Expert: Bennie719 - 7/22/2009

Question
Hi Bennie, my daughter was backing out of our steep driveway as my wife was returning home yesterday. My daughter did not see my wife and my wife was unable to avoid the collision. The vehicles are on the same insurance policy (I know, it sounds crazy!!). My daughter's vehicle carries collision coverage and my wife's vehicle does not. Will my insurance cover damages to both vehicles since my daughter's vehicle was basically at fault? Thanks for your time and any advice you can provide.  Sid

Answer
Hi Sid,
I'm sorry to hear of your daughter's mishap.

Since all cars are on the same policy, then they must be registered
to you and/or your wife.

All policies exclude damage to your own property, such as hitting
another owned vehicle or backing into the garage door.

If you had been carrying collision on both cars, then each vehicles
damage would have been covered under collision, less the deductible
on each car.

Since only the car that your daughter was driving carried collision,
it will be repaired by your insurance company less your deductible.

There will be no payment made for the damage to the car that your
wife was driving since it didn't carry collision.

Even though there will be no payment for the car that your wife
was driving, the total damages to both cars will be considered
when your company makes a detirmenation as to whether this qualifies
as a fault-chargeable loss in determining any future rate increase
for your daughter.

I hope that you find this information helpful.  Your feed back by
rating my response will be appreciated.

Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area