When to use Roadside Assistance

According to Norwood, Ohio Local 12 Investigates, a poorly maintained expressway resulted in massive damage. State Route 52 is a small expressway, but it is a mean one. Riddled with decay and potholes, driving down that stretch of highway has been a gamble for a long time. In a recent morning rush hour, a hole formed between a road and a bridge on an overpass. As a result, the tires of at least eight vehicles blew out.

And thus began the claims process of dozens of disheartened individuals. Claiming damage caused by a government entity is an entirely different process depending on which state the damage took place. Starting is easy – it could be done online. But if the damage was caused by State Route 52, patience will be a necessary virtue.

A claim against the Ohio Department of Transportation could take up to five months. If the court rules in the plaintiff’s favor, it could take another three months to get that check. To make the situation even more complicated, Ohio law states that a claim must first be filed with the insurance claim. Depending on the case, the state will cover damages not paid by the insurance company.

Keep in mind, another tragedy which has not even been mentioned is the increase in one’s auto insurance premiums. Filing a single $2,000 claim in some states will increase insurance premiums by up to 50%.

Will Using Roadside Assistance Affect my insurance?

A popular fallacy, often used by companies trying to dissuade one from using roadside assistance, is that when an individual uses roadside assistance their insurance is affected. When it comes to insurance, it is all about data. A premium is the result of a series of data, such as sex, age, where they live, what they drive as well as their credit history. All this data will help an insurance company produce a cost for insurance.

Roadside assistance can also be tabulated in this mile long algorithm. For example, if an individual uses roadside assistance rarely, no insurance eyebrows will be raised. However, if an individual uses roadside assistance frequently, and within a brief time span, insurance companies will deduce that something is wrong with the vehicle.

Such logic makes sense. If someone is driving a brand-new car, chances are that they will not have to call roadside assistance every other day. But, on the other hand, an old car purchased from a junk yard will require frequent roadside assistance.

Conclusion

Many car companies will slap on a two-year roadside assistance plan, from the moment of purchasing a brand-new car. After the balloons have blown away, how useful is the reward anyway? Chances are, within the first two years of a car’s life, there will not be any reason to call for roadside assistance. What about roadside assistance for the final two years of a vehicle’s usage as opposed to the first? Doubtful that a car company would promote that benefit!

The benefits of roadside assistance are truly spectacular. A customer forced to drive an old jalopy is petrified that they will break down at any minute. Your roadside assistance benefit is one of the most valuable services they could dream of.