Getting into a car accident can be incredibly disruptive on many fronts. One of the things that can be most aggravating is getting into a car accident and then watching your car insurance rates go up, even if you do not believe that the car accident was your fault. If you have been in a car accident and you file a claim with your own insurance company, this is likely. However, if the accident was not your fault, you may be able to stop your rates from rising, but you first need to prove the fault of the responsible party.
Texas is an at-fault car insurance state. This means that a driver who causes a wreck—or the at-fault driver’s insurance company—is responsible for paying for damages. As such, if you were in a car accident that was not your fault, you should file your claim with the other driver’s insurance company, not your own. If you believe that the other driver was at fault for your accident and that their insurance company should be liable for damages, you will need to prove this by providing evidence.
In some cases, you may need to file a claim with your own insurance company even when the accident was not your fault. This is true, for example, if you file a claim under your own insurance’s uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection coverage, or medical payments coverage. When you file a claim with your own insurance company, your rates may go up. Whether or not your rates will increase is usually dependent upon your insurance company’s policies, as well as the amount of money asked for in your claim.
In the event that the other party files a claim against your liability insurance, it is very likely that your rates will increase.
The last thing that you want to deal with after a car accident is an increase in your insurance rates. To help prove the fault of the other driver, and ensure that your claim is filed against the other driver’s insurance company rather than with your own, reach out to a Texas car accident attorney today. For consultation where you can discuss your accident and recovery options, call the Law Office of Julie Johnson, PLLC today. Contact us at 214-290-8001 to schedule your first appointment now.