Careless Driving Insurance

A careless driving ticket can increase insurance rates by thousands of dollars per year and;

• insurance company may cancel insurance coverage completely
• the insurance may refer the driver to “facility insurance” for high risk insurance rates, and
• high risk rates will apply for the three (3) years while the conviction is on the driving record

If convicted of careless driving, the ticket can increase the insurance up to ten thousand (10,000) dollars per year for three (3) years. A conviction for careless driving can therefore cost a driver thirty thousand (30,000) dollars over three (3) years.

As former police officers and licensed paralegals, we help drivers fighting careless driving tickets.

Contact OTT Legal to speak to a former police officer or licensed paralegal about fighting your ticket , or contact the office in your area >

If you are convicted of careless driving, all of the insured drivers in your household may have their insurance affected, especially if you are all listed on the same policy.

Insurance companies reason that if your car is broken one day, the driver with the careless driving conviction will drive one of the other vehicles in the home.

You being a “high risk driver” therefore would be at risk of being in an accident with the other insured’s vehicle.

Subsequently, the insurance companies believe that persons who live in the same household have a higher risk of having their vehicles involved in an accident.

In insurance terms, a careless driving ticket is considered a “major violation”. This offence is in the same category as Failing to Remain at an Accident and Drinking and Driving offences.

Careless driving tickets are one of the most common tickets issued by the police because it can be used for many types of situations such as:

• bad driving
• inattentive driving
• showing lack of consideration to other drivers
• minor accidents
• serious accident

From minor events to serious traffic accidents the definition of careless driving can fit the circumstances.

Many times, when a police officer is not sure what ticket to issue, they will give the driver a ticket for careless driving.

The definition of careless driving is “driving without due care and attention and consideration for other drivers”.  With this broad definition, it’s interpretation and use is up to the police officer issuing the ticket.

Many times it’s just the officer’s “opinion” of the situation or who they believe may be at fault in an accident.

If you have been charged with careless driving it’s important that you ensure that this ticket does not go on your driving and insurance record.  As former police officers and paralegals licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, OTT Legal has the experience you need to fight your careless driving ticket.

How a careless driving ticket affects your insurance.  The insurance company will put two (2) strikes against you for being involved in traffic accident and receiving a careless driving ticket.