Saving money is important, and insurance premiums seem to rise yearly. To incentivize drivers to drive safely, many insurance companies now offer driver discounts for those drivers that continue to prove that they have good driving habits and driving records. GPS and mobile phone apps allow a driver to submit their driving habits and record to an insurance company directly in order to receive these discounts. However, it is important to know that providing this information to an insurance company may allow them access to additional personal information.
Driver Discounts
It seems fair and reasonable that an insurance company would offer a monetary incentive to drivers that have better driving records and behave safer on the roadways. The discounts can be quite substantial, even up to 40% of a typical premium. Discounts are typically awarded for absence of accidents, driving the speed limit, and even low-mileage.
Data Privacy
In order for an insurance company to give drivers a discount, they must have proof that their driving is safe. To do that, an insurance company will request access to your GPS or obtain information through a mobile phone app. Make no mistake, this is a relinquishment of privacy rights for a reduced insurance premium. It is important that every driver understand that they are making a sacrifice of privacy rights. Some experts believe that consumers simply do not fully understand the rights and access an insurance company will have to additional personal data through the use of these apps. Data breaches are now common, and a consumer could have much of their personal and private information collected without knowledge. However, in some cases, insurance companies will tell consumers that their data is being used for marketing purposes to other companies. This disclosure is typically in the fine print that users rarely read.
Ask For Details
If you are a safe driver, and have an interest in participating in a reduced premium from your insurance company based on your safety record, make sure you read the fine print and ask for details. Simply call your insurance company and ask how the monitoring works, and what exactly is tracked. Find out how much access they have to your personal and private information that is unrelated to your driving, and whether or not this information will be sold to any outside third-parties. Finally, and most importantly, find out if this information could ever be used against you if you are in a car accident.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney
It is possible that the information collected from your insurance company for reduced premiums could be sent to third party marketers, or worse, used against you if you were involved in a car accident. Contact the personal injury attorneys at O’Donnell Law Offices at 570-821-5717 or online today. We can help you if you were involved in a car accident, and help you build a strong personal injury case. We proudly serve clients in Kingston, Wilkes Barre, Hazleton, and Pittston.
Resource:
pewresearch.org/internet/2016/01/14/scenario-auto-insurance-discounts-and-monitoring/
https://www.odonnell-law.com/2020/04/24/what-is-the-difference-between-negligence-and-recklessness/