What happens if someone else gets into an accident in your vehicle?
Most people in Nova Scotia don’t think twice before letting their family members or friends drive their car whenever a situation calls for it. They often forget about the consequences of that friend or family member getting involved in an accident. These situations can cause confusion, and you might be on the hook for hefty fines and insurance claim denial. Here is what you should know about someone else getting involved in a crash while driving your car.
Your insurer doesn’t take it lightly
There is a common misconception that when a family member or friend is driving your car, the insurance policy covers that driver. This is not the case. Auto insurance applies to the car. So, if another person who is not in your insurance is driving your car, the insurance still applies to the vehicle in case of an accident.
This isn’t a big deal, particularly in minor accidents where no one is injured. However, the situation can change quickly if a car crash leads to extensive property damages, severe injuries, or fatalities. Here is an in-depth analysis of different situations that could arise if someone else is driving your car.
Different vehicle accident situations that can arise
The residents of Halifax don’t have to worry every time their friend or kid borrows your car. If the driver gets involved in a crash and the other driver is responsible for the crash, the at-fault party’s insurer will cover the consequential costs and damages.
The situation is likely to become complex if your son or friend is to blame for the accident. If no one is injured, your insurer will cover any property damage. But if you don’t have collision insurance coverage, you’ll have to cover the necessary vehicle repairs and pay your deductibles.
If someone got injured, your insurance policy might be used to cover medical expenses after your personal injury protection policy has been applied. In case the injuries are severe and you owe the plaintiff more financial resources to cover the cost of medical services, your friend’s insurance policy may be added to yours to ensure that the plaintiff gets enough coverage.
This situation might be more complicated if your friend doesn’t have an insurance cover. This is because there is not sufficient insurance coverage to cover the victim’s medical costs. Remember, your car was involved in the accident, and you could be held responsible for the remaining expenses, which could cost you a lot of money.
Before you let your relatives or friends borrow your car, first find out if they have insurance coverage. If they don’t, it’s a bad idea to let them drive your car because of the high financial risk in case of an auto accident.
Protect your vehicle insurance
If you have auto insurance, it’s important to do everything possible to avoid being held liable for an accident or doing anything else that could raise your premiums. So, take the time to understand your auto insurance policy and avoid violating its terms.
Contact Wagners at 902-425-7330 or 1-800-465-8794 or [email protected]