Honestly, I've been commuting daily around Columbus for years and had my fair share of close calls and minor dings. From what I've seen, insurance companies aren't shy about assigning partial blame—even in situations you'd assume are crystal clear. A buddy of mine got rear-ended at a stoplight last winter, totally not his fault, but because it was icy, the other driver's insurance argued he "stopped too abruptly," and he ended up partially blamed. Crazy, right?
His premium jumped about 15% the next renewal period. After seeing stuff like that happen firsthand, I decided accident forgiveness was worth it just for peace of mind. Sure, it's annoying paying a bit extra each month when you're budget-conscious (trust me, I pinch pennies wherever I can), but one minor incident could easily wipe out those savings over the long run.
Obviously, everyone's experience varies...but personally I'd rather pay a little upfront than gamble on insurance companies playing fair when push comes to shove.
Been driving all over Ohio for road trips and daily commutes, and honestly, accident forgiveness has saved my bacon at least once. Here's how I see it: insurance companies aren't charities—they're businesses looking out for their bottom line. Even if you're the safest driver around, you can't control other people's mistakes or weird technicalities like "stopping too abruptly" (seriously?). Paying a bit extra upfront feels annoying, sure, but it's like packing an emergency kit on a road trip—you hope you'll never need it, but man, you're glad it's there when things go sideways...
I've gone back and forth on this myself. Here's how I think about it: if you're driving something pricey (like my Audi), even a minor fender bender can get expensive quickly. Accident forgiveness can feel like paying extra for peace of mind—kind of like getting the premium car wash when you know it'll rain tomorrow. Feels unnecessary until you're staring at the bill afterward... might be worth it for some, especially if you rack up lots of miles around Ohio.
"Accident forgiveness can feel like paying extra for peace of mind—kind of like getting the premium car wash when you know it'll rain tomorrow."
I get your point, but honestly, comparing accident forgiveness to a premium car wash might oversimplify things. I've crunched the numbers myself (driving an older Honda here), and unless you're prone to frequent mishaps or have a teen driver in the house, it rarely pays off. Better off stashing that extra cash into an emergency fund... at least then it's yours to keep if nothing happens.
I've been driving in Ohio for over 20 years and never opted for accident forgiveness. Did the math a few times, and it always seemed like I'd be paying extra for something I might never use. I figure if you're generally careful and have a decent driving record, it's probably not worth it. But hey, everyone's comfort level is different—some folks just sleep better knowing they're covered, even if the numbers don't quite add up.