Always helps to not be cheap when shopping for insurance. Yous gets whats yous pays for!
Very true Allos, also don't forget that the very first insurance adjuster on the scene is possibly the most important person you will talk to. { EX father -in-law was an adjuster, as first on the scene it was his report that held the most credability. He was very good at his job, like a cop, he could could tell when someone was BS'ing him.}
Never admit responsibility for accident or give them an excuse for causing the accident. If hit from the back end at a full stop and you plow into the car in front, you have to expect the guy that hit you will swear your tail lights were out and they did not know you were at a full stop.
Be prepared for your driving record to be examined from the time you first got your license, don't matter if it has been 30 years ago with even one conviction.
Even in the case of being hit head on by a drunk driver, questions will be asked about why you did not take evasive actions. Were you changing the radio station, talking on a cell phone, where had you been before the accident--a Bar perhaps. Where were you going at the time, what was YOUR mental state at the time.
Very tricky and everything you say to cops or medics will be used against you.
If for instance you have the sun in your eyes on a stretch of road that you drive every day and you hit a car coming on to the highway, You can be blamed for not wearing sunglasses or have the drivers shade pulled down----You are aware that your vision will be blocked by the sun and to not take steps to insure you can see will be negligence on your part.
Never sign off on any accident, as has been pointed out, body damage can take weeks to months to appear.
One biggie that hit a family member was a family that trusted their son to take their car to work every day. The boy was talked into lending dads car to a co-worker to run 5 miles to pick up 2 other kids that needed rides to work on summer vacation. The driver picked up my family member and showing off for some girls hit a tree and destroyed 2 other cars. Family member was OK except for lots of blood, the driver had a broken arm.
The owner of the car and his son were held responsible even as they were no where near the accident.
Please remember, when you turn over the keys to anyone, they may lend the car to someone you do not know, they in turn turn over the keys to someone else. What ever happens then is on your back, anything goes wrong, you pay for it.
