Accident Terms and Definitions

Flood Damage Title
States issue flood titles when a vehicle has been in a flood or has received extensive water damage.

Salvage
Property taken over by an insurer to reduce its loss.

Medical Payments Coverage
Covers the medical costs (up to the specified limit you choose) resulting from an auto accident for you, your family, and others in your car. It pays regardless of fault.

Commissioner of Insurance
The title of the head of most state insurance departments. In some states, the Director or Superintendent of Insurance is used instead.

Nonrenewal
The termination of an insurance policy at its normal expiration date.

Subpoena
Document issued by the authority of the court to compel a witness to appear and give testimony or produce documentary evidence in a proceeding. Failure to appear or produce is punishable by contempt of court.

Quote
An estimate of the cost of insurance based on information supplied to the insurance company.

Subrogation
The process in which an insurance company, after paying a loss to its insured, recovers the amount of the loss for damages (plus the insured's deductible) from the legally liable party.

Summons
Document or writ directing the sheriff or other officer to notify a person that an action has been commenced against him in court and that he is required to appear, on a certain day, and answer the complaint in such action.

Policy
Written contract of insurance.