When people think about auto insurance, they often focus on protecting their own vehicle. Insurance agent Shannon Geno encourages clients to look beyond their car and consider what could happen if they are responsible for seriously injuring someone or damaging another vehicle.
In Texas, drivers are legally required to carry liability coverage, but the standard minimums, designated at 30/60/25, fall short of today’s realities.
30/60/25 means:
$30,000 for bodily injury per person: The maximum amount insurance will pay for medical bills if one person is injured in an accident you cause.
$60,000 for bodily injury per accident: The total cap insurance will pay for all injuries combined if multiple people are hurt in the crash. This is still capped at $30,000 per individual.
$25,000 for property damage: The maximum amount insurance pays to repair or replace the other party’s vehicle or damaged property.
“The average cost of a car is $47,000 in Texas right now, so [with the state minimum liability coverage], you wouldn’t have half the amount of what the average cost is,” Geno said. “If you don't have enough insurance [coverage], you're going to be on the hook for all of the damages you caused to someone else.”
Geno personally experienced this when his late wife was involved in a fatal car accident for which she was at fault. At the time, Geno was a new father with a 9-month-old son and did not have enough insurance to cover the resulting damages. An attorney later told him that his insurance coverage had been exhausted and he was personally responsible for what remained.
“It's something that can happen in a snap, and it can change your whole financial world,” Geno said. “That really made me think: We have to do this differently.”
So, Geno became an insurance agent, educating clients on how insurance coverage should prioritize wealth protection.
What auto insurance coverages are available?
Rather than viewing insurance as one-size-fits-all, Geno works with clients to find a balance between protection and affordability.
He described several different auto insurance coverages:
Liability coverage (Geno said this is the most important): Pays for damages or injuries you cause to other people and their property. This is the core of wealth protection, shielding your personal assets from costly lawsuits.
Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident that you are at fault for.
Comprehensive coverage: Covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision incidents, such as theft, vandalism, fire or weather damage.
Medical payments and personal injury protection (PIP): Both cover medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident. PIP offers expanded support by also replacing lost wages resulting from an injury.
What does having “full coverage” really mean?
While many drivers assume "full coverage" means having collision and comprehensive insurance, Geno emphasized that true full coverage means protecting personal wealth, largely through liability insurance.
Rather than sacrificing essential liability protection to save money, Geno works with clients to customize their policies for affordability.
One way to do this is by choosing a plan with a higher out-of-pocket deductible, which lowers the monthly cost of the plan. There are also discounts individuals can get through bundling policies, being a safe driver, paying a policy in full rather than monthly and allowing apps to track safe driving habits.
What does Geno want clients to remember?
Ultimately, Geno’s message is simple: Coverage should evolve alongside a person’s age, lifestyle and financial growth. The goal is not simply to insure a vehicle, but to make sure one unexpected accident does not undo years of financial progress.
Those interested in learning more or requesting an insurance quote can find resources here:
Website: https://agents.allstate.com/shannon-geno-cypress-tx.html
Phone number: 281-955-8909
Hours: Mon.-Thu., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat., by appointment
Address: 8118 Fry Rd., Ste. 1004, Cypress
Frequently asked questions
Why are Texas state minimum liability limits often insufficient?
State minimums cap property damage coverage at $25,000, but Geno said the average cost of a car in Texas is $47,000. If you cause an accident that totals a newer vehicle or leads to major medical bills, standard minimums are quickly exhausted, leaving you personally responsible for paying the remaining balance out of pocket.
Why is liability insurance important?
While most drivers buy auto insurance just to protect their vehicle, liability coverage is actually designed for wealth protection. It covers the damages you cause to others, shielding your personal savings, home and future earnings from costly lawsuits.
Doesn't "full coverage" automatically protect all my finances?
Not necessarily. Drivers often define "full coverage" as having comprehensive and collision protection for their own car. However, true protection requires higher liability limits so that a single major accident doesn't wipe out years of financial progress.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller of Community Impact's Storytelling team, with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
