Which insurance will cover our accident?
My husband borrowed my mom’s truck and had to make a sudden stop on a freeway bridge. To avoid rear-ending another vehicle, he swerved toward the shoulder, but since there was no shoulder on the bridge, he ended up sliding between the barrier and the car in front of him.
My mom’s truck only has liability coverage, but my husband has full coverage on his own car. We were initially prepared to pay out of pocket for several expenses. However, our mechanic mentioned that since my husband has full coverage and was driving at the time of the accident, it might cover the damages. I thought that insurance typically follows the vehicle, but my mechanic seemed quite certain it would work in this case.
We live in California and are currently waiting to hear back from the insurance company, but we’re feeling pretty confused. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any insights would be greatly appreciated, as our online searches haven’t clarified much.
I’m sorry to hear about the accident; that sounds really stressful. In California, insurance typically follows the vehicle rather than the driver. This means that your mom’s liability insurance would likely be the primary coverage since it was her truck that was involved in the accident. Since she only has liability coverage, it would cover damages to the other party, but it wouldn’t cover any damage to her truck.
On the other hand, your husband’s full coverage insurance will generally cover damage to his own vehicle but may also help cover certain liabilities from the accident depending on the circumstances and policy terms. It’s definitely worth discussing with your insurance company, as they can provide precise details based on the specifics of your situation.
It’s important to keep in mind that since your husband was driving your mom’s truck at the time of the accident, his full coverage might not directly cover the damages to her truck — but it could apply to any additional liability he might have in the accident. Make sure both parties’ insurance companies are aware of the situation for proper assessment and claims handling.
Ultimately, the best course of action is to wait to hear back from your insurers, as they will provide the most accurate information about coverage and how to proceed. Good luck, and I hope everything gets sorted out soon!