Possible budget buster- Ins claim raise rates?

[Goofygirl17]

I was in an accident today. The other driver was given a written warning and the police said the accident was definitely her fault. I need to notify my insurance company. There is quite a bit of damage to my car.

My question in- If I file a claim and the other driver's insurance ends up paying- will my insurance go up? My husband thinks it might because this is the second claim in two months. Two months ago my hood and windshield were hit by a flying piece of metal on the highway. There was no other driver but my windshield had to be replaced (full glass coverage) and the hood needs to be fixed.

Thanks!

 

[Sadie22]

Your agent will likely take your statement but will advise you to contact the other insurance company and have them handle the claim. Your insurance company will get involved if the other company fails to pay. This should not raise your rates.

 

[CarlisleMom]

My husband was in an accident and totalled our SUV. The other guy ran a red light - Thankfully a witness stayed since my husband was making a left turn. Before we left the scene we knew it was being written this way. Our insurance agent handled everything - including getting the SUV towed from the storage yard to the body shop. Our insurance settled with us -minus deductible. then they went after the other insurance company. Once that was settled we got our deductible back. Even got the money for the booster seat that was in the car.

No increase in rate.

11 months later - my car got hit by a deer on the turnpike at full speed. Drivers side badly damaged , front to back. Again, the insurance paid (comprehensive part).

No increase in rate.

 

[IDoDis]

No, your rate will not increase. You can't control a piece of flying debris that hits your car, and you can't control a situation where someone else is at fault. That's what my insurance rep told me. I had a rock hit my windshield and the insurance paid to have it repaired (it didn't crack so no replacement needed). I also had a man run into me in a parking lot where his insurance paid. I reported both to my insurance. My rates did not increase at all.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I had a very different experience. My rates went up $500 a year. Last year I was in an accident where I was hit in a parking lot; the other driver had a stop sign, definitely his fault. I did everything by the book - the police came and took a report, the tow truck towed away my car, and I called my insurance company. They handled everything and fixed my car. They got reimbursed 97% of expenses from the other guy's insurance. The damage was $8000, which surprised me that they even fixed it, since it was a 2004 Honda Civic. Sadly it's had problems since then, which insurance won't fix (can't prove it's related but I know it is), so I been out over $2500 on this. Almost wish they did total it, as I would have been way better off. The other guy's large minivan had only a small dent in his licence plate - no damage at all.

To add insult, when my renewal came up a few months later, yep - an almost $500 increase. Why? No reason given - I guess it's because they can. I cost them money, so they need to recoop it. I also live in the state with the highest car insurance rates anywhere. I am now considering getting rid of my car since I am not sure if it's worth insuring anymore. How ironic since they spent a fortune repairing it. I also have a spotless driving record. My last accident was in 1994 when a deer hit my car causing minor dents, so not like accidents happen all the time.

So yep, even a not-at-fault accident can raise your rates quite a bit. I wasn't surprised when my rates went up, I sort of expected it since it was one expensive thing after another with this #$%^%# accident. I paid the increase this year, not sure what to do next year.

 

[clanmcculloch]

My experience has been that the insurance company looks at the claim to determine if there's additional signs of risk even if it's not your fault. Years ago we were victims of a couple hit and run incidents in the same parking over a couple years lot so our insurance deemed our parking lot to be a high risk and raised our rate. Accidents in which we have no fault would not be considered a reason to raise our rate. Of course rates can also go up for no reason at all. We haven't had a claim in several years but this year our rates went up several hundred dollars because our insurance company was bought out and they deemed our rates to be below industry for our area for our level of coverage (that's why we were with them in the first place). Even our broker is frustrated because they were using the same insurance for themselves.

 

[kellydizfan]

Flying debris - you hit - yes you are at fault, it is a collision - can be avoided, you must be in control of your vehicle at all times. It would be chargeable depending on what is paid out. If you have more than one accident - yes they could charge if the were both under the threshold. It all depends on the state you reside in - their rules and regulations. What can happen is if they have different tiers, they could have put you into a different tier due to claims and that is why it went up. She shouldn't have told you that she didn't know - there is always a reason - could have been a rate increase, change in age of insured drivers, anything. She can call the co and find out if she doesn't know. I would request a reason and ask her to shop the insurance if it is an agent that represents many different co's. She needs to do her work. Sorry but that doesn't stand in my book.

 

[Denise W]

Flying debris (provided it didn't bounce off the ground first) is paid under Comprehensive coverage and you are NOT considered to be at fault.

If you are determined to be not at fault in an accident, your rates should not go up because of that accident, regardless of whether your carrier pays or the other person's carrier pays. If your carrier pays they will then attempt to recover the money they paid, plus your deductible, from the other carrier.

However, general rate increases are added all the time on the renewal of your policy. That varies by state and by company. You could also be surcharged for having moving violations (they run DMV checks on all the licensed drivers on the policy), and you could even be non renewed for claim frequency.

You should always find out why your rates have gone up to determine if it was due to an accident or not.

Denise

 

[seashoreCM]

You might shop around for another insurance company, particularly if not all companies in your state have the same rules for what counts as a rate raising (chargeable) accident.

The insurance company should, upon your request, explain what caused a rate increase.

 

[Jeff_G]

Either a claim goes against your policy or theirs. If you file a claim against your policy, it’s still a claim against your policy even if your insurance company gets reimbursed for that claim. Some insurance companies discount for claim free status and or increase rates for any claims against your policy.

When it’s the other drivers fault you are better off putting in a claim against their policy.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Unless the flying debris flew off a car you just hit, flying debris is not a collision. The cost to repair is paid under the Comprehensive portion of your policy. A collision occurs when you drive your vehicle (or let it roll) into a stationary object (like a telephone pole) or another vehicle, whether it is moving or not. Or another vehicle hits yours.

 

[Goofygirl17]

OP here. DH called the ins co today and reported the accident. The person he spoke to wasn't sure if it would effect our rates or not so we're not sure if we should put the claim through our insurance or try to deal with the lady's insurance. He's going to get the police report and an estimate tomorrow and then make phone calls.

The flying debris came out of nowhere on the highway. I was in control of my vehicle- there was no avoiding it in rush hour traffic!

This accident the other driver got a written warning and the officer said it was definitely her fault- I had the right of way.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Goofygirl17]

OP here-

I am sooo aggravated. DH got the car checked today and they recommended we not drive it because of the back wheel. I went to get the police report and was told it could take 5 days! There is about $4800 worth of damage and at least about a 2 week wait at the body shop! In the meantime I have to drive our full size pickup which gets stinky gas mileage. That's going to be a budget buster!!

 

[disneymarie]

I was in an accident today. The other driver was given a written warning and the police said the accident was definitely her fault. I need to notify my insurance company. There is quite a bit of damage to my car.

My question in- If I file a claim and the other driver's insurance ends up paying- will my insurance go up? My husband thinks it might because this is the second claim in two months. Two months ago my hood and windshield were hit by a flying piece of metal on the highway. There was no other driver but my windshield had to be replaced (full glass coverage) and the hood needs to be fixed.

Thanks!

I wish dh would not get defensive over accidents that is why they are called accidents , making a wife feel like crap even if it wasn't their fault, is not fair.

Why can't a dh post to Dis for correct information before dumping on dw?

 

[here757]

the truth is .... doesnt matter what insurance company you report it to..
yours or theirs.. it still will come up on the CLUE report. ur insurance company will know about it at the renewal.

two or more not at fault accidents can impact your rates.
the agent cant tell u if your rates will go up because they no longer rate policies. its done with computers.. sorry

i was an insurance agent for 4 years. still have an active license ..

 

[LUVCHIPNDALE]

Ok,Let me try and help out a little I have been and insurance agent for over 10 years... Comprehensive claims(acts of god, theft, hit a deer, broken windshields..etc) never count against you unless you are deemd to excessive comp claims usually more than 4 a year(with most companies)..
In your instance where you were hit, if you report to there company and never contact yours..your company will never find out and it will NOT go on the clue report, unless you were ticketed in the accident.. Here are a few scenerios, when dealing with there company depending on which one it is they can make it a pain to get anything done and really drag it out..if you contact your company they get involved and act as your defense lawyer so to speak and do most of the leg work..You can also get a rental car at there expense(maybe something more economically friendly on gas).. Hope this helps if I can answer anything else let me know..if you tell me company names I can be a little more specific as each carrier is different.

On another note, no matter what state you live in if you have an increase in your insurance they are required by law to tell you why there was an increase.. If they refuse or cant tell you why you can contact your states insurance commisioner and they will tell you if that company was approved for a rate increase..If they were not the insurance commisioner's ofc can help you get a reason from the company.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

OP here-

I am sooo aggravated. DH got the car checked today and they recommended we not drive it because of the back wheel. I went to get the police report and was told it could take 5 days! There is about $4800 worth of damage and at least about a 2 week wait at the body shop! In the meantime I have to drive our full size pickup which gets stinky gas mileage. That's going to be a budget buster!!

We were in a terrible accident right after Christmas. Kid pulled out right in front of us on the highway. Praise God my family is alright, DS 7 and 4 were 100% fine, 17 year old in the other car died.... it was bad.

My point: Call the other person's insurance. We called and reported to ours, but being the other guys fault they said we'd be mostly dealing with the other guys insurance and we have been. Our car was totaled, we had a rental car in a matter of 3 days, we had it about a month. (yes we have another vehicle, but like you, gas mileage on it stinks). You should contact their insurance also and see what they are going to do. Our medical is being covered first by our insurance, then they're covering anything over our limit. They paid for the rental completely and paid us for our car. Our insurance covers DH's wage loss for as long as he's off (yet to be determined) up to so much, then the other insurance has to pay the rest. It's not fun and can be a run around, but make the calls and be firm.

Our insurance will not go up, not our fault. As PP said, with two at faults, can't say yours won't, PP made sense but I don't know. We called around about rates this month and there was one company that the accident would affect our rates even though we were not at fault... so if your rates are going up shop around (which I'm sure you would anyway).

Good luck! Glad you weren't hurt.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I wish dh would not get defensive over accidents that is why they are called accidents , making a wife feel like crap even if it wasn't their fault, is not fair.

Why can't a dh post to Dis for correct information before dumping on dw?

Thanks Disney Marie. DH wasn't trying to make me feel bad. He doesn't post to Dis because he's not Disney crazy like me

Thank you also here757 and Luvchipndale. We already reported it to our insurance but haven't filed a claim yet because we don't have the other driver's ins info.

wtrmlnlabs- How sad. I'm glad your kids were okay. I guess I have to wait for the police report and then we'll contact the other ins and get things going. We're lucky to have an old Honda civic that DH is driving now and I'm driving his truck. The civic is so old and has so many miles on it that I don't want to drive it to work every day (40 minutes each way) on the highway. I'm not sure about a rental.

The crazy winter weather here is not making this any easier! It's freezing rain now, then back to snow then another storm- probably ice- tomorrow!

Thanks everyone!

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

thanks, we were being watched over for sure....

you in pa too? That's the weather we're having now. I lost my honda civic in the accident...less than 3000 till 200000 miles! I so loved that car!

You should be able to call the police and get the info of the other insurance....that's what we did. Being a death involved it took more than 3 weeks for the report to be done.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We love our little civic. It's a 97 and has at least 230,000 miles on it and still gets at least 30 mpg! It's starting to show it's age though- we had to have something replaced in the front end that was rotting out (not sure what it's called) so I don't want to take it on the highway and go so far.

We were very lucky but DD11 is having a hard time. We've had a couple of fatal car accidents in our family and she is very anxious anyway so it's been hard on her. She's afraid to take the bus to school now It had taken us a long time (years) to get her to feel safe on the road so that we actually drove to Disney last summer! I don't think we'll be doing that for a while now.

We're in CT. I think I read that 30 states are being effected by this storm! Crazy! I just went out to get firewood in case the power goes out and then I shoveled the deck some. Boy is that snow heavy! I'm done!

Stay safe and warm!