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Excluded Driver Gets In An Accident [What Happens Next?]

By  Dan McCrary | July 13, 2024

Money is one of the biggest issues most car owners face after a car accident. Everything from hospital bills to car repairs to compensation for the other driver requires a significant amount.

An auto insurance policy can help alleviate these costs, but the situation becomes complicated if an excluded driver is involved. An excluded driver is someone listed explicitly on the insurance policy as not covered.

If they get into an accident, the insurance company will likely deny any claims, leaving the car owner fully responsible for all expenses. If you want to know what happens in this situation, read this guide, as we’ll answer what happens if an excluded driver gets into an accident.

What Does An Excluded Driver Mean On Insurance?

When you insure a car, the insurance company asks for a list of all the licensed drivers in the household who may drive it. The insurance company compensates for the loss if the car gets into an accident with one of these listed drivers behind the wheel.

However, there’s an issue: the insurance company may decide not to include someone from your family in the list due to their poor record of accidents or traffic violations. Sometimes, the policyholders may choose to exclude a family member from the list.

The person excluded in these situations is considered an “excluded driver,” meaning they are not allowed to drive that vehicle. If they do, the insurance company will not be liable to pay for any loss.

What Happens If An Excluded Driver Gets In An Accident?

So, what happens if an excluded driver gets in an accident in California? In this type of situation, the insurance company won’t cover the loss because the driver was specifically excluded from the policy coverage.

This leaves only one solution: paying out of pocket. The person behind the wheel or the car’s owner will have to cover the expenses, including medical bills, car repairs, and any compensation for the other driver.

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This can result in significant financial hardship and legal issues for the excluded driver and potentially for the car owner.

Can Excluded Drivers Get Their Car Insurance Policy?

Yes, excluded drivers can get their own car insurance policy. However, this will be difficult because the insurance company reviews the driver’s profile before issuing insurance.

The more risky the driver seems, based on past accidents or traffic violations, the higher the premiums. Some insurance companies may even refuse coverage if the driver’s record is too poor.

Therefore, while it is possible, excluded drivers should be prepared for potentially high costs and difficulty finding an insurer willing to cover them.

How To Remove An Excluded Driver?

The process is pretty simple if you want to remove an excluded driver from the insurance policy. You need to communicate with the insurer about the issue that you want to remove a person from the excluded driver list and again add them to the coverage.

Just keep in mind that you may need to provide additional information or documentation to support your request. The insurer may review the driving history of the excluded driver and assess any potential risk before making a decision.

One more important point: if the excluded person still has a bad record, they’ll be considered a risky driver. Insurance companies offer insurance services to risky drivers with high premiums, much more than the average rate.

Final Thoughts

In short, if an excluded driver gets in an accident, they must pay for the loss out of pocket because they were excluded from the insurance policy. This may be because the policyholder excluded them or the insurance company didn't add them.

Whatever the reason, having no insurance coverage can cost the driver a lot, especially if they're at fault, as they also have to pay compensation to the other driver. The other driver can also file lawsuits, which can be a big problem.

If you need more help with insurance policy issues or car accidents, feel free to contact our car accident lawyers. Our team is available 24/7 to assist with legal matters.

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    McCrary Accident Injury Law Firm specializes in personal injury litigation. Its founder, Dan McCrary, Esq., spent 14 years working for the insurance companies before switching sides to represent personal injury victims in Rocklin as an attorney.

    Dan McCrary’s years of experience on the defense side taught him exactly how to obtain maximum recovery for his injured clients. If you have been injured in an accident you should contact the Accident & Injury Lawyers, Personal injury Attorney, Car accident lawyers at McCrary Accident Injury Law Firm in Rocklin, folsom, Sacramento to get the money you deserve, and overcome the tactics routinely employed by the insurance companies.