You know the drill: just in time for the start of the new school year, the "parent taxi" is back in action. Especially with rising petrol prices, carpooling to school is particularly worthwhile. However, this also poses some challenges. For example, the question of liability in the event of damage is often unclear. In this first part, we therefore explain what you need to bear in mind if you are the driver. In the second part, you will find out what you need to bear in mind if your child is travelling in a car pool.
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Accidents on the way to school are considered commuting accidents.
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Accidents on the way to school are covered by statutory accident insurance.
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Carpooling is also covered by accident insurance.
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Only the direct route to school is insured, but this includes the routes to the carpool members.
What happens if an accident occurs on the way to school?
If an accident occurs on the way to or from school, pupils are covered by the statutory accident insurance fund in the same way as when they are at school. This is referred to as a commuting accident. Commuting accidents are all accidents that happen on the way to or from school and work. Read more about commuting accidents here.
Good to knowThe journey to school by public transport, bicycle, on foot or by car is also covered. The situation is different for accidents involving the school bus: Here, the private bus company is liable.
What rules apply to a car pool in which you are the driver?
If you offer a car pool, you and the children travelling with you are covered by statutory accident insurance for the entire journey. The members of a car pool do not have to go to the same school. However, all carpool members must be insured under the statutory accident insurance scheme. In principle, this also includes all pupils.
A brief example: If you, as a mother, pick up your son and his school friend from school and get into a car accident through no fault of your own, the liability insurance of the person who caused the accident will cover the damage to the vehicle and any personal injury. However, if you yourself are at fault for the accident, your own liability insurance will cover the damage to your passengers.
In principle, the statutory accident insurance can always be utilised.
Which carpool routes are insured?
Insurance cover is only provided for the direct journey to school. It does not matter whether the journey to school begins at home or at another location.
Direct route to school: always insured
If you offer a carpool and deviate from the direct route to school to pick up a member of the carpool from home or take them to school, you and the pupils are legally insured against accidents during the entire journey. In this specific case, it is also irrelevant whether the pupils in the car pool attend the same school.
As a rule, detours on the way to or from school are covered, especially in the case of schoolchildren - the decisive factor is the tendency to act, i.e. the intention behind it. A common meeting point, for example, is not necessary. If the places of residence are not far apart, the journey to the home of the other passengers is also covered.
Detours: The shortest route applies
The rule of thumb is: only the shortest route is insured. But there are exceptions. In the following section, we explain in which cases these apply and when cover no longer exists.
Detours that are covered by statutory accident insurance
- Detours due to diversions
- Detours to avoid a traffic jam or to have a better transport connection for other reasons
- Detours to pick up other children from home
- Detours by visiting different schools
Detours that are not covered by statutory accident insurance
- Detours for private reasons, for example to go shopping
- Return to school after an interruption lasting longer than two hours; the rest of the journey is no longer insured
- Accidents that happen in residential buildings
Steps towards fair claims settlement
Has an accident happened on the way to school? With fairforce.one you are on the safe side! The best thing about it: If you are involved in an accident through no fault of your own, you won't pay a cent for our service. Billing is simple and direct with the other party or their car insurance company.
An overview of the procedure, which is highly rated by accident victims:
You report the accident to us risk-free and free of charge by telephone at 0800 - 30 111 60 or even faster here online.
- Our experienced specialists will examine your case immediately and discuss with you personally the appropriate next steps.
- With the help of our innovative software, your claims are calculated correctly and displayed on your smartphone.
- The best possible claims settlement will be initiated for you and pursued until full payment is made.
We can't undo your accident. But we will make the best of it for you, we promise!
Have your claims checked now.
