Insurers consider various factors when changing rates after a car accident, including accident severity, driving history, and negligence. Theoretically, if you were not responsible for the accident, your payments should remain unchanged. And according to a recent study, at-fault parties can anticipate an average of a 41 percent increase.
We’ll explore how much your insurance may go up after a car accident, how to mitigate the impact, and what to know about filing a car accident claim if you suffer injuries.
Although requirements vary depending on where you live, nearly every US state requires drivers to purchase a minimum personal injury liability insurance policy of $25,000 or more per person and $30,000 or more per accident.
Claims involving bodily harm and death result in the most significant rate of insurance premium increase. Property damage can cause your insurance rates to jump as well.
Premium increases vary by state, depending on the factors used by insurance companies when determining rates. In some states, insurers consider a driver’s history, total mileage driven, and experience.
Your insurance company will probably consider you a higher-risk driver after causing a car accident, regardless of whether you previously had a pristine driving record. Other factors that automatically increase your premiums, such as age and marital status, also hamper your ability to keep costs down.
An at-fault accident that results in vehicle damage or bodily harm can result in a three-to-five-year increase in car insurance premiums. Generally, rates will decrease over time if no additional accidents occur.
The severity and type of accident can influence the duration of a rate increase. In general, three years of increased rates are possible for no-fault accidents. Those responsible for hit-and-run accidents and DUI crashes, on the other hand, face an increase in rates for up to ten years!
Filing a claim can be stressful.Try to remember that your premiums should only increase if you are found to be at fault for the accident. If another party is at fault, their rates will likely increase instead.
Consider these five tips for lowering your insurance rates if you were the at-fault party:
Insurance rates vary between providers, so another provider may be a more affordable option if you were the at-fault party. Compare = car insurance quotes from several providers and choose the right car accident policy that meets your needs.
As you can see, there are several options after an accident. However, it’s likely that the at-fault driver’s insurance company won’t offer you enough money to cover your injuries, leaving you to foot the bill for extensive damages and injuries. To help cover the cost of your accident, you can file a personal injury claim.
Accident victims may recover economic and non-economic damages from the applicable insurance policy. Economic damages are quantifiable and determined by financial losses such as medical expenses or lost wages. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or a diminished quality of life, can be more challenging to calculate, but can still result in significant recovery of damages.
Examples of economic and non-economic damages include:
Injury victims should also understand that deadlines apply to their case in the form of a statute of limitations. Missing this deadline will result in forfeiting your right to compensation! Before putting your case off for another day, consider speaking with a car accident lawyer near you to ensure that you are protecting your legal rights as comprehensively as possible.
Don’t pay for injuries and damages that were caused by someone else. State and federal laws protect your legal right to compensation so that you get the money you need to pay for the injuries and losses you suffered.
Need help fast? Our team of car accident attorneys at Injury.com can evaluate your case in three minutes or less and, if compensation is awarded, will direct deposit the funds into your account.
We believe in full transparency, and thanks to real-time updates, you are never left guessing when you will be paid. Get your life back as quickly and easily as possible with Injury.com (which is backed by the biggest injury law firm in the country!).