Question:
Will your insurance go up if you have accident, even if it is not
your fault? For instance, what if your car is damaged by
debris that falls off a car in front of you on the freeway?
Answer:
Whether your
car insurance rates
will go up after a not-at-fault accident really varies by insurance
company and by state. One accident may not cause your rates rise,
but if you have been in multiple accidents, even if you were not at
fault for each, your auto insurer may increase your premiums or not
renew your policy.
Many states have insurance laws and regulations that keep auto
insurance companies from surcharging you (raising your base rate)
if you are not at fault in an auto accident or if it's a
comprehensive claim, since these types of claims are rarely your
fault.
When debris falls off a car and hits your car's hood or
windshield, some insurers will consider it to be a flying missile
covered under your
comprehensive coverage;
thus it's not likely to cause your rates to rise.
If instead the debris fell off and you didn't avoid it in the
roadway but ran it over, then it would normally go under your
collision coverage
. This type of claim could possibly raise your rates, if it were
found to be a "chargeable accident" according to your state and
insurer's guidelines.
Of course, if the person whose car the object fell off of
stopped and you put the claim through their
property damage liability
coverage, it's doubtful that your rates would be affected.
Some states don't allow a surcharge unless certain conditions
are met. For example, in Massachusetts to be surcharged you must be
found at least 50 percent at fault and claim payments of more than
$500, in excess of any deductible paid, must be paid out under your
liability or collision coverage. New York doesn't allow surcharges
due to a comprehensive claim against your policy or if the total
damage of the accident is less than $2,000 and there were no
injuries but does allow a surcharge if you have two or more
accidents under $2,000.
The number of accidents you are involved in can make your
insurer see you as a higher risk, even if you are not at
fault. An insurer may find you to be a good driver but live
in a high-risk area and so your rates rise.
Contact your insurance company to find out how this or any type
of claim might affect your rates or the renewal of your policy.
You can also contact your state's insurance regulator to get
information on the state's insurance laws regarding surcharges.
If your rates do go up due to a not at-fault accident, then shop
around. By comparison shopping for car insurance, you may find an
insurer that doesn't rate an accident the same way and thus save
money.