Choosing auto insurance policy coverages can be confusing because there are so many different options available. This drives many consumers to simply choose the minimum coverages required by their state in order to satisfy the law rather than their need for financial security.

But the states have very low requirements when it comes to auto insurance and leaving your family’s future in their hands is a dangerous proposition. Instead, take a look at this guide with some common personal auto insurance coverage types and decide for yourself which are the most important to your family.

Bodily injury liability: If you are at fault in a car accident, you could hurt people within your car or outside of your vehicle. Bodily injury liability coverage offers insurance against the medical expenses and personal claims resulting from these injuries. It also has two different limits—one for single-person injuries and one for multiple person injuries.

Collision: If you hit another vehicle or if another vehicle hits you, your collision coverage will pay the damages.

Comprehensive coverage: There are some very real threats to your vehicle that don’t involve driving, including theft, flood, fire and vandalism. Comprehensive coverage from your insurance company covers the claims they bring in.

Medical payments: If you are in an accident and are injured, the medical payments coverage will pay for your medical expenses.

Personal injury protection: If you are in an accident, no matter who is at fault, personal injury protection (or PIP) will pay your medical expenses.  

Property damage liability: If you are at fault in an accident you may cause damage to someone else’s personal property (this includes their car, residence or other property) property damage liability can pay off claims associated with the damage.

Uninsured (or under-insured) motorist coverage: Unfortunately, even if your state requires it, not every driver has the proper auto insurance coverage. If you have uninsured or under-insured motorist coverage, then your insurance company will reimburse you in place of the other driver’s missing (or inadequate) policy.

The next time you are in the market for an auto insurance policy, consider the types of risk you and your automobile are exposed to each day and then, instead of buying insurance because your state says you must, buy insurance that will actually protect you from those risks. That is the only way to ensure that you have the coverage you need and your family deserves. Email or call us today for a free auto insurance quote at (888) 269-6860.

Unemployment recipients also have the option of direct deposit if they do not want to receive a debit card.

Charleston Regional Business Journal reported that the department wants to make the process easier for individuals. It has been testing the new debit card program in three areas for the last two months. "These new methods of delivering unemployment benefits are part of a conscious effort to streamline our service delivery system in a more efficient and cost effective manner. The use of debit cards and direct deposit offers a faster and more secure option for claimants and helps them avoid check cashing fees," said Executive Director John L. Finan. New claimants will be the first to receive the debit card and the department hopes to complete the transition by October 1.

The department has partnered with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Visa. South Carolina unemployment claimants will be presented with the Visa debit card option when applying for unemployment insurance benefits. Once a claimant is determined eligible, payments will be deposited directly to their debit card account and recipients will have the option of withdrawing money from any ATM or bank accepting Visa cards or using it to make purchases anywhere Visa debit is accepted. While there is no fee to receive the card, fees may apply for certain transactions. Information on these fees will be sent to the recipient along with the card.

The transition to debit cards is expected to also benefit the employment department. According to WSPA News Channel 7, the department experienced several problems with the old system, including errors that caused the agency to send out duplicate checks on two separate occasions last year. "It will take away a lot of these factors that have been problems in the past," said Newsom.

WSPA News Channel 7 also reported that S.C. Department of Social Services moved to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards in 1995 to replace food stamps, which saved the state close to $25 million over a nine-year period. The Department of Employment and Workforce hopes to see similar results.

• A Salem man admitted Thursday that he wrecked his car and bought car insurance an hour later to try to get the damages paid for.
• Texting and Driving does not mix
• Did you know your car effects your rates?
• After the recent flooding in the Nashville area, people need to be reminded  to consider optional flood insurance.
• Nothing kicks up the adrenaline and puts you in fight-or-flight mode faster than a car accident and that survivalist, reactionary state of mind can make it extremely difficult to act in the most responsible and self-preserving manner after an accident. Find out what to do after an auto accident.
• Southwest Airlines said Tuesday that it will start flying to Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., starting in 2011.
• South Carolina is the third-most-affordable state in which to own a car.
• Homeowners building new homes won’t have to install residential fire sprinklers if the S.C. Senate passes the fire sprinkler bill this week.