How Much Will My Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident?

The amount that your auto insurance rates will go up following a motor vehicle collision typically depends upon your insurance company. Some insurance companies offer first-accident forgiveness. This means that if you file a claim after involvement in a car accident and you have no previous accidents, your rates should not go up even if you caused the accident.

Absent some provision in your insurance contract, an insurance company can raise your rates any time that you file a claim. You should always open a claim with your insurance company following a collision, even if you were not at fault.

If you have suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident collision, it is important that you always have a knowledgeable Tustin car accident lawyer on your side advocating for you. Your lawyer can file the necessary claim with the appropriate insurance company and can file that claim in a timely manner.

Factors that Can Affect Insurance Rate Increases after an Accident

Insurance companies often raise rates if you file a claim after a traffic accident. Factors that influence the amount of a potential rate increase include:

  • Whether a police officer found you at fault for the accident
  • The circumstances of the accident (such as where the accident involved drunk driving)
  • The terms of your insurance contract

Filing a Third-Party Claim after Your Car Crash

When it comes to car accidents, the State of California is a fault-based or tort state. This means that if you suffer injuries in an accident that resulted from negligence, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the insurance company does not offer you full and fair compensation, you could file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. In addition, you should also open a claim with your own insurance company at the same time.

It is important that you not speak with an insurance company representative or provide a recorded statement without having legal representation in your case. This is especially true with a recorded statement since the insurance company adjuster will try to get you to say something that is damaging to your case. 

First-party Insurance Claims

One of the reasons why you should always open a claim with your own insurance company, even if your rates may potentially go up, is in case you need to file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim following your car accident. You can bring an uninsured motorist claim if the at-fault driver fled the scene or if the driver was totally uninsured at the time of the accident.

In some instances, the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage may not be sufficient to compensate you for all your injuries and damages. When that is the case, you could turn to your own insurance company and file an uninsured motorist claim or lawsuit. Both uninsured and underinsured motorist claims stem from contract and tort law. Essentially, if you file one of these claims, you are alleging not only that the accident resulted from negligence, but that your insurance company refused to hold up its end of the bargain and provide you with compensation when the at-fault driver’s coverage was absent or insufficient.

A knowledgeable California car accident lawyer near you can answer all your questions about filing personal injury claims after your accident and pursuing the damages that you deserve to recover.