You have probably been told that your car insurance rate will increase if you are involved in an accident, regardless of who was at fault. This is a misunderstanding; your insurance rate may increase any time you are involved in a car accident. While this is not a guarantee that it will increase your rate, it is still imperative you consult with a Long Island car accident attorney immediately after an auto accident.
Many factors determine whether your insurance rate will increase after a car accident – whether you were at fault for the accident is one of them. Although it might not seem fair for your rate to increase when another driver strikes you, this can and does happen.
Filing an At-Fault Claim vs. a No-Fault Claim
In New York, drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. When you are injured in a car accident and file this type of claim, known as a no-fault claim, you can face a surcharge on your car insurance.
When you file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim with your auto insurance provider, this is also the case. The surcharge you face for these claims is lower than the surcharge you would face if you were the at-fault party.
Under certain circumstances, injured New York drivers can file personal injury claims against at-fault drivers. This, too, can result in a surcharge on your car insurance, but remember that whether you face a surcharge or not is completely at your insurance provider’s discretion. Many factors impact your car insurance rate. How much they impact your rate depends on their extremity and the specific combinations of factors you face.
Factors That Impact Your Auto Insurance Rate
Your driving record can greatly impact the monthly premium you pay for auto insurance. Insurers will conduct a risk assessment to determine the category of driver for their auto insurance customers.
This involves looking at your driving record and other factors to determine the likelihood that you will file a claim against your policy. Insurance companies look at several factors during their risk assessment, including:
- Age: The experience a driver has on the road impacts the likelihood of them getting in an accident. Younger drivers usually have a higher insurance premium than older and more experienced drivers.
- Gender: Statistically speaking, male drivers have more frequent accidents than female drivers. Men typically pay more than women for auto insurance coverage.
- Location: If you live in a city with higher crime and theft rates, your insurance premium may be higher than if you live in a rural area.
- Safety features: Many cars now have safety features designed to prevent accidents. Drivers with these features may notice their premium decrease because the features make it less likely they will get into an accident.
- Accident history: If you have had multiple accidents, your premium will be higher than if you had none.
- The make and model of your vehicle: The more expensive your vehicle is, the more expensive it will be to insure.
- Driving history: Traffic infractions, moving violations, reckless driving, DUI, and other license suspensions can cause your car insurance premium to go up.
Some Types of Accidents May Not Increase Your Car Insurance Rate
There are circumstances where your car insurance rate may not rise after an accident. These include:
- Your car was damaged due to nature. This could include a falling object, such as a tree branch. This also includes collisions with animals.
- The accident was caused by a driver who collided with your car and didn’t stop – also known as a “hit-and-run” accident.
- Someone else hit your car while it was legally parked.
What to Do After Being Involved in a Car Accident
Do not avoid filing a police report or an insurance claim because you are afraid you will face an insurance rate increase. This increase will undoubtedly be lower than the money you would otherwise have to pay out of pocket.
After a car accident, call the police to have the accident officially recorded and be sure to document as much about the accident as possible because this is the evidence that will support your personal injury or uninsured/underinsured motorist claim and potentially determine whether you face a surcharge or not.
How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help?
If your car insurance premium is raised after an accident, our car accident attorneys could help. First, we will assess your losses. We will include the amount of the raised premium in your losses.
Next, we will file a claim on your behalf to recover damages from the liable party. Our goal will be to reach a fair settlement. We are prepared to litigate on your behalf at trial if we cannot settle. If you choose our firm, you can expect:
- A free consultation. We offer these to all potential clients to review their cases and answer questions they might have.
- Your lawyer’s cell phone number. We want our clients to be able to easily reach the lawyer handling their case, so they can get their questions answered or get status updates. All communications will be answered within 24 hours.
- We offer a no-fee promise. The lawyers at our firm only collect fees if we reach a successful outcome for your case. The only fee you will pay is an agreed-upon percentage of what our attorneys recover for you.
- Close and compassionate support. Since we are a smaller firm, we can give time and attention to each case. Richard Jaffe is a trained emergency medical technician (EMT) and understands the trauma our clients have experienced after car accidents.
Our attorneys will always keep you informed on developments happening with your case. During the initial consultation, we will give you an honest assessment of whether your case has merit to move forward. You have a limited time to act. CVP § 214 states you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in New York.
Get Help from a Long Island Car Accident Attorney Today
Navigating the web of car insurance claims and rates after you have been injured in a car accident can be tricky. Make it easier for yourself by enlisting the help of an experienced Long Island car accident attorney. Contact our office for your free legal consultation to get started with our team at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP L.L.P.
