Filing a Car Accident Claim and its Effects on your Insurance

 Posted on May 03, 2013 in Personal Injury

Even when you have auto insurance that covers injuries and damages, you should consider the consequences of filing a claim with your insurance provider. Sometimes, even when an accident is not your fault, a claim may increase your insurance rates and it may be better to skip the claim and pay out of pocket. Although every provider is different, every insurance company will increase your rates if you caused the accident due to negligence, or if you continuously file claims in a short amount of time even for minor events. These circumstances cause you to be labeled as a "high-risk driver," which almost guarantees high rates for you because you will cost the insurance company a lot. To avoid an increase in your rate, it is best to keep a clean driving record. It is also important to know when you should file a claim. Consider not filing a claim if you are in a single-car accident and you were not injured, if you have multiple moving violations on your driving record, if you can afford the damages without the insurance money, if you have been in an accident within the past three years, or if your estimated repair costs are less than your insurance deductible. Lastly, know the surcharge schedule of your auto insurance company. This schedule is a rate increase that is prescheduled to automatically apply itself to your bill if you cause an accident due to negligence. There is no avoiding this surcharge and the information is not handed to customers voluntarily, so you must ask for it when choosing an auto insurance provider. If you have been in an accident or caused an accident, contact an Illinois accident attorney for assistance on what to do in the situation. Attorneys can help you deal with your insurance company and the insurance companies of the other people who were involved in the accident. Contact Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices in Illinois.