If I was sitting next to my student driver daughter when she pulled into a parking stall and had an accident, should I clam this on my insurance or pay out of pocket?

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If I was sitting next to my student driver daughter when she pulled into a parking stall and had an accident, should I clam this on my insurance or pay out of pocket?

She hit the gas peddle instead of the brake and hit a glass window worth $2000. Damage to the car was only needing to have the bumper cover replaced. The police wrote a report.

Asked on October 1, 2014 under Accident Law, Washington

Answers:

S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 9 years ago | Contributor

As the registered owner of the vehicle, you are liable for your daighter's accident damaging the glass window.

Whether to use your insurance to pay the claim or to pay out of pocket is an economic question rather than a legal question. 

I would have the insurance pay the claim instead of paying out of pocket because although there will most likely be an increase in your auto insurance premium, that increase will be significantly less than paying $2000 out of pocket.  Depending on the amount of the increase in your premium, it might take years before that total increase in premiums is anywhere near what you will be paying out of pocket.  At that point, you can always change insurance companies and find a lower premium.

Since you have been paying insurance premiums on this policy, the policy should be used when there is an accident.

 

 


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