Expert: Doctor Settlement - 6/27/2006

Question
10 days after my son received his DL he was involved in a minor accident. The other driver backed into him causing minor damage to our vehicle. the other driver was at fault and did receive a ticket for unsafe backing. the vehicle my son was driving is an older Nissan that already has plenty of rust and a few dents. The damage incurred is limited to a big scratch on the plastic bumber and some seperation of the bumpber moulding where it meets the fender. My question is will this accident be viewed as a negative for our insurance and should we pursue a claim from the other driver's insurance? We've been contacted by the other insurance and told them we havent decided if its even worth fixing. If our rates may rise because of an accident he wasnt at fault for I may want to pursue claim for damage even though it may not be worth fixing.

Answer


Dear Ron,

Your rates cannot be increased if your son was not at fault and the other party pays you to fix your car.  Your insurance will never become involved in the claim.

Your insurance can only punish you for involvement in "at-fault" accidents.  Plus, you do not even have to repair the car.  Take the money and put it in a bank account for post-secondary education.  No worries.

Best Wishes,

Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
Http://www.SettlementCentral.Com

P.S. Here is one Dad who is GLAD to be done with those years, although looking back they were also filled with fun times with my two teenagers.