If you are ever a passenger in a car with your spouse behind the wheel, you really should make sure that you have Spousal Liability coverage as part of your car insurance policy.
I think we have all seen our spouses at one time or another make a mistake or two while driving. However, unless you specifically request and purchase this coverage, you will not be able to obtain compensation from your insurance company if your spouse is at fault or partially at fault for an accident and you become injured.
For instance, I recently represented a woman who was seriously injured in a car accident when the airbag deployed breaking her wrist and requiring surgery. She was a passenger in her car with her husband driving. Unfortunately, her husband wasn't paying attention and struck the vehicle ahead of them in the rear. The husband was 100% at fault, so the wife could not make any claim against the other car for her injuries. Without Spousal Liability coverage, the wife would not receive any compensation whatsoever for her serious injury. However, since the couple did have Supplemental Spousal coverage on their car policy, I was able to present a claim to their insurance company and obtain the full policy limits for the wife.
This coverage is very inexpensive, but most people don't have it because they don't know to ask for it. So, unless you feel that your spouse could never make a mistake while driving, I would contact your insurance company today to add this important coverage to your policy.
Keep it safe out there.
–Mark T. Freeley,Esq. - www.northshoreinjurylawyer.com
