When you’ve been involved in a car accident, you want to focus on getting medical care for your injuries and getting your car repaired. The last thing you want to think about is your insurance rate. But many accident victims are concerned about whether making a claim on their own insurance will increase their rates. The answer is: it depends.
Florida Law
Florida law prohibits insurers from increasing your insurance rates if it is determined that you were not substantially at fault for the accident. In Florida, you are required to have at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP). Your PIP benefits are available to cover some of your medical bills and lost wages. If you make a claim against your PIP coverage, then the insurance company should not raise your rates.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
If you make a claim on your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage, it will stand to reason that your rates would not increase because you were in a car accident without insurance and not at fault. Depending on the circumstances, your rates may not increase. However, if you make multiple UM claims over a period of time, the insurance company may use that information as a factor in determining your rates.
Another Driver is At-Fault
If the other driver is at fault for an accident, then your insurance company should be able to recoup any money they paid you from the other driver’s insurance company. This makes it less likely that you will see a rate increase. However, if you are involved in multiple car accidents, the insurance company could see you as a risk and raise the rates on your insurance.
When You are at Fault
If it is found that you are at fault for an accident, then it is very likely that your insurance rates will increase. The insurance company will find that you are a risky driver to insure. Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness in their policies, which means that your first accident may not lead to an increase in your rates, but subsequent accidents could.
Every Situation is Different
Whether your insurance rates will increase after an accident will depend entirely on the practices of your insurance company and the specific facts of a claim.
Contact a Trusted Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in an accident and you have questions about insurance, you may want to consult with an experienced and trusted personal injury attorney near you. At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we have over 30 years of experience helping Floridians with insurance claims. Contact us online or call us at 800-538-4878 to set up your free consultation today.