Yeah, I totally get it—those Ohio winters aren't messing around. Had a similar scare near Canton couple years back. Didn't hit anything, thankfully, but skidding sideways even at low speed really made me reconsider accident forgiveness. It's one of those things you're glad to have after the fact, even if it feels unnecessary beforehand. Peace of mind counts, especially when you're dealing with unpredictable weather and unfamiliar roads... might be worth it in our neck of the woods.
I've wondered about this too—especially after sliding around near Akron last winter. Do you think you'd feel differently if you drove mostly in the city versus rural areas? I mean, those back roads can get pretty sketchy when they're icy... Personally, I'd rather have it and not need it than the other way around. Seems like one less thing to stress about when you're already dealing with tricky road conditions.
I've wondered about this myself—sure, accident forgiveness sounds reassuring, but how often do you realistically expect to use it? Are you usually cautious on those icy roads, or do you find yourself sliding around a lot...? Guess it depends on your comfort level and driving habits.
"I've wondered about this myself—sure, accident forgiveness sounds reassuring, but how often do you realistically expect to use it?"
That's a fair point, but I'd argue that accident forgiveness isn't really about how often you expect to use it—it's more like insurance for your insurance. Let me explain what I mean...
Even if you're super cautious (and believe me, I'm the type who starts braking way before the stop sign when there's ice), accidents aren't always predictable or avoidable. A couple winters ago, I was driving home from picking up groceries, going maybe 20 mph tops because the roads were slick. Out of nowhere, another driver slid through an intersection and clipped my bumper. Totally not my fault—but guess what? Ohio's a comparative negligence state, meaning insurance companies can sometimes assign partial blame even if you didn't directly cause the accident.
So here's the step-by-step breakdown of why accident forgiveness might still be worth it:
1. **Unexpected scenarios:** Even careful drivers can't control other people's mistakes or sudden road conditions.
2. **Ohio-specific considerations:** With our winters and comparative negligence laws, even minor accidents can impact your premiums significantly.
3. **Long-term savings:** One forgiven accident could save you from increased premiums over multiple years.
I get that paying extra for something you might never use feels counterintuitive, but think of it like carrying jumper cables or a spare tire—you hope you'll never need them, but they're invaluable when you do. It's less about your personal driving habits and more about preparing for the unpredictable elements around you.
Just my two cents based on experience...
Yeah, I get your reasoning, but I'm still a bit on the fence about it. Like, how common is it really for insurance to assign partial blame if you're clearly not at fault? Has anyone else here actually had their rates jump after something minor like that in Ohio? Just curious, because if that's happening regularly, then maybe accident forgiveness makes more sense than I thought...
