Gross negligence in winter - insurance coverage at risk?

Gross negligence in winter - insurance coverage at risk?

According to a report from www.sueddeutsche.de, there is currently an unusually high amount of snow in southern Germany, causing traffic disruptions and problems in the insurance sector. According to the ADAC, there is no general winter tire requirement in Germany, but rather a situational regulation that states that you can only drive with winter tires in black ice, slippery snow and slush. When accidents occur, insurers check very carefully whether there was gross negligence, and in some contracts gross negligence is excluded. The insurance only applies if the incorrect tires had an impact on the accident.

In the event of an accident on black ice, those injured in the accident must expect to be partly to blame. The insurance companies cover damage depending on the type and extent, although in the event of gross negligence, downgrading to a worse no-claims class is unavoidable.

Insurance companies currently have a lot to do to settle damage caused by the extreme snowfall. It is therefore advisable to drive particularly carefully in winter weather conditions and to take the prescribed safety precautions in order to avoid serious accidents.