Car insurance companies provide drivers and motor vehicle owners with financial protection as a safeguard against accident-related damages. This can help cover medical expenses for accident related-injuries as well as damage to your vehicle.
More often than not, however, your auto insurance premium will increase after you have been involved in an auto-related accident or car crash — especially an at-fault accident. However, increases to your premium can be contingent on several different factors.
One of these factors includes whether you were at fault for the accident in question. While your insurance policy rate may not increase in the event that the accident was not your fault, or if it was your very first accident, each case is different.
At Schwartzapfel Lawyers, our skilled team can provide you with all the information you need about no-fault accidents and how they can impact your auto insurance rates.
For help with your case, or to speak with a seasoned auto accident attorney directly and at no charge, please reach out to Schwartzapfel Lawyers today by visiting us online or by calling 1-516-342-2200 now!
Auto Insurance and Accidents: What to Know
One of the most important determining factors for your auto insurance rate is your driving record and accident history. Simply put: The more accidents you have been involved in, the more coverage your auto insurance company will have to provide; to cover their bottom line, your insurance company will likely increase the insurance premium for your account.
On average, auto insurance rates increase by 45% after a car accident or crash. However, any increase to your auto insurance payments depends on different factors, including but not limited to:
- Your driving and accident claim history.
- Your auto insurance plan or auto insurance provider.
- The nature and extent of damages to your vehicle and other involved vehicles.
- The severity of the accident.
- The extent of injuries to you or others involved in the accident.
- Cause of the accident or crash and the at-fault party.
When more than one vehicle is involved in a car crash, the at-fault driver may be responsible for providing coverage to others who have incurred injuries or damages in the crash.
However, if you were not at fault, your car insurance premium, or monthly car insurance costs, may not be affected if the at-fault party’s insurance covers any injuries or damages you incur in an accident or crash.
No-Fault Insurance in New York
Typically, the auto insurance provider of the at-fault party covers medical and damage expenses for all parties involved in a car crash. However, under no-fault insurance, this may not always be the case.
No-fault insurance helps provide coverage to drivers regardless of whether they were at fault for an accident or crash. In most cases, no-fault insurance will only cover medical expenses after an accident-related personal injury, not property damages. However, this may depend on the circumstances surrounding your case. To learn more about the specific remedies you may be entitled to, you should speak with a qualified auto accident attorney like the ones at Schwartzapfel Lawyers as soon as possible.
In New York State, no-fault insurance is required as part of your auto insurance plan. This is to prevent unnecessary lawsuits between different parties in an accident.
While it provides coverage despite who the at-fault party was and how the accident or crash occurred, there are some exceptions. A driver may be ineligible for no-fault insurance coverage if:
- They were intoxicated or impaired while driving.
- Intentionally caused a crash or injured themselves.
- They were committing a felony when the crash occurred.
- The vehicle they are driving was stolen.
- They are uninsured, meaning they do not have driver’s insurance.
If your injuries are covered by no-fault insurance after a crash, you may not be eligible to file a claim against the at-fault party or receive coverage from their insurance provider. You may only be able to do so if you suffered extensive injuries or if the at-fault party’s negligence in causing the crash was malicious.
Furthermore, depending on your injuries and the nature of the accident or crash, your insurance rates may increase if you receive coverage through no-fault insurance. Nevertheless, proving no-fault after an accident can help keep your rates low.
Because every case is different, getting in touch with the right lawyer might help you get a better idea of what to expect in terms of insurance rates and coverage after an accident or crash. We can connect you with the skilled auto accident attorneys at Schwartzapfel Lawyerswhen you call 1-516-342-2200 today. Alternatively, you can schedule your free consultation, case evaluation, and so much more by visiting us online now.
Steps to Take After an Auto Accident
After an auto accident or crash, there are important steps you must take to ensure your well-being and help build your case. Taking the necessary steps can also help you determine the cause of the accident or crash and keep your insurance rates from increasing.
To ensure your safety, here are some of the most important steps you should take right after an accident or crash occurs:
- Get to Safety: Even after an accident or crash occurs, you and those involved may still be in danger if you are in the middle of the road and subject to other collisions. If there is no risk of further bodily injury to yourself or someone else, you should move to a more safe location while waiting for first responders (e.g., EMS, police, firefighters) to arrive.
- Contact Emergency Services: Once you are in a safe location, you should now call emergency services to the scene of the accident or crash. If you are unable to do so, ask someone else to call for you. Emergency services will help assess the accident and ensure the safety of all those involved. They will also generate reports of the accident and how it may have occurred.
- Seek Medical Attention: Regardless of whether you think you were hurt, you should make a point of being seen by a qualified medical professional after any accident. This will help ensure that you did not suffer any injuries you may not have been aware of at the moment and will also provide documentation of your injuries that you can use in an insurance or compensation claim.
Once the accident or crash is over and you are receiving any treatment for injuries you may have incurred, the next step is to start building your case and determining how the accident or crash occurred.
Proving No-Fault After an Accident
Proving a not-at-fault accident can help prevent an insurance premium increase for the policyholder, maintain your driving history, and prevent a lawsuit against you by the other motorist. Still, it may not be easy to determine who was responsible for a crash.
Crashes can occur for several different reasons. These include a lack of adherence to traffic laws, such as going above the local speed limit or driving through red lights. They can also include drug and alcohol use, texting while driving, as well drowsiness behind the wheel.
Sometimes, no one is at fault for an accident. In such cases, the accident could have been caused by extreme weather conditions or icy roads.
Regardless of the details, here are a few tips on how you can prove that you were not at fault for an accident:
- Do Not Admit to Fault: Even if you are unsure of how the accident or crash occurred, you should never admit to fault, as this kind of admission can only hurt your case down the line.
- Gather Documentation: You should gather as much documentation surrounding the accident or crash as you can. Examples here can include witness statements, traffic camera footage, police reports of the accident, and beyond.
- Hire the Right Lawyer: The right lawyer can help you gather all the details you need to prove no fault after an accident. or crash They can also help you sue an at-fault party and determine the best insurance coverage options for your situation.
Remember: If you can prove to your insurance that you were not at fault for an accident or crash, you might be able to keep your insurance rates low.
If you have been in a car accident or crash, a member of our team at Schwartzapfel Lawyerscan help you make the most of your situation. For more information at no charge, call us today at 1-516-342-2200 or visit us online. It will be our honor and privilege to fight for you every step of the way!
Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers Today
It’s no great secret that auto insurance payments often increase after an accident or crash. If, however, you were not at fault, your insurance rates may stay the same.
After a crash, injuries and damages you incur may be covered by the at-fault party’s insurance. You may also be eligible for no-fault insurance, which provides medical coverage to insured drivers regardless of fault for an accident or crash.
For a better understanding of how your insurance rates may be impacted by an accident, even if you were not at fault, it is best to speak with a seasoned lawyer for tailored advice about your case.
At Schwartzapfel Lawyers, our experienced auto accident and insurance lawyers are equipped to help you maintain your rights after an accident. Moreover, it would be our distinct privilege to fight for you in and out of court, and a simple phone call to our team can help save you miles of headache and heartache down the road.
That said, you shouldn’t wait. Your future is too important to leave to chance. Instead, act now and contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers at 1-516-342-2200 to protect yourself, your family, and your wallet.
Get started today!
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. You should seek the appropriate counsel your situation requires. For more information, call 1-516-342-2200 now!
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You™™
How Much Do Car Insurance Rates Go Up After An Accident? | Forbes Advisor
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements | New York State Department of Financial Services
Motor Vehicle Collision Report Statistics Citywide 2023 | Police Department City of New York
