We were in a horrible car accident, and I had State Farm, and my wife (GF at the time) has USAA. State farm had us a check to help with our life/bills on Monday morning after the accident. Statefarm also paid everyone out to maximum 100,000/300,00 within 30 days.
It took 2 years and a lawyers to see the same amount from USAA(minus the 60 grand that went to the lawyer). USAA did not pay for my wife's ambulance, hospital and other bills up front (in violation of state law) and it totally screwed our credit.
All cars were totaled, and 1 person died.
The other 2 cars had "broker insurance" with 30,000/100,00 both paid out after about 6 months.
I was paying $7 more per month than my wife for car insurance monthly($4 was for towing). We were both driving 10 year old Hyundai that were $500 beaters. The selling point was the $30 check she got a year for reimbursement for good driving (what a scam).
Previous to this accident, we were very happy with what USAA had paid out for car claims. Once medical was involved, they did not even follow the law. We had to get lawyers and the state atty general involved just to get paid from USAA!
15 years later, I am still injured from this accident. I qualify for for full disability, but have never claimed it. My wife qualifies for partial. I am self employed, and my wife is stay at home with the kids. We have to pay about 50% extra for health insurance due to re minaces from the accident. On top of my health insurance (that is the best available in Minnesota) I still pay about 2k a month till we hit our maximums. We have no heart\diabetes\disease all is just left over expense from the car accident.
Be very careful with insurance. In the end game, it is to cover your body, not your car.
Lucky, we were smart and put the cash away for retirement at 23 (we each blew 10k as recommended by the lawyer and investment advisers).
