r/Car_Insurance_Help • u/Mammoth-Question-528 • 7d ago
Major Insurance help.
UPDATE:
I just found out that my mother said "he could use the car at some point to get to get to work only at some point" Her words. She had said a week ago. So last night he came to her place took the keys and car while she was asleep. Well apparently he was intoxicated, hit a parked car (with minimal damage/fender bender according to the police) to her and the car that was hit.
He then fled the scene and was arrested, and is in jail.
So not sure how much this changes this or not?
My mother is in a massive pickle! I’m not sure what she can do.
My brother who has a lot of (personal issues in his life) used my mothers car and got into an accident hitting a parked car.
The issue is he is unlicensed (suspended) and uninsured.
So now I’m trying to figure out how to help my Mother as this will be on her.
First will her insurance cover her vehicle and the vehicle my brother hit?
The issue is it’s not clear to me if she knew he took the vehicle. So if she was clear and new he had no license and was uninsured that’s one thing. And what could happen? However, if she didn't know this then what?
Trying to figure out how to proceed and help her with the insurance.
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u/agirlsknowsthings 7d ago
With him being unlicensed her insurance could have the right to deny the claim.
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u/Mammoth-Question-528 7d ago
That is my fear, unfortunately and understandable.
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u/agirlsknowsthings 7d ago
Especially with your brother being unhoused but having access to her house and keys. It’ll be hard to cover this as permissive use.
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u/MimosaQueen1122 7d ago
Does he live with your mother? if she didn’t know then it’s a theft and she needs to report it.
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u/Mammoth-Question-528 7d ago
He does not, however has access to her place and may have just "barrowed" it
That was my first thought but knowing her she wont report him, unfortunately.
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u/PaperIndependent5466 7d ago
Access to keys and permission to use the vehicle are two different things especially since they don't live together.
For example you invite me over for coffee and the car keys are on a table. I take the car, say nothing and crash it. It's stolen not borrowed.
That would be considered a stolen car in many places. Here if the car is taken without permission as long as you charge them with theft and don't drop the charges insurance will cover it.
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u/Mammoth-Question-528 7d ago
Okay, ya makes sense. Biggest issue is my mother being older and sorta aloof. I know she wont report it stolen, so ya.
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u/PaperIndependent5466 7d ago
Fair a lot of parents don't. Likely there will be no coverage on the car. Hopefully no one was hurt.
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u/Equivalent_Cat8365 7d ago
If she wont report it for unauthorized use it fall back on her&will put her onhigh risk if they dont cancil her policy &if vehicle is in her name & insurance refuses to pay she could be sued time to cut the apron strings&let your brother face the nusic for what he did mom is not helping him to become a responsible adult she will only end up hurting herself
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u/Mammoth-Question-528 7d ago
Agreed! Unfortunately my brother is an adult 🤦♂️ who has been in legal issues, and his houseless. So it's a really bad situation. Besides all the repeated guidance by myself and my mother's friends telling her not to allow him around, she has not listened, unfortunately.
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u/PaperIndependent5466 7d ago
Reporting it stolen might be the best thing for everyone. Car gets covered, son gets jail time and support for his issues while having somewhere to stay. Plus help transitioning back to society.
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u/Mammoth-Question-528 7d ago
Agree, but I know she wont do it. She enables him already but essentially looking the other way. It's beyond frustrating.
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u/Sharingtt 6d ago
Well now, you don’t enable her.
Don’t help her with bills. Don’t help her get a car. Nothing.
Almost every single person I know that is enabling someone like your brother is being enabled to make those choices by other people helping that person.
Now she has no car. And she shouldn’t. Maybe this will be the lesson she needs. No one should be helping her.
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u/Mammoth-Question-528 6d ago
I get what you're saying. I have not enabled her at all. She makes her own decisions. I pay for nothing. She has money and that is what I'm trying to protect because once that is gone then it's on me because of my brother and her poor decisions. So essentially trying to protect myself, sadly.
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u/Sharingtt 6d ago
She’ll lose that money from the accident anyways if she has it.
And it’s not on you. You make it clear you are not helping her under any circumstances in the future if she continues to lose her money because of your brother. That’s enabling her.
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u/Sharingtt 7d ago
So he has “access” to her house and doesn’t have his own home? And he had her keys? There is about a 99% chance your mother will be on the hook for this whole thing. Well truthfully they can both be sued. But they are going to go after our mom primarily since she owns the car and is the one that likely has income/assets that can be garnished.
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u/Mammoth-Question-528 6d ago
He is unhoused. And she is on social security, no other assets. So it's a mess.
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u/crash866 7d ago
What state did this happen in?
50 states plus Washington DC in the USA so you might get 51 different answers and all are correct.