In the wake of Hurricane Sandy many people who lost cars in the super storm discovered that their mandatory liability coverage left them woefully underinsured. Only those with comprehensive protection were covered against flooding, or what's known as an act of God.
In insurance circles, an act of God is defined as any accident or event not influenced by man. They are accidents caused by nature. Hurricanes, floods, hail, tsunamis, wildfires, earthquakes and tornados are all considered acts of God.
If wind causes a towering oak to topple on to your vehicle, this would fall into the act of God category. Or say if a moose wanders in front of your car, causing you to hit it or swerve off the road, this too would be considered an accident caused by nature.
If you reside in an area prone to violent storms – Tornado Alley, for example – you should strongly consider extra car insurance coverage against acts of God.
Protecting Yourself Against Acts of God
To protect yourself against uncontrollable events, contact your insurance agent about adding comprehensive to your coverage package. When deciding, choose the deductible that best fits your budget. Ask yourself how much you could afford to pay out of your pocket should, for example, your car be unexpectedly damaged by say a falling tree. The higher deductible you choose, the lower your overall premium. Or vise versa.
Keep in mind that should your vehicle be damaged by an act of God, the maximum amount of coverage you'll receive will be based on the vehicle's current market value. With this in mind, think twice about comprehensive coverage for an old beater car with little value. Otherwise, if it's value is close to your deductible amount, you'll receive little or no insurance protection.
