Ask Me Help Desk - Do I have car insurance if my son was at fault

Do I have car insurance if my son was at fault

My 22 year old son was recently driving my car (he does not live at home) and had an accident. He was charged with dangerous driving and was still a novice driver (G2). He had some alcohol in his blood, and isn't allowed any as a G2 driver, so was charged with that too. Will my insurance company cover any of the damages?

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Originally Posted by purplelegs

My 22 year old son was recently driving my car (he does not live at home) and had an accident. He was charged with dangerous driving and was still a novice driver (G2). He had some alchol in his blood, and isn't allowed any as a G2 driver, so was charged with that too. Will my insurance company cover any of the damages?

Depends on your company - I am seeing companies denying claims when an underage driver who is not listed on the policy was the driving and/or when alcohol was involved.

Did he take the car without your knowledge?

What was his blood level?

Having trouble replying

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Originally Posted by purplelegs

having trouble replying

Company is Intact. I lent him my car. Alcohol was 107mg of 100 ml of blood.

I would say more than likely they will try to deny, you will just have to make the c, laim and see. If they do pay you can expect to be cancelled.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

I would say more than likely they will try to deny, you will just have to make the c, laim and see. if they do pay you can expect to be cancelled.

You mean they will cancel my ability to get insurance? Then, I'll have to go to a high risk company? If so, then maybe I'll take my $12,000 loss.

When you lent him your car, did you know he had been drinking?

Was anyone hurt or was there property damage besides your car?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

When you lent him your car, did you know he had been drinking?

Was anyone hurt or was there property damage besides your car?

No, of course I wouldn't lend him my car if I knew he was drinking. I lent it to him earlier that day. No one else was involved in the accident. No one was hurt. The guard rail on the highway was damaged.

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Originally Posted by purplelegs

No, of course I wouldn't lend him my car if I knew he was drinking. I lent it to him earlier that day. No one else was involved in the accident. No one was hurt. The guard rail on the highway was damaged.

I wouldn't say "of course" so quickly - you would be amazed at the people other people lend cars to.

Is he specifically listed on the policy? Is there a specific statement about who drives, the ages, the experience, the level of the license? Was he ticketed for the alcohol?

If you submit the claim it's either going to be approved or denied. Either way I think you're going to be in a risk pool because he's under 25, had a lower level license, was intoxicated.

Not that it matters but Intact writes only in Canada so I'm guessing that's your residence?

He was not listed on my policy as he doesn't live at home anymore. I removed him when he moved out a year ago so I wouldn't have to pay for him. He's only driven my car a few times during this year. I figured he'd be covered the same as any other person borrowing my car. But it looks like I won't be covered and don't want to tell insurance company so I don't get penalized. He certainly will NOT be using my car in the future. Yes we are in Canada.

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Originally Posted by purplelegs

He was not listed on my policy as he doesn't live at home anymore. I removed him when he moved out a year ago so I wouldn't have to pay for him. He's only driven my car a few times during this year. I figured he'd be covered the same as any other person borrowing my car. But it looks like I won't be covered and don't want to tell insurance company so I don't get penalized. He certainly will NOT be using my car in the future. Yes we are in Canada.

Well, you have two choices. It sounds like he wasn't covered.

You can turn the claim in or not turn the claim in. It's impossible to know 100% what the company will do.

They might pay it and then drop (or surcharge) you. They might disallow. Impossible to say.

I would expect that your son would be covered by your policy, since auto policies cover people whom you loan the car to. It would be an issue if he lived at home and you failed to list him on the policy, or if he was a regular user of the car, but that's not the case here. So as others have said - report the accident to your carrier and see what they say.

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Originally Posted by ebaines

I would expect that your son would be covered by your policy, since auto policies cover people whom you loan the car to. It would be an issue if he lived at home and you failed to list him on the policy, or if he was a regular user of the car, but that's not the case here. So as others have said - report the accident to your carrier and see what they say.

Note that this is Canada, a novice driver. That's the same as a 16-year old in the household with a learner permit and not listing that person.

My policy specifically states that underage or permit drivers are not covered,

This was not an adult experienced driver.

While they can cancel your policy (though unlikely if you have a good record), they are not likely to be able to prevent you from getting other insurance.

Thanks everyone for your input into my problem. I still do not want to call my insurance company for fear that just my call of telling them about the accident and then deciding not to put in a claim if my broker says I'm not covered, I will still be penalized with higher rates. I have a long history with our broker, but only a few years with the actual company.

And when someone in the other car says he/she is experiencing headaches and neck aches and is pursuing medical care that they want you to pay for? Then what will you do?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

And when someone in the other car says he/she is experiencing headaches and neck aches and is pursuing medical care that they want you to pay for? Then what will you do?

Oh, right - or HE has medical problems.

Somewhere there's a dollar figure. What does that represent?

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Oh, right - or HE has medical problems.

Somewhere there's a dollar figure. What does that represent?

No one else was involved. We have provincial health care coverage for our son. Yes, it's the dollar figure I cannot wrap my head around. Car loss is around $12-14,000.

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Originally Posted by purplelegs

No one else was involved. We have provincial health care coverage for our son. Yes, it's the dollar figure I cannot wrap my head around. Car loss is around $12-14,000.

- Plus damage to the pole or railing, as I recall?

So let me ask this. How much is your insurance? Maybe $1000/yr? So your rates are raised 20% (and that would be high). That would means it would take SIXTY years for the savings to compensate you for your loss!

Frankly my friend, you are being VERY foolish. Put in the claim.