Who pays my deductible if I'm not at fault? If another person is found to be at fault for the accident, we'll work with you to make sure either they or their insurance company pays for your damages and losses and recover any money you may have paid toward your deductible or repairs.
Your deductible is owed regardless of fault. It's purpose is to deter insureds from filing a claim for anything and everything under the sun and doesn't take liability/negligence into consideration.
It may seem unfair, but accidents that aren't your fault may still increase your rate depending on your state and insurer. Not-at-fault accidents can indicate a higher likelihood of future accidents.
Report the Car Accident to Your Insurance Company
If you had no fault at all in the car accident, the other driver's insurance company should be liable for your damages. You should be compensated for all of the costs of the accident.
California law prevents insurance companies from increasing your rates for accidents where you are not considered principally at fault.
Allowing another licensed driver to borrow your vehicle is known as "permissive use," which means you give someone, who isn't listed on your car insurance policy, permission to operate your vehicle. If they're involved in an accident, your auto insurance may pay for the damages and injuries, up to your coverage limits.
Small Accident Forgiveness: Starting with your first policy term, we won't raise your rate for your first claim less than $500.
Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault
One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.
Start the claims process
Regardless of who's at fault, it's a good idea to inform your car insurance company that an accident occurred.
If your deductible has been satisfied, your health insurance will pay for the service, minus any copayment or coinsurance you are required to cover. If the deductible has not yet been satisfied, you are responsible to pay for the services received—this is your contribution toward the deductible.
Your collision coverage helps pay to repair damage to your vehicle, regardless of who's at fault. Keep in mind you'll have to pay your deductible.
Remember that filing small claims may affect how much you have to pay for insurance later. Switching from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible can save as much as 20 percent on the cost of your insurance premium payments.
If you get into an accident and it's not your fault, the other driver's insurance company should pay for the damages, and you may not have to pay your deductible. It depends on your insurance policy. Some insurance policies require you to pay your deductible even if you are not at fault, while others do not.
When an insurer declares a vehicle a total loss after an accident, the estimated repair costs exceed the car's actual cash value (ACV). Insurers will typically make an initial total loss settlement offer based on their own ACV calculation. However, policyholders can often negotiate for a higher payout.
Repairing your vehicle is cheaper than taking out a loan or paying monthly payments on a brand-new vehicle. It is often in the best interest of the insurance company to total a car, so you will need to look out for your own best interests.
If you damage someone else's vehicle during a significant collision, and you're at fault, you should always file a claim.
Let's say your vehicle is damaged due to another driver's negligence. Once GEICO settles your claim, we'll likely seek to recover your deductible, as well as the amount we paid, from the negligent party or that party's insurance company.
In general, an accident where the other driver is at fault will not cause your auto insurance premiums to increase. Your insurer is not involved since the at-fault driver's insurer is responsible for your medical treatment and vehicle repairs.
If you go a set amount of time without a claim or violation your deductible amount will decrease or be waived.
In California, it will stay on your driving record for 10 years. Please note that a driving record is separate from a criminal record.
Progressive Collision Coverage. Collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, regardless of who's at fault. It also applies if you hit an object, other than an animal, such as a tree or utility pole.
Yes, it is generally advisable to notify your insurance company even if the accident wasn't your fault. Most insurance policies require policyholders to promptly report any accidents or incidents, regardless of fault.
Usually, yes. Your car insurance coverage should be able to extend to anyone else driving your car. Even if someone isn't listed on the policy, they can operate your vehicle. If you explicitly name someone as an excluded driver in your policy, however, none of this applies to them.
Will my insurance go up if my parked car is hit by someone? If you file a claim with your own auto insurance company, you may see a rate increase. Filing a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance generally won't raise your rate since you're not the one who caused the damage.