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When you're not at fault for an accident, you should seek compensation from the other driver's insurance company, not your own. You can file a collision claim with your own insurer if determining fault will take too long, and they will then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Additionally, in no-fault states, you need to use your own insurance to pay medical bills, regardless of who caused the accident.
How Car Insurance Works When You’re Not At Fault
- The at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability insurance will cover your medical expenses in most states.
- If you live in a no-fault state, you’ll need to file medical claims with your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
- The other driver’s property damage liability insurance will cover repairs to your car and other items, like fences and mailboxes.
If the at-fault driver does not have insurance, you can file a claim with your own uninsured motorist (UM) insurance, if you have it. Depending on your policy, you might also have underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), which applies if the other driver’s liability limits aren’t high enough to pay for all the damage.
For more information, check out WalletHub’s guide on what to do after a car accident.
People also ask
What are the no-fault states for car insurance?
There are 12 no-fault states for car insurance: Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah. In these no-fault states, each driver’s car insurance provider pays their medical claims after an accident regardless of who was at fault.
No-Fault Insurance States
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Utah...
If a car accident is not your fault, does your insurance go up?
If a car accident is not your fault, your insurance rate could still go up, depending on your state and insurance company. On average, a not-at-fault accident makes insurance costs go up by about 12%, compared to 45% for an at-fault accident.
Insurance rates can go up after a not-at-fault accident because statistics show that having any accident on your driving record makes you more likely to file a claim in the future. And...
read full answer by WalletHub, Financial CompanyShould I call my insurance if it wasn't my fault?
Yes, you should call your insurance company, even if it wasn’t your fault. Regardless of who is at fault, you may still want to use your insurance policy’s coverage, like collision or medical payments. If you want to file a claim, you’ll be required to notify your insurance company as soon as possible after an accident.
Your insurance company can also help you work with the at-fault driver’s insurer. They will assist with investigating...
read full answer by Anamarie Waite, Car Insurance WriterDid we answer your question?
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