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Insurance Tips: What Happens If Another Driver Has an Accident in Your Vehicle
By Hector Flamenco, Special to The Spectrum
Many different factors affect the price that policyholders pay for their car
insurance. Driving records are a major concern for insurance companies
when determining prices. Each accident and ticket that makes its way onto
your driving record will increase the price of your monthly premium. Your
insurance is there to protect you in case you are involved in a collision while
driving on the roads. An auto accident can cost a lot of money in repair bills
and medical bills of both drivers and cars. Whoever is responsible for the
crash is responsible for the bills of both drivers involved. Auto insurance
rates can be influenced when another driver gets in an accident in your car as
well.
Most people who own a car are not the only person ever driving the vehicle.
You have your insurance coverage on the vehicle, and your auto insurance
rates were approved for you as the primary driver. Most people occasionally
let other people drive their cars, though, and that can lead to some issues with
your insurance coverage. Some people have friends and family members who
frequently drive their car, so they choose to add them as a secondary driver,
which increases auto insurance rates by a small amount every month. This
protects the owner of the vehicle from an increase in rates if another driver
causes a collision in their vehicle. If you do not have someone else driving
your car frequently enough to justify adding them as a secondary driver, then
all of the responsibility falls to you as the policyholder.
When another driver causes an accident in your car, the accident damage
is covered under normal circumstances. There are situations in which the
insurance company can decline coverage, but it is not common. After an auto
accident caused by another driver in your car, the insurance company first
needs to be notified about who was driving and what kind of bills they can
expect from the collision. After they pay out to cover the damages caused
by the accident, they will increase rates. The collision will not go on your
driving record, but it will go on your insurance record because they had to
pay out. Having a secondary driver listed helps avoid this increase in rates
because the increase would go on the insurance record of the other driver.
Auto insurance rates reflect the driving record of the policyholder. They
also reflect what kind of coverage the car has. If you have another driver
frequently using your car, contact your insurance agent to add them as a
secondary driver to your policy. Also, make sure you know what coverage
you have.
Editor’s note: This article is for general information only and is not a professional consultation.
Always seek specific information from a licensed insurance professional. Hector Flamenco is
an agent with State Farm Insurance. Visit his website at www.flamencoinsurance.com.
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Senior Activities
The following activities are open to the public during
the month of July at the Veterans Memorial Senior
Center, 1455 Madison Ave., Redwood City.
Friday Movies for Everyone
Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. (unless otherwise announced)
Come to the Veterans Memorial Senior Center in July for a free feature
movie in our state-of-the-art movie theater!
July 1: “Unstoppable”
July 8: “Get Low”
July 15: “The Adjustment Bureau”
July 22: “The Company Men”
July 29: “The Green Hornet”
The center will be closed Monday, July 4. Happy Birthday, USA! Have a very
safe and happy holiday!
AARP Driver Safety Class
Saturdays, July 16 & July 23
Room 20, Wellness Building
AARP members $12, nonmembers $14
This is an eight-hour class over two Saturdays. You must attend both sessions
to obtain a certificate. Insurance companies may provide a discount to those
who complete this class. Sign up at the front desk in the Main Building or
call 650-780-7274, press option 2 and leave your full name and phone number.
Adaptive PE Classes
Weekly: Mondays through Fridays
A fitness program for you! Our program is designed for individuals at all
levels of ability, including those with limitations and disabilities. The longterm
goal is to increase the level of function and wellness of all participants.
Come join a great group of people in a great program. Call 650-368-7732 or
visit www.adaptivepevmsc.org for more information.
Save the Date!
AARP 746’s Luau Luncheon
Aug. 17
Wear your muumuu or a wild Hawaiian shirt and join the fun. Purchase your
tickets at the next general meeting on July 20. We have a great meal and
entertainment planned. You may even go home with a pineapple.
To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, call 650-780-
7270. Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department
provides recreational facilities and activities for all ages and interests, and
supplies building and custodial services for city buildings. Redwood City
Parks also operates the Veterans Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks
Community Center, providing social, educational and cultural activities, as
well as information, referral and counseling services to persons living in
Redwood City and neighboring communities. Redwood City Parks is more
than you think! Its website is located at www.redwoodcity.org/parks.
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