A car accident can cause a lot of damage and serious injuries, and while you’re dealing with all of that you also have to worry about your car insurance rates on top of everything else. Unfortunately, an accident is nearly guaranteed to result in some change to your insurance policy premiums, but there are ways to try and bring prices back down. A San Antonio, Texas auto accident lawyer can tell you more.
Will My Car Insurance Rates Increase After Every Accident?
In most cases, if you get into a car accident that is going to result in an increase to your car insurance costs. Many drivers end up seeing increases of around 40% when they are found to be at fault for an accident. Premiums can rise even higher if you get into multiple accidents in a short period of time.
This happens because an insurance company is all about evaluating risk. If you have not gotten into any car accidents recently, you are seen as less risky to insure. If you get into an accident, suddenly you are more risky to insure. There is more of a chance that you will cost the insurer money, and so your car insurance rates must go up.
If another driver was to blame for an accident, you might still see an increase in car insurance premiums. Expect it to be a smaller increase though.
How Can I Get My Car Insurance Rates to Go Back Down?
Fortunately, there are some ways for you to bring down your car insurance rates. It may take a while to lower them to previous levels, but we recommend:
- Taking advantage of multi-policy and other available discounts from your insurer
- Seeing if you can get a discount for completing defensive driving and similar courses
- Trying to improve your credit
- Removing any coverage you do not need from your policy
- Selecting higher deductibles when possible
The best option might just be waiting though. After three to five years, an accident begins to fade in relevance. You will find it easier to secure lower car insurance rates if you just keep a clean driving record.
What If I Need Medical Care After an Accident?
If you get into an accident and get injured, your own insurance coverage should help you pay for medical bills and can even make up for lost wages. This is PIP, or personal injury protection, coverage. If your own coverage does not cover all of your bills, that is when you should consider filing a personal injury suit.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you have been in a car accident and you believe that another driver was to blame, contact Sahadi Legal Group. We can offer you a free consultation and take a closer look at your case. We can work on getting you the compensation you deserve while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
