Motor vehicle accidents occur every 5 seconds in the United States. Unfortunately a person is injured in an auto accident every 11 seconds and a fatal injury occurs every 12 minutes. If you do not have auto insurance to protect yourself, you put yourself and others at risk every time you get behind the wheel.

There are many laws in place to help protect drivers and passengers. You are probably familiar with some of those laws, such as the seat belt law and drunken driving laws. The seat belt law has been proven effective in reducing the number of individuals killed in auto accidents. Despite the preventative measures taken by the government, auto accidents are still occurring.

Many people are aware of the "peak" times for auto accident, which include weekends, holidays, and midnight to 3 am. Summer tends to be one of the largest peak times for accidents to occur as well as the month of December. Even if you are a smart driver and you avoid the roads at these times, you could still potentially be involved in an auto accident.

You may not be aware that your car can play a large role in a car accident. According to statistics in 2004, "passenger cars and light trucks accounted for nearly 95 percent of the 11 million vehicles involved in motor vehicle crashes." Sadly, these accidents all occurred during the daylight while the vehicle was going straight in normal weather conditions.

So how can you protect yourself and your family from being injured in an auto accident? Here are some tips:

• Always wear a seat belt
• Obey the speed limit and other traffic laws
• Be cautious of your surroundings, including other drivers
• Pull over when talking on a phone, eating, or doing anything that would cause you to loose focus
• Purchase auto insurance

Auto insurance is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself, your family and even other drivers. Auto accidents cost nearly 150 billion dollars per year, without auto insurance you can be stuck with large medical expenses, car repair fees, and even funeral expenses if someone died in the accident.

Auto insurance will cover the cost of the car repair, even if the car is a total loss. Auto insurance will pay for medical expenses, protect you from a lawsuit, protect you from uninsured drivers, and pay for damages to your car due to theft, natural disasters, or vandalism. And of course, auto insurance will provide you with a peace of mind each time you get behind the wheel.
Purchasing auto insurance is a requirement in all 50 states. If you do not have auto insurance, you must have proof of financial responsibility. Depending upon your state, you may have different rules and regulations; however it is still a requirement to adhere to the above. Typically you are also required to have collision coverage if you lease a car in addition to the state required liability law. It is a smart decision to research your local state auto insurance laws so you aren't fined for not having coverage if you are ever in an auto accident.

When you are selecting auto insurance, you need to be very picky. There have been several cases of auto insurance fraud recently, so be sure you are purchasing auto insurance from a reputable company. If you feel that you are a safe driver, you may be asking yourself what is the need for auto insurance. Despite your past driving record, it is estimated that every individual in the United States will be in at least one auto accident in their lifetime. If you are ever in an auto accident and the other driver does not have auto insurance, you could find yourself struggling to come up with the finances to fix your own car. Auto insurance protects you from coming up with the necessary money to pay for the repairs to your own vehicle.

If you don't purchase auto insurance, you can count on loosing your driver's license and getting your car impounded. You will also be charged with breaking the law, and that will remain on your police record! If that isn't enough to convince you to purchase auto insurance, this just might; if you cause the accident, you will have to pay for the damages to your car, the other car, medical expenses and still loose your license, your car, and your hard-earned reputation. The cost of medical expenses alone could total well over $100,000! If you don't have that kind of money lying around, you may be forced to sell all your assets, like your home, in order to pay for the medical expenses.

What Auto Insurance Does
So how does auto insurance protect you exactly? Auto insurance basically becomes your financial shield if your car is stolen, vandalized, or involved in an auto accident. Like health insurance, you will have a policy and pay a monthly or yearly premium to the auto insurance provider. The policy will outline everything that is covered by them. For example, you may have a "liability only" plan versus a "full coverage" plan. The liability only plan will pay for damages done by you to the other car, but it will not pay for any damages associated with your car. A full coverage plan will pay for the damages to the other car and the damages to your car.

Most auto insurance policies will protect you in the following situations:

• Reimbursement for a stolen car
• Reimbursement for a wrecked car
• The cost of repairs if your car is damaged in an accident
• Legal damages if you are in an accident and you injure someone else
• Medical expenses if you are injured in an auto accident

Again, depending upon the auto insurance provider, you could have additional benefits. Some auto insurance companies will also provide you with a discount if you insure your car and home with them. Allstate boasts that they will provide discounts if you remain accident-free for 12 months, they call it "rewards for being a good driver". As you can see, you need to shop around a little to find an auto insurance provider who can help you.

Choosing an Auto Insurance Provider
The auto insurance industry is very competitive and most companies will do anything to keep you as a client. Of course, if you cost their company too much money (due to accidents or other things), they have the right to cancel your policy at any time, leaving you vulnerable if you are involved in an accident.

Cheap auto insurance policies will provide you with the least amount of coverage and may not pay much if you are involved in an accident. Doing your research is the best advice anyone can give you when you are shopping for auto insurance. Keep in mind that auto insurance is not a contract. If you are unsatisfied with your auto insurance provider, you can cancel at any time, be aware that there may be a cancellation fee in order to do so.

Insurance premiums vary, but are typically higher for male driver under age 25 and females under age 21. The reason for the high premiums is because the statistics have shown that this is the age groups when most accidents occur. If you are an older driver, you are probably eligible for a discount, especially if you have an accident-free driving record and you are insuring more than 2 cars with the same insurance provider.

When you are purchasing a car, try to buy one that has passive-restrain systems like airbags, antitheft devices, ignition locks, and child-safety features. These added features to your car have been shown to reduce the severity of injuries in auto accidents and they can prevent your car from being stolen.

If you have a teenage driver, be ready to pay more for auto insurance. Insurance companies tend to get a little nervous about teenage drivers because they are in one of the largest percentiles for auto accidents. If you have ever had a DUI or DWI, your premiums can double or triple for several years.

Key Points to Remember
Not only is auto insurance a requirement, it is a safety belt if you are ever involved in an auto accident. If you do not have auto insurance and you are at fault in an auto accident, here are some figures you can expect to pay:

•     $20,000 to be paid per person for injuries from the auto accident
•     $50,000 to be paid per person for all medical expenses related to the auto accident
•     $10,000 in property damage
•     Upwards of $100,000 if the other party seeks legal action against you

For a small monthly investment, you could potentially save yourself thousands of dollars if you are ever involved in an auto accident. It is a sound investment that will pay of if you are in an accident. If you are never involved in an accident, at least you can sleep better knowing you are protected!