What makes you an “at-risk driver”

Dealing with your car insurance can be stressful enough, between deciphering premiums, deductibles, and what is and isn’t covered.

And finding out that your insurance company has raised your premiums because it considers you an “at-risk driver” can only make that stress worse!

But don’t worry– at-risk status doesn’t last forever. In fact, there are some things you can do to remove yourself from the at-risk list.

Here are the reasons you might be an at-risk driver, and what you can do about it.

There are a multitude of reasons your insurance company may have flagged you as an at-risk driver. Here are some of the most common ones:

• You might be on an at-risk list because you have a record of multiple car accidents. Even minor fender benders can impact your record, so be aware of your surroundings — not just for your safety but for your insurance premiums, too.
• Unlike some other states, Louisiana doesn’t report points on your drivers’ license– but it does keep track of your tickets. Your insurance company probably does as well, and too many speeding tickets just might put you over the edge into at-risk status.
• Other traffic violations, like a DUI, are often cause for an insurance company to consider you at-risk. Although it might take multiple speeding tickets to affect your insurance, companies will often find one DUI conviction justification enough to raise your premiums.
• It may not seem fair, but being a younger driver or someone who recently received their license is another reason your insurance might consider you at-risk. There’s not much you can do about this one except wait it out!

There are a few other reasons you might be considered at-risk, like below-average credit history or owning a fancy, high-valued car. It can help to do a little research into your insurance company’s policies to find out about any other potential causes of at-risk status.

The good news is that you don’t have to be an at-risk driver forever. If you’ve only had trouble with minor fender benders or traffic tickets, you can often get removed from the at-risk list after a period somewhere between 6 months and 3 years.

On the other hand, more serious offenses like a DUI might stay on your record for 5-10 years. You can look into your insurance company’s points system to get more detailed information about how long your at-risk status will last.

In addition, some companies have options to clean up your record, like attending a class on defensive driving or driving a car with more advanced safety features.

Finally, you can fight traffic tickets and other violations in court to prove to your insurance company that you’re no more a risk to them than any other driver.

Whether it’s a speeding ticket, a DUI, or any other traffic violation, Crescent City Law is here to help. Hiring an attorney to fight these violations in court can help clear them from your driving record and keep your insurance premiums or your credit from being affected.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation, so we can keep your driving record clean and make dealing with your insurance company a stress-free process!