circumstances such as accidents. In South Carolina, auto insurance is mandatory for all drivers. Understanding different types of coverage will help you select the right policy for your individual needs.

Liability Insurance Explained

When it comes to car insurance in South Carolina, liability is mandatory. Liability insurance is a type of coverage that pays for damages to other people or their property when you are legally at fault for an accident. In South Carolina, you must have at least $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. This is called 25/50/25 coverage.

Other Optional Coverages Available

Besides liability insurance, there are other types of automotive insurance coverage available in South Carolina. Some of them are:

Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage: This pays for your medical expenses and property damage if you are hit by a driver who has no insurance or not enough insurance.
Medical payments coverage: This pays for your medical bills regardless of who was at fault for an accident.
Collision coverage: This pays for your repair costs after an accident.
Comprehensive coverage: This pays for damage or loss to your vehicle from a non-collision cause such as weather or theft.

Some of these coverages are optional, but they may provide extra protection and peace of mind. Drivers can choose to add any or all of these coverages to their policies for additional protection. While they may increase the monthly premium paid by the policyholder, they offer peace of mind knowing that they are fully protected in case of an accident. In South Carolina, uninsured coverage in the same minimum 25/50/25 limits required for liability coverage is mandatory, but higher limits might be available. Underinsured coverage is optional, but it adds little to the premium and really should be carried by all drivers.

It’s important to remember that car insurance policies vary by provider and state regulations, so it’s always recommended to do research before purchasing a policy. Additionally, factors such as age, driving history and type of vehicle can also impact insurance rates.

Which Insurance Companies Have The Best Service?

Now that you understand the different types of insurance, it’s time to research insurance carriers. While most people start and end with insurance rates – they pick the cheapest, or one that bundles coverage with home or motorcycle coverage – it’s important to pick a company that won’t make the stress of an accident worse with overly aggressive claims adjusters or poor customer service.

Below is a list of companies that were profiled by JD Power in a recent survey. Respondents reported their customer satisfaction ratings, resulting in an overall score by the publisher. We’ve added the firsthand impressions of Ron and David, who in their combined fifty years of experience, have dealt with most of these companies in past insurance claims and cases. Many of JD Power’s companies on their list do not operate in South Carolina, so they have been omitted. And note that companies do change and evolve over time, for good or worse, so your experiences with them may vary.

Some standouts from the chart include Auto-Owners and Erie Insurance, which had the highest JD Power scores and positive feedback from the attorneys as “fair and reasonable” when it comes to claims. On the other hand, some of the more popular, name brand companies like Progressive and Allstate score lower on JD Power rating and, perhaps more importantly, tend to be very difficult to deal with – their policyholders frequently end up defending themselves in court due to the companies’ aggressive stance on claims.

South Carolina Auto Insurance Companies Compared

Insurance Company Name	JD Power Score	Notes from Ron & David
Auto-Owners Insurance	871	Mostly Fair and Reasonable
Erie Insurance	868	Mostly Fair and Reasonable
State Farm	855	Often Difficult (but it depends on the particular adjuster).
Nationwide	850	Often difficult.
Safeco	847	Mostly Fair and Reasonable
GEICO	843	Depends upon the adjuster
Progressive	842	Very difficult to deal with on claims (regularly forced to sue Progressive policy holders in order to get fair resolution of their claims)
Allstate	833	Very difficult to deal with on claims (regularly forced to sue Allstate policy holders in order to get fair resolution of their claims)
Liberty Mutual	831	Mostly Fair and Reasonable
National General	829	Mostly Fair and Reasonable
Farmers	828	Mostly Fair and Reasonable
USAA	886	Depends upon the adjuster

Source: J.D Power 2022 U.S Auto Insurance Study

About The Law Firm

If you have been in a car accident, it may be tempting to try to get the headache over with and just take what the insurance company is offering. However, many of these insurance companies are known for minimizing or outright refusing to pay claims, a position that is unfair for accident victims and risky for policyholders who could end up in court defending themselves when they expected their insurance to shield them.

Ron Cox and David Proffitt have been helping car accident victims in the Midlands area and throughout South Carolina fight aggressive insurance companies to obtain fair compensation for their vehicles and their injuries. They love helping their neighbors get back on their feet and in their cars after an accident and offer free consultations in injury cases. If you’ve been in a car accident, put their combined fifty years of experience to work for you, and against greedy, aggressive, unfair insurance companies and adjustors

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Any result our lawyers may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Each case must stand on its own merit based upon the facts and the law. Some cases referenced were handled by our attorneys while working at other firms, and in some cases, other lawyers participated in the representation of a client.

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