Pls help!
My wife was driving the car and hit the another car at the back at the signal. No injuries and no big damage except other car's rear bumper. Since incident is small and there were no injuries we didn't inform cop. I came to know that its a mistake.
One more thing is my wife doesn't have insurance. She has learner's permit and I Have full insurace. I was with her while driving. I informed my insurance company about this and the other party has also informed his insurance comapny. I am not going for claim to my car. But my questions are these...
How does the insurance work here? since my is not covered under insurance should I pay everything? or insurance will take care of that?
Though there were no injuries, people told me that they may come back saying they have injury. How much they may demand? How can I get across this situation? I am pretty sure there are no injuries for sure. But I am very much afraid of this.
Would informing cop help? I am very much tensed! Pls
2007-05-12 04:33:51 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
First, your wife IS covered. Insurance follows the vehicle. Once she gets her license, call your insurance company and have her added as a driver (also, she should be a named insured as your wife). You will probably have to pay a bit more since she is inexperienced (plus now she has an at fault accident). If you have already told your insurance, they will handle the accident. If the other party claims injury, the claims adjuster will fully investigate (they don't want to pay a lot of money to another party for a small injury either) before any payment is made. You will only really have to worry is if a bodily injury award is higher than your bodily injury liability limits. You will be notified from your insurance company if they feel this could happen. If you are still worried, call your insurance company & speak to the claims adjuster. They have done this many times & have a good sense how things could go.
2007-05-12 04:45:56 · answer #1 · answered by Sue 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
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2016-09-25 04:01:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Your wife is not excluded from your auto policy by name, And, you do have an "Auto Policy", Not a "Drivers" or an "Operators policy", Then they will have to pay for the accident. You may however receive a bill from your insurer for the time period in which your wife was an undisclosed driver and not listed on your policy. Your insurer may also cancel your policy for failing to schedule all drivers in your household.
The way to get through this situation is to let your insurance company handle the claim. that's why you buy auto insurrance.
If You find your wife was excluded from your policy coverage or is otherwise not covered under your policy, then you can still take care of the matter simply, just pay for them a replacement bumper out of pocket and hope they don't have an injury. Prompt payment of Financial obligations after an accident can often greatly reduce the final amount paid by minimizing colateral obligations.
Remember, All Drivers are required to carry Financial Repsonsibility whether licensed or not. You should notify your insurer of new drivers or a change in drivers in your household within 30 days of the change. This is required by your insurance contract.
Your wife having a permit, is considered Licensed. A Learners Permit is effectively a license to drive. The permit gives her "permisssion" to drive under the restrictions of the learners permit issued.
Each state has it's own Insurance Regulations. The law in Texas does not require a license to buy a Vehicle nor to buy auto insurance. The law does require a license or other issued permit to operate a vehicle on public roads.
From a Texas Insurance Agent
2007-05-15 04:24:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot add a person to an insurance policy until they have a drivers license - therefore since your wife was not a licensed driver, only permitted, you wouldn't be able to add her onto your policy anyways. As you being fully insured - it's actually your vehicle that is fully insured. Insurance follows the vehicle not the driver.
Your insurance WILL cover the damages to the other vehicle that your wife caused, you WILL NOT have to pay out of your own pocket.
It is possible that they may come back at a later time and advise they are injures, if that happens - your insurance company will investigate before they make any type of payment. DO NOT handle this on your own - that is why you pay your premium, to let your insurance company handle it!!! Good luck and DO NOT WORRY.
2007-05-12 07:43:49 · answer #4 · answered by S17V 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your car is insured, not the driver, so whoever drives it is insured, presuming they are a licensed driver.
As for the accident report, most states don't require reporting an accident unless there is a certain amount of damage and/or injuries.
Don't worry about fraudulent claims---your insurance company has a lot of experience with that.
As for who pays, if the damage to the other truck is under $1,500 I would pay it out of your own pocket if I were you and not make a claim. If it's more than that, I'd file the claim.
Definitely this is your wife's fault, so there's no getting out of that part.
2007-05-12 05:02:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, realize that I'm not a lawyer. Now on to the advice. In my state, insurance is on the car and automatically covers whoever is driving the car (legally). And think: When they issued your wife her learner's permit, did they ask her to prove she was insured? Learner's are especially liable to have accidents. Check your insurance policy or ask your agent or insurance company to be sure.
A police report is always a good thing to have, but it probably wouldn't affect a personal injury claim. Symptoms can show up days later.
Good luck
2007-05-12 04:46:58 · answer #6 · answered by The Phlebob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Settle down.. I promise.. this isnt really a big deal. Insurance GENERALLY follows the car.. not driver. Now, that being said.. if you have really really cheap insurance.. sometimes they only cover drivers listed.
Now, lets say worse case scenario... your insurance doesnt cvoer you..... your wife still wasnt at fault for this accident. She was rear-ended.... the other party is at fault. So they cannot come after her for anything.. so please please dont pay!
In some states since she was "uninsured" she could not collect anything.. however.. in no states does that make her automatically at fault and responsible for the other car.
So.. worse case scenario.. you cant get repairs on your bumper. Nothing else.
2007-05-12 05:16:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oklatom is right, if your car is insured than the accident is covered. I know you don't want to file a claim if don't have too, but it is a real hassle to go through this by yourself. Let your insurance company handle the issue and sleep better at night.
2007-05-12 06:17:45 · answer #8 · answered by Nate W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insurance goes with vehicles, not people. If you have insurance on your vehicle, she has a permit, you were in the car, it's covered. Report it to your insurance company and let them handle it.
2007-05-12 04:39:47 · answer #9 · answered by oklatom 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You spelled accident incorrectly. I'm sure it was your fault
2007-05-12 04:56:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋