Buying a new or used car is always an interesting experience. It can be both exciting and stressful, but one thing is certain – you need to take the car on a test drive before you decide to make a purchase. Most test drives go off without a hitch, but there are times when accidents do occur while a person is a test driving a vehicle. Here, we want to discuss what happens if you get into an accident when test driving a car that you were thinking about purchasing.
Determining Liability for the Crash
Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state when it comes to vehicle accidents, which means individuals have a choice between using the no-fault insurance or turning to a fault-based system. However, a crash that occurs while test driving a car can lead to complications, regardless of what type of insurance a person has chosen to use.
In the aftermath of a crash that occurs while test driving a car, it will need to be determined who caused the crash. Law enforcement will need to investigate, and evidence must be gathered.
The Other Driver’s Insurance
If it is determined that the other driver caused the crash, then the dealership will process their claim through that party’s insurance carrier. If you have no-fault insurance in Pennsylvania, then you will likely turn to your own insurance carrier to recover compensation, unless you have sustained severe injuries, which may open the possibility of turning to the other driver’s insurance carrier. If you have chosen a fault-based insurance system, you will also turn to the other driver’s insurance carrier for coverage of your expenses.
The Dealership’s Insurance
If the other driver does not have insurance, but they were liable for the accident, you will still primarily turn to your own insurance carrier for coverage. However, it may be possible to turn to the dealership’s insurance carrier to receive compensation through their fleet insurance. Car dealerships carry fleet insurance on every vehicle on the lot, and test drivers are typically covered under this fleet insurance. Regardless of who is liable for the incident, fleet insurance will likely be around to pay for compensation, particularly for expenses that rise above other insurance thresholds.
Did You Sign a Waiver at the Dealership?
It is not uncommon for dealerships to ask individuals to sign waivers of liability before they test drive a car. They do this in an attempt to transfer liability for any damages to the actual test driver. We encourage you not to sign any waiver unless you completely understand the terms and are comfortable with assuming risks for the test drive.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a vehicle accident while test-driving a car in Philadelphia, you need to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A skilled Philadelphia car accident lawyer will step in and handle every aspect of the claim on your behalf. This will include using their resources to obtain the evidence needed to prove liability and work to obtain compensation from the various insurance carriers that will inevitably be involved. This includes pursuing compensation from an at-fault driver’s insurance carrier or from the car dealer’s insurance carrier.