I'm still pretty new to insurance, but after reading this thread, accident forgiveness seems like a smart move—especially around here. I've been researching policies step-by-step (yeah, I'm that person who reads all the fine print), and honestly, the deer situation alone makes me nervous enough to consider it. I mean, you can drive carefully all day long, but when Bambi decides it's time to cross the road... well, good luck.
A friend of mine had a similar experience last winter. She braked hard to avoid hitting one and ended up sliding into a ditch instead. Thankfully she was okay, but her rates jumped quite a bit afterward. Hearing stories like yours makes me think accident forgiveness might be worth the extra few bucks each month. Better safe than sorry, right?
Yeah, I hear you on the deer thing. Couple years back, I was driving home from work around dusk—prime deer time—and one jumped right out in front of me. Managed to swerve just enough to avoid a direct hit, but clipped a mailbox instead. Insurance covered it, but my rates took a noticeable jump. Accident forgiveness would've saved me a headache (and some cash) for sure. If you're driving regularly around here, it's probably worth the peace of mind.
Totally get where you're coming from with the deer situation. Had a similar close call myself last fall—driving home from picking up pizza, of all things. Deer jumped out from nowhere, and I slammed on the brakes so hard the pizza box flew onto the floor (tragic, I know). Thankfully, no damage to the car or deer, but it really made me think about accident forgiveness afterward.
Honestly, before that moment, I was pretty skeptical about paying extra for accident forgiveness. Felt like just another upsell from insurance companies, you know? But after hearing your experience with the mailbox and higher rates, I'm starting to reconsider. The peace of mind alone might be worth it, especially if you commute regularly or drive through rural areas often. Ohio's deer population isn't exactly shrinking, and dusk seems to be their favorite time to play chicken with cars.
I did some quick math after my near-miss, and even a minor accident could hike your rates enough to offset the cost of accident forgiveness pretty quickly. Plus, there's the stress factor—knowing you're covered if something unexpected happens can really make driving less nerve-wracking.
Still, I get why some folks hesitate. Paying extra for something you might never use feels a bit like throwing money away. But honestly, insurance is one of those things you hope you'll never need but are relieved to have when you do. After reading your mailbox story, I'm leaning toward adding it next renewal. Better safe than sorry, right?
Definitely see your point about accident forgiveness, especially with Ohio's deer problem. Even minor fender-benders can spike premiums noticeably. One thing I'd suggest checking is how your insurer defines an "accident"—some companies count wildlife collisions differently. Might be worth clarifying that before adding coverage... have you looked into how your provider handles deer-related claims specifically?
"some companies count wildlife collisions differently"
Good point here—had a deer run into my side door last winter near Cleveland. Insurance treated it as comprehensive, not collision, so no premium hike. Definitely worth confirming specifics with your insurer before paying extra for accident forgiveness...
