What should I do if I didn't get the other drivers insurance info after a car accident?

If your car insurance lapsed and you have an accident, make sure to get the other driver’s contact and insurance information, because their insurance should cover your expenses if they are at fault. On the other hand, if your insurance lapsed and you are partially or entirely at fault in an accident, you will almost always be personally responsible for any damages. If fault is unclear, police officers and insurance companies are more likely to consider an uninsured driver to be to blame.… read full answer

Regardless of who is at fault, avoid the temptation to lie about the date of an accident. This qualifies as insurance fraud and can result in serious consequences, from difficulty finding insurance in the future to heavy fines and jail time.

If an Insured Driver Is at Fault

If another driver is at fault, you should be able to file a claim with their insurance company to cover damage up to their policy limits. Nonetheless, it will be harder for uninsured drivers to receive payouts, and their options for suing the other driver may be restricted.

For instance, 12 states have “no pay, no play” laws that prevent uninsured drivers from suing for unquantifiable damages like emotional and physical pain. Some of these states also require uninsured drivers to pay large sums out of pocket for repairs before they can sue for further property damage expenses.

If an Uninsured Driver Is at Fault

Drivers with a lapse in coverage who are deemed at-fault will be financially liable for any resulting damage, and could even be sued by the other driver. However, some states require uninsured motorist coverage, which means the other driver could already be covered by their own insurance if an uninsured driver is at-fault.

Similarly, in states with no-fault rules, drivers use their own insurance companies to pay for minor injuries. As a result, if an uninsured driver causes an accident in a no-fault state, the insured driver will be covered by their own insurance up to their policy limits.

One exception is possible, though rare: If you had a lapse in coverage but had already paid for a policy that hadn’t come into effect yet, your insurance company might reimburse you for a claim. However, this is unlikely, and would require you to have a good driving record, a long history with your insurance company, and an accident that took place a few days before your new policy was to begin. The company would be under no legal obligation to reimburse you, though, as you were technically uninsured during the intervening period.

What to Do in the Long Term

Having an accident during a lapse in coverage is a wake-up call that you should get insurance immediately. If your lapse has lasted for days or weeks rather than months, your previous insurer should be able to reinstate your policy quickly and easily, although you may be liable for fees or surcharges. If it’s been longer than a month, shopping around for new quotes is likely your best option. But bear in mind that insurance carriers view a lapse in coverage as a sign of unreliability and risk, so your premium could be higher than before. You can check out WalletHub’s cheap car insurance comparison and discounts guide to find ways to save, though.

You should always call your insurance company if you get into an accident involving another driver whether you are at fault or not, especially if the accident caused injuries or property damage. Even if you are not at fault, you may still want to use coverage from your insurance policy, like collision or medical payments coverage. If you want to file a claim, you’ll be required to notify your insurance company as soon as possible after an accident.… read full answer

Your insurance company can also help you work with the at-fault driver’s insurer. They will assist with investigating the claim and establishing fault, and they can defend you if the other driver tries to file a claim against you. In most states, not-at-fault claims are filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, which makes it less likely your rates will go up. If you have to file a claim against your own policy, it’s more likely your rates will increase. But it is possible that your insurance company gets reimbursed for the cost of your claim and decides not to raise your rate.

It’s common for insurance companies to raise rates even if the accident is not your fault, especially if you live in one of the 12 no-fault states. Drivers in no-fault states file claims with their own insurance company no matter who is at fault, and they almost always see premiums go up after an accident. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) found that at least four of the nation’s largest insurers increased rates after a not-at-fault claim.

Average Increase After a Not-at-Fault Claim

• Progressive: 16.6%
• Geico: 14.1%
• Farmers: 11.1%
• Allstate: 4.5%
• State Farm: 0%

Drivers usually have 30 days to report a car accident to their insurance provider. Policies don’t always give a specific timeframe, though, and could simply state that a driver needs to report the accident “promptly.”

You should almost always report accidents to your insurance as soon as possible, since waiting too long could jeopardize a future claim or cause an at-fault driver to lose certain protections. There are certain situations where it might not be necessary, however.… read full answer

When You Can Skip Notifying Insurance (All Must Be True)

1. The accident happened with just your vehicle.
2. It was on your property.
3. There were no injuries involved.
4. The only damage was to your property.

Reporting a Car Accident vs. Filing a Claim

A common misconception is that reporting a car accident to insurance is the same as filing a claim. While filing a claim means you’re making a formal request to an insurance company for compensation, reporting an accident simply means you’re notifying your insurer that it happened.

In most cases, you’ll want to report an accident as soon as possible in order to get the claims process started. But even if you don’t initially plan on filing a claim, you should notify your insurance company just in case you discover additional damage or change your mind.

What Happens If You Delay Reporting a Car Accident?

If you wait too long to report your accident to insurance, it could cause problems down the road. For example, if you don’t initially report but realize later on that you need to file a claim, the insurance company has no way of knowing whether the damage is the result of the accident or something else that happened later. Or, if the accident was your fault and the other driver files a claim against you later on, your insurance company might deny you certain protections because you failed to promptly report.

Even if you don’t think you need to report the accident, it’s always in your best interest to do so. Many insurance companies have mobile apps and 24-hour hotlines to make the reporting process as quick and easy as possible. Also, keep in mind that even though you’re not legally obligated to notify your insurance company after a car accident, most states will require you to at least report it to the police if anyone is injured or if there is a certain amount of property damage.