Hey, did you know....
If you swerve to miss a deer (or other type of animal) and you hit something else (tree, guard rail, another car, etc.) it is an at fault accident. Hit the deer! That comes under comprehensive coverage and is not held against you.
Replacement Cost is only granted when your home or personal property is actually replaced, after a claim. If you do not replace the building or item, you receive Actual Cash Value (Replacement Cost minus depreciation).
Insurance companies that are represented by Independent Insurance Agencies sell mortgage life and disability insurance for much less then the banks or savings and loans. Also, when purchasing these policies from an Independent Insurance Agent, you own the policy, not the creditor.
Many of your expensive articles of personal property may not be insured well enough. For example, if you dropped a video camera into a lake, while filming your spouse skiing, that is not covered. Or if your golf clubs fall off the cart and into a pond, they're not covered. Or if you lost your diamond wedding ring while hiking in Colorado, that is not covered. These articles need to be scheduled separately so they're covered for things like mysterious disappearance and other mishaps.
Auto policies are never written on a Replacement Cost Valuation. They are only written on an Actual Cash Value basis. So you can never get to replace your wrecked 1992 Buick Park Avenue with a brand new one. You receive a check for what it was worth (unlike homeowners insurance, where your policy permits you to build a new home, if yours burns down).
Carpeting is considered as part of your building when it covers all "non-useful" floor and, thus, is eligible for Building coverage (more broad than Personal Property). If the carpet covers a "useful" floor (e.g. hardwood or linoleum that is in good repair), it could be considered Personal Property.
You don't have to be ticketed for an accident for it to be "chargeable". If an insurance company paid a claim, and the accident was your fault, it can be charged against your record.
A parked car is not considered a vehicle, and is exempt from the no-fault law. Damage to that vehicle is completely the responsibility of the person who hits it. If you don't know who hit you, it will come under your collision insurance.
If an object falls off the vehicle in front of you, and hits you while it is still moving, it is a missile and therefore, a comprehensive claim. If it has stopped, and you hit it, it is a collision, and will probably be chargeable. (You could have avoided it).
The best way to make sure you have an accurate inventory of your personal property is to videotape everything in your home: furniture, clothing, kitchen cabinets- everything you own. It's all covered under your homeowners policy, but in case of a loss, you will be asked for a list of the things that were lost. If you don't have a good inventory, you will cheat yourself badly. Needless to say, you should keep the videotape someplace other than your home, and update it periodically.