Has anyone ever been in a car accident? How much did your insurance increase?

[imported_Tomato]

I was in a pretty bad auto accident a couple weeks back. A car ran into my driver's side door (2001 Honda Civic LX, 11k miles) at approx. 35mph, and it caused about $4,500 worth of damages. This is my first accident ever. I have no other traffic violations (0 tickets, not including parking tickets), and I formerly qualified for a "Good Driver Discount" in California. I can kiss that goodbye, but now my insurance is going to go up... and I'm afraid to see how much. I was paying $1,495/year before, and now I may have to switch auto insurance companies. Does anyone know how I can avoid a $1,000+ increase when it comes to insurance? Will I have to drop my current one and shop around? Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Peace,
Dezign

 

[minendo]

Was the accident your fault?

 

[Wetling23]

If the accident wasn't your fault, it shouldn't go up at all.

If your auto insurance provider provides other types of insurance, try adding that coverage. For instance, I'm with State Farm and I pay then $10 a month for life insurance, but it saves me $20 a month (effectively $10) on my auto insurance. If you can also get more than one car on a policy, you'll save some more money.

 

[imported_Tomato]

The accident was my fault. I'm not going to make any excuses for what happened, and what's been done has been done. I have medical/dental/vision insurance through my company, and purchased my auto insurance separately.

Dezign

EDIT: But thank you kindly for the advice, Wetling23. I'll see if I can have another car and driver added to my policy. Would it make a difference cost-wise if I'm the primary insurance holder, or if they are?

 

[dullard]

I think your example applies to me almost perfectly. Change car year to 2002 (same make, model, and mileage though), and change 35 mph to 10 mph - but the damage was about the same. Even the 0 tickets and good student apply to me. My accident was 4 weeks ago. I'm wondering the same thing, worried that it will skyrocket.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: Dezign
The accident was my fault. I'm not going to make any excuses for what happened, and what's been done has been done. I have medical/dental/vision insurance through my company, and purchased my auto insurance separately.

Dezign

EDIT: But thank you kindly for the advice, Wetling23. I'll see if I can have another car and driver added to my policy. Would it make a difference cost-wise if I'm the primary insurance holder, or if they are?

Ouch, good luck. They will probably consider you as a Risk - High Risk driver. Atleast you're still alive though, thats the thing that ultimately matters...

 

[imported_Tomato]

Ouch, good luck. They will probably consider you as a Risk - High Risk driver. Atleast you're still alive though, thats the thing that ultimately matters...

You're right. The other driver walked away from the accident and was perfectly okay, too. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I'd injured anyone, and I was considered very lucky because I didn't sustain any injuries myself (a little sore in the hip for about a week afterwards, but otherwise okay).

I think your example applies to me almost perfectly. Change car year to 2002 (same make, model, and mileage though), and change 35 mph to 10 mph - but the damage was about the same. Even the 0 tickets and good student apply to me. My accident was 4 weeks ago. I'm wondering the same thing, worried that it will skyrocket.

If you could, please keep me updated on your situation. You can pm or e-mail me if you'd like. I'm just wondering how insurance companies with with and penalize people in this situation.

Dezign

 

[Freejack2]

I think it really depends on your relationship with your auto insurance company. All of my family's insurance is through state farm. When I had a bad accident many years ago $5000 damage also. They only raised my insurance 10%. I rather suspect if I only had auto insurance with a company and nothing else and noone else in the family did I would end up getting screwed.

Also, are you 16-17, 18-20, 21-25, or 25+? And are you married. That can make a difference too.
What I find odd is why you pay so much as it is? I'm over 25 and married so I pay about $650 a year for a similarly priced 2001 vehicle. My rate is based on no accidents or more than 1 ticket in 5+ years, location (low crime), abs, alarm system, and side airbags, multicar, and multiline as a comparison.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Thanks for the info, Freejack. I just turned 22, and I'm not married.

What I find odd is why you pay so much as it is?

Location, I suppose. I live in Los Angeles, CA and I drive a Honda, which has the highest rate of theft in the state.

Dezign

 

[imported_Tomato]

On a related note, Geico quoted me $3,454. Before the accident.

Dezign

 

[rahvin]

If you show a pattern of switching insurance companies a lot they will rape you on prices. If you change insurance companies after an accident you will get raped on the price.

With most insurance companies you are on a 3 point system, get 3 points and your rates go up to high risk. 1 point per ticket, 2 per accident. If you have no tickets (and didn't recieve one as a result of the accident) you probably wont' see an increase especially if you talk to your agent about it and assure them it was a fluke.

 

[Muadib]

I agree with rahvin. You say it was your fault, was a report taken? If so, how does it read? Did you get a summons? If so, what for? Telling what happened in more detail would help.