Bickerton West, NS, Car Insurance You Can Count On
Bickerton West is a coastal town on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, close to Port Bickerton and Fisherman’s Harbour. In this tight-knit community, neighbours know each other and trust is important. There are beautiful views and abundant forests, but also harsh winters where temperatures can drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius. When you choose Bickerton West, NS, car insurance, it’s important to partner with an insurer that has a trustworthy reputation.
Why Car Insurance Is Essential for Families in Bickerton West
Even though Bickerton West is relatively remote and peaceful, a car insurance policy is still a smart investment.
Mandatory Auto Insurance Amounts
One reason you need car insurance is that coverage is mandatory in Nova Scotia. The law requires a minimum policy for $500,000 coverage that includes:
- Third-party liability coverage: To cover repairs or injuries for the other driver or passengers in a crash
- Accident benefits: To cover medical care costs for yourself after an accident, as well as benefits related to lost income
- Direct compensation property damage coverage: To cover the costs of repairs to your vehicle, no matter which driver was to blame for the accident
- Uninsured/unidentified vehicle coverage: To assist with your repair bills or medical bills if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or disappears
This basic policy provides well-rounded coverage for many situations, but not all. To prepare for unexpected accidents, you may want to personalize Bickerton West, NS, car insurance based on your family’s circumstances.
Collision Coverage
Mandatory insurance coverage only helps with vehicle repairs when the accident involves two or more vehicles. To cover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle in a single-car crash, you need to add collision coverage to your car insurance.
Roughly 25% of all car accidents in Nova Scotia involve single-vehicle crashes, such as:
- Sliding off the road into a ditch
- Losing control on icy roads and rolling your SUV
- Hitting a tree
- Running into a parked vehicle or post
- Getting into an accident with moose, caribou, or other wildlife
Considering how common snow, ice, and storms are in Bickerton West and Fisherman’s Harbour, your family should seriously consider collision coverage for your main winter vehicles.
How Much Car Insurance Coverage To Choose
Another area you need to balance when selecting Bickerton West, NS, car insurance is whether to stick with the minimum policy or increase your coverage amount. This decision is personal, but some factors can help you customize your insurance to your family’s needs:
- How many drivers you have in your family
- How far you drive for work or essentials
- How often you see wildlife in the area
- How common intoxicated drivers are locally
- What weather-related risks can affect your vehicle
For example, if your property has many trees near your driveway, you may want to consider comprehensive coverage in case of fallen tree branches, hail, or similar winter risks.
Wildlife Crashes
Moose can cause significant damage to automobiles, and crashes with large animals can seriously injure drivers and passengers. After comparing the costs of medical care in Nova Scotia, many families decide to increase their personal injury/accident benefits coverage.
Intoxicated Driving Statistics
Similarly, intoxicated drivers can represent a real hazard for families in the Bickerton West region. In 2022, there were nearly 5,000 injuries and 70 fatal crashes in Nova Scotia. In the same year, over 2,000 drivers were charged with alcohol-related impaired driving.
To protect your financial interests and ensure that your family can cover the costs of medical care after a crash caused by an intoxicated driver, choose car insurance terms that provide plenty of accident benefits and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.