Many people hesitate to file a claim after a car accident because they fear their rates will automatically go up. Fortunately, that's not always the case. Setting auto insurance rates is complicated, and agents weigh many factors beyond your most recent accident. Here are some of the biggest ones.
How Severe Was It — and What Did the Claim Cost?
Best case, you only scratched your car or dented a fender. Because those claims don't cost the insurer much, your agent probably won't raise your premium. But they may charge more if you totaled your vehicle or caused significant injuries. If another party caused you serious injuries, that's a good time to talk to an accident lawyer about pursuing a personal injury claim.
Who Caused the Accident?
This matters in Georgia because we're a fault state: the insurer of the driver who caused the crash must pay damages to the other party as well as its own client. If you had no responsibility for the accident, you may see no change to your premium. If you caused it, your rates are likely to rise — your agent looks at the statistical odds of you being in a similar or worse accident in the future. If you've received an increase you feel is unfair, it's worth discussing with an attorney.
How Much Does Your Insurer Value You as a Client?
Don't assume your insurer wants to write you off over one claim — most people have at least a few accidents in a lifetime. Rather than the single claim, your agent looks at your overall value: a long-time client with a safe driving record is far less likely to see a rate hike than someone who already had a poor record before this accident.