Filing a claim will increase auto insurance premiums from 3% to 32% on average for three to five years in almost all cases. The increase in your rate depends on several factors, such as the type and amount of the claim, your insurance company, your claim history, your location, and whether or not you have been forgiven for the accident. In states with no-fault insurance laws, you always file injury claims first with your own insurance. These states require personal injury protection (PIP insurance) for this purpose.
You can sue another driver only when they meet certain requirements, which each state defines. In many cases, there needs to be a serious injury or death before suing another person for a no-fault car accident. Property damage claims can usually still be made with the other person's liability insurance. Try to minimize road rage (yours and theirs) on the road by unavoidably exchanging driver information.
If possible, stop your car in a safe place. Don't stop on a crowded or high-speed road unless necessary. And if possible, stay inside the car, call 911 and wait for the police to arrive. A police report provides an official and detailed description of what happened in the accident.
Police reports are required when it comes to injuries, significant damage, or extenuating circumstances. However, you can act as your own detail-oriented advocate in case of minor incidents. The process for filing a car insurance claim with your insurance company is similar, whether you have a police report or not. In most states, the at-fault driver's liability insurance will cover everyone else's medical bills and vehicle repairs, and the at-fault driver will have to use other types of insurance to pay their own expenses.
Some states' no-fault auto insurance laws mean that there is no need to determine who is at fault to receive insurance payment for minor injury claims. You should file a car insurance claim when your car needs to be repaired or replaced after being damaged, or when you've been injured in an accident. Fault affects auto insurance claims by determining which driver's insurance company will cover the damages. If you're not happy with the way the insurer handles your car insurance claim, you have options to move forward.
An attorney can advise you on how you should talk to your insurance company after a car accident. To better understand which insurance company you should file your claim to or the types of claims you should file in different situations, check out WalletHub's car insurance claims guide. Liability insurance also covers your legal defense if you are being sued for something covered by your policy, such as a car accident. When a car insurance claim is filed after an accident, an insurance adjuster will investigate and determine fault.
You may have to pay your collision deductible, but you could receive that money when your insurer reaches an agreement with the other driver's insurance company. A car insurance claim is a request for financial compensation that a driver submits to an insurance company after their vehicle is damaged or injured in a car accident. The insurance company will assign an insurance adjuster to your claim and will request additional information from you about the accident. Collision insurance doesn't cover your injuries, but if your insurance company can establish the other driver's fault through a subrogation, it could help the other company pay your medical bills.
Keep in mind that you may have to file a separate claim with your car insurance company as soon as you can. Around 3 million people are injured or killed in these car accidents, so every year there are a large number of insurance lawsuits and claims.
