Advice re Dangerous Driving charge.

Janey51

Following an accident in March, Police issued a charge of Dangerous Driving although my solicitor says it should be Careless Driving. Does anybody know if, whatever the outcome, it will effect my Household Contents insurance? I have searched everywhere but all I can find is how the outcome will effect any car insurance I take out in the future.

AdrianC

Janey51 wrote: »

Following an accident in March, Police issued a charge of Dangerous Driving although my solicitor says it should be Careless Driving.

That's for the court to decide when they hear the case.
The difference is whether the standard of your driving was merely below (careless) or far below (dangerous) the standard to be expected of a reasonable, competent driver.

Dangerous is a recordable offence, so you will have a criminal record if found guilty, because the range of available sentences include prison. Dangerous also carries a mandatory ban of at least 12months and a mandatory extended re-test before you get your licence back. Careless, otoh, is not recordable and the minimum penalty is as little as three points and a Band A (25-75% weekly income) fine.

Does anybody know if, whatever the outcome, it will effect my Household Contents insurance?

Very unlikely for careless, quite possible for dangerous because you will have to disclose an unspent offence.

Kiran

When you apply for house insurance it usually asks about any convictions other than driving convictions

Mercdriver

For more concentrated advice go to pepipoo.com. They don't take hotmail accounts - or sometimes any prisoners. Dangerous is a biggie - there is a statutory alternative of Careless, which you could agree to plead guilty to if they drop the DD charge. Best, though to go to pepipoo and give as much information as possible in your first post. Don't drip feed them, as that gets their backs up.

foxy-stoat

Janey51 wrote: »

Following an accident in March, Police issued a charge of Dangerous Driving although my solicitor says it should be Careless Driving. Does anybody know if, whatever the outcome, it will effect my Household Contents insurance? I have searched everywhere but all I can find is how the outcome will effect any car insurance I take out in the future.

Your worried about the effect on your Contents Insurance? I would be more worried about paying the fine and facing a driving ban.

Describe the events and maybe someone could hazard a guess on the outcome, although that wouldnt really help you, the opinion of folk on here.

Janey51

For anyone interested, having received massive quotes for Contents Insurance via search engines and "specialist" brokers, I searched using Compare the Market who do not ask you to declare any driving convictions. AXA quoted a price lower than I had last year before my accident. I read the policy very carefully and it definitely states that all convictions (other than driving) need to be declared.
And at Court today I received the minimum possible sentence from the judge because of the circumstances.

custardy

Janey51 wrote: »

For anyone interested, having received massive quotes for Contents Insurance via search engines and "specialist" brokers, I searched using Compare the Market who do not ask you to declare any driving convictions. AXA quoted a price lower than I had last year before my accident. I read the policy very carefully and it definitely states that all convictions (other than driving) need to be declared.
And at Court today I received the minimum possible sentence from the judge because of the circumstances.

No thats just what the courts do.
Explaining why people continue to drive like plums and innocent people die every day through it.

Car_54

Janey51 wrote: »

And at Court today I received the minimum possible sentence from the judge because of the circumstances.

Which offence were you convicted of?

AdrianC

Minimum possible sentence for Dangerous includes a 12mo ban, and a extended retest...

macman

Contents insurance? !!!!!!? So not worried about potential prison sentence, large fine, criminal record, driving ban, potential loss of job and earnings, massive hike in motor insurance after the ban?
Strange sense of priorities some people have!

Penelopa.Pitstop

Maybe someone needed new content insurance now, so that was main priority when asking question on the forum. I'm sure person worried about other things regardless of this.