My 18 year old son was in an accident?

Question

He was driving my car which has full coverage but I stated no other drivers in my household . He received a ticket for improper lane change will it be covered? Worried what will happen, I know I'm stupid single broke mom

Answer 1

They will cover the damages and make you either add him or exclude him from the policy.

If you say he took the vehicle without permission, there is a coverage issue of "non-permissive use".

If they cover it anyway because he is a household resident and you attain that it was not permissive use they can sue him for anything paid out on the claim.

Assuming you tell them you gave him permission, everything is fine and no need to worry.

I think the New Yorker is smoking something.

I am a claims adjuster.

Answer 2

Hold on a minute! Are you saying you told them you had no drivers in your household? You will probably have a retroactive action taken against your policy, but if he was driving with your permission he will be covered as an insured on the policy, especially if he lives with you. There could be some difference to this depending on the state where you live, but that's how insurance works in general. Once your company finds out he lives with you and is a regular user of the vehicle they will add him to your policy and increase the rate based on his driving record, age, etc (which they should have already been doing) and also rate it for an at fault claim.

However, in all likelihood they will provide coverage, because he's considered an insured under the policy.

Answer 3

Hi Mom

I have had two kids in teenage years total three cars, and another child age 14 who will behind the wheel soon and I am definitely sympathetic with your situation.

The insurance coverage goes with the car. So long as you had given your son permission to drive that day, your coverage should apply. Insurance covers the occasional driver-with-permission. Just make sure the company understands that your son was driving with your permission and that you are the main and usually only driver.

Of course, the insurance company may drop you from coverage and they are entitled to do so.

You wouldn't be worried if you had listed your son as a driver, though. Your worry is an additional cost - were the dollars you saved worth it? You have to make that decision.

For what its worth, for the two kids of mine who were driving, I provided the car and maintenance, the kids paid for their own gas and insurance. McDonald's and Blockbuster had a couple of good teenage employees for a few years. And, their grades did not suffer.

Answer 4

Don't worry, it's covered. Even if a friend who doesn't live in your household was driving the car, your insurance still applies.

If your son drives the car every day, or on a regular basis, he should be listed as a driver. Just tell them he doesn't usually drive the car, but borrowed it for one-time use. Get him on the policy if you plan to let him continue to drive the car on a regular basis! Or, better yet, help him find a job, so he can pay for his own car and insurance!

Answer 5

Since it appears that the accident is your son's fault, it may be that the insurance company will consider him uninsured since he is.

Your car, however, is insured and hopefully so is the other motorist. In a no-fault situation, the other driver will hopefully be able to collect from his insurance company. You may be out of luck when it comes to having your company pay for the damages to your car.

The problem with all of this is that your insurance company may terminate your coverage and other companies will probably want something like triple the amount you now pay since you have a teenaged son who has been in an accident. It could be difficult securing coverage for yourself since you allowed him to drive without insurance and he was in an accident.

Answer 6

Yes, he will still be covered as long as you gave him PERMISSION to drive your car. The same exact thing happened to my brother when he drove a friend's car home from a party where mostly everyone got drunk.

The accident will more than likely be cited as the driver's fault, since he did receive a ticket. Hopefully he is okay!!

P.S. Does he have his own auto insurance? You may want to have that information handy, just in case!

Answer 7

Tickets aren't covered. The accident very well may not be covered, especially if your son lives with you. If it IS covered, the insurance company has the right to add him to the policy effective the inception date, and charge you the extra premium.

They'll probably add him anyway, after the fact, now. AND the accident will count against YOU.

Answer 8

As a former claims adjuster I can tell you that if he was given permission to drive the vehicle then the accident will be covered. Your insurance company will now rate your son on your policy and your insurance will go up since he is a household member.
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-Permission can be implied in some states to mean that if the keys were on the coffee table and he had access to them then permission was given-

Answer 9

They should cover him. He's an occasional driver. If they don't - the other side's insurance company will cover it and will probably go after your son. Since he doesn't have anything (like property) - there is nothing for you to worry about. Thank G-d everybody's alive and well.

Answer 10

i thought the insurance is on the car itself, not the person. Wouldn't it be as if a friend had been driving your car and wrecked it? I would call your insurance and ask. Claim that your son doesnt live with you, but borrowed your car. it should be covered. hope he is okay and everything works out