Driving involves being skilled. It is something you have to learn to be able to make the right judgment. No one comes to the world knowing how to drive. You must learn how to drive to be able to safely drive on the road to avoid causing a crash.
However, not everybody is a very skilled driver. If you happen to allow someone who is not a very skilled driver to drive your car, you should be ready to bear the consequences that may arise from that. If the person eventually wrecks the car, what should you do? What Happens if Someone Wrecks Your Car and They Aren’t on Your Insurance?
If someone wrecks your car and they aren’t on your insurance, your insurance company will cover the damages that emanate from the wreck as long as the person is a licensed driver and doesn’t regularly borrow your car.
What Happens if Someone Wrecks Your Car and They Aren’t on Your Insurance?
If someone wrecks your car and is not on your insurance, you can file a claim with your insurance company and get them to cover the damages. However, this is only possible if some factors are considered. These factors are:
1. The Person is a Licensed Driver
The person driving your car when the wreck occurred must be a licensed driver with a valid driver’s license. If not, the insurance company may find it difficult to cover the damages. Even if they do, it may end up increasing your insurance rates.
This is very tricky because, if the driver regularly borrows your car, it is expected of you to list him/her on your policy. The fact that they don’t regularly borrow your car will make your insurance company cover the damages.
However, as long as the person is a licensed driver, his insurance will be used to cover the damages if you have used up your insurance limit.
If you have exceeded your policy amount because of the damages and injury caused by the wreck, the driver’s insurance will have to step in to complete the bills.
For example, if the total amount of money the wreck caused is $15,000 and your insurance limit is $10,000, the driver’s insurance will have to step in to complete the $5,000 bill. This is why it is important to ensure a licensed driver drives your car.
2. The Type of Auto Insurance Coverage
When you get auto insurance, it covers your car in terms of damages. Therefore, if someone borrows your car and gets involved in a wreck that causes so much damage to the car, your insurance company will step in and cover the damages.
You may have both the collision insurance and the liability insurance. While liability insurance covers the damages and injuries the wreck caused to the other road user, collision insurance covers the damages caused to your vehicle.
3. He Took the Car Without Permission
When someone takes your car without your permission and gets involved in an accident, the person’s insurance will be the one to cover the damages the wreck must have caused because you did not give him/her permission to drive your car.
When he decided to take your car without your knowledge, he should have been more careful to return the car the way it was before he took it.
However, when the person who took the car does not have any form of auto insurance, your insurance company will have to step in to cover the damages.
For example, if your teenage son sees your car keys and decides to drive your car without your consent and knowledge, if he wrecks the car in this process, your insurance company will be the one to cover the damages provided your teenage son does not have any auto insurance.
4. He Recklessly Caused the Wreck
If someone borrows your car and recklessly wrecks it, his insurance will be the one to cover the damages the wreck must have caused.
According to Patrick Salvi, a personal injury attorney, who works at an Illinois base law firm called Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, if the person who borrows your car was driving under the influence, you may be responsible for the damages the wreck must have caused.
He went further to say that, if the drunk driver has speeding tickets, red light tickets, school bus tickets, and other traffic violations pilled up against him, you will be held responsible for the damages.
It is even worse when the driver was texting and driving when the accident occurred. Your insurance company will distance itself from the case.
5. Who Caused the Accident
If the wreck was caused by the person driving your car, you may face legal and financial actions, especially if the person isn’t on your insurance. You may personally be held responsible for the damages if your liability coverage cannot cover the damages.
Before your insurance company will step in an accident caused by a driver who borrowed your car, you must have given the person permission to drive your car; perhaps the driver is listed in your insurance policy.
When the wreck is not caused by the person driving your car, then the other driver who caused the accident is liable for the damages. You can file a claim from the other driver’s insurance company stating that you are not responsible for the accident.
Conclusion
If someone wrecks your car and they aren’t on your insurance, you can still be able to file an insurance claim over the damages the wreck must have called provided the person driving your car is a licensed driver, was not driving under the influence, was not texting and driving.
Having someone involved in a wreck with your car can negatively affect your insurance rate whether you were in the car when the wreck happened or not.
You are responsible for who drives your car, therefore, you should only give your car to a skilled licensed driver, and if the person regularly borrows your car, add him to your insurance policy or ensure they have auto insurance.
