Need Advice on Auto Insurance

Hey everyone, I feel really bad asking this, but I need some advice.

I’m a single dad with a teenage daughter. Yesterday, she got into a car accident. She was backing out of a parking spot when another car drove behind her, and they collided. My daughter’s car has damage on the passenger side bumper, and the other car is damaged near the back of the driver’s door.

The other driver didn’t see who was driving, and I’ve been told to say that I was the driver instead of my daughter. I’m really tempted to do this because I already pay a lot for her insurance, and I’m struggling to keep up with my bills since my work hours got cut.

What could happen if I lie about this? Can they check security cameras from the store? I’m really scared and feel guilty even thinking about lying, but my friends and family are telling me that if I file the claim, my insurance will skyrocket. What should I do?

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If the other driver stopped after the collision, they likely witnessed a lot, especially if you weren’t in the car at the time but arrived afterward. They might contradict your claim of being the driver. Regardless of who was behind the wheel, this will be considered an at-fault accident.

The advice you’re receiving from others is risky because your insurance policy likely includes exclusions for misrepresentation and fraud.

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So, someone has suggested you commit insurance fraud? What kind of fool gave you that advice? The situation is already tough; don’t make it infinitely worse by doing something illegal.

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Today’s Pro Tip: Stop following the advice of whoever told you to do this.

The driver’s identity won’t impact your insurance claim; your future rates will be affected equally regardless of who was behind the wheel.

Consider how much more difficult things could get if you’re charged with insurance fraud. It’s best to be honest.

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I’ve been hearing that my rates might double, and I already pay $3,500 a year. Any increase beyond that would be quite painful for me, but I’ll manage. I’m hoping the insurance company will see it as a 50/50 situation since we were both far from the spot and the other driver didn’t stop either.

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What you’re inquiring about involves insurance fraud, which is a serious crime. It’s a frequently attempted scheme, but claims adjusters can often detect it easily. Engaging in this could lead to criminal prosecution, denial of your claim, a lawsuit, and potentially make you uninsurable for many years. It’s not worth the risk.

If you prefer not to go through insurance, your only other legal option is to privately compensate the person for the damage.

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This is completely unacceptable. It sets a poor example for your child by suggesting that lying and breaking the law to avoid responsibility is acceptable. You definitely don’t want her to learn that this is how to handle things and behave that way in the future.

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Thank you so much. This is definitely the part I’ve struggled with the most. I want to be a good role model for my daughter, especially since she’s done so well and is now in college, which I’m funding. My own difficult upbringing has made me very anxious about money and anything that could affect her college plans. I’m so focused on helping her finish school without debt that it’s starting to cloud my judgment. I really appreciate your understanding.

Aside from your deductible, your insurance will only seek reimbursement for the amount they paid out. If you didn’t have rental coverage, they can’t pursue reimbursement for those expenses since you paid for it yourself. You would need to handle that and any potential diminished value (DV) claims on your own. You didn’t provide the year, make, and model of your car, so it’s unclear if DV is a possibility even if they accept liability. Be prepared for the other party to lie and for their insurance to deny any claims made against them.