If you were involved in a car accident in Milwaukee, you may be concerned about what happens to your car insurance rate. Having insurance is necessary for all drivers and can help cover expenses such as medical bills or property damage that incur as a result of the accident. Not every car accident will make your insurance cost go up.
How your insurance rate is affected depends on the state where you live and your specific insurance provider. Factors such as the type of accident you were in, who is at fault, the location of the accident, and how much is being paid out for the claim can all affect your insurance premium. In general, a Milwaukee car accident may result in an increased premium for three to five years after the date of the accident.
Insurance Cost Increases After a Milwaukee Car Accident
Insurance companies increase premiums after an accident not to punish the driver but to account for the increased risk of insuring you as a driver. The majority of insurance companies will raise the premiums after an accident regardless of who is at fault.
Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness programs that can be purchased in addition to your regular policy. According to our Milwaukee car accident lawyer, if you were enrolled in an accident forgiveness program, the rate increase may be waived after your first at-fault accident, and you may not see an increase in your premium. The guidelines vary from company and state, so it is best to check with your specific company on what is covered under their program.
Depending on the amount of damage and severity of the accident, insurance cost will be increased accordingly. In addition, if you have a history of car accidents, you may appear high risk to insurance companies, and you may face an extreme rate increase. Accidents such as collisions and ones that cause property damage or bodily injury will result in a rate increase.
Proving Fault After a Car Accident
If you are found not at fault for the car accident in Milwaukee, your insurance cost may not be increased. It is important to do several things after an accident to protect your rights and help with your case. Some things to do after an accident are:
- Seek medical attention
- File a police report and be sure to get a copy of the report that shows who is at fault
- Gather evidence from the scene, such as names and contact information for others involved in the accident and of any witnesses
- Contact an experienced Milwaukee car accident lawyer before speaking to insurance adjusters
An experienced Milwaukee car accident attorney can help with your case by proving you are not at fault and someone else’s negligence caused the accident. To prove fault, your attorney may obtain a statement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company stating that they accept fault for the accident. If you were reimbursed for any damages from the accident, you will need to submit those to your attorney to prove that another party accepted responsibility for the accident. In addition, the other driver may give a written statement accepting that they are the one at fault for the accident.
Types of Accidents that Do Not Increase Your Rate
There are several types of car accidents that do not increase insurance rates since the driver is not at fault or able to prevent the accident from happening. These include:
- Damage to a car when the driver is parked legally
- Damage caused by animals, birds, or falling objects
- Hit and run accidents
- Accidents where the car is rear-ended by another vehicle and the driver is not at fault for a moving violation
- Accidents that occurred as a result of an emergency response and you are part of an emergency response team or law enforcement agency
In addition, if the other party assumes fault and agrees to reimburse you for any damages, your rate will not increase. According to our car accident lawyer in Milwaukee, in situations where there is a settlement for the accident, and the other driver is found liable for the accident, your insurance rate will not be affected.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Milwaukee WI
If you were involved in a car accident in Milwaukee, or throughout the state of Wisconsin, and have questions about your legal rights, contact our experienced Milwaukee car accident lawyer at Hupy and Abraham for a free consultation. To set up a confidential appointment with one of our attorneys, you can fill out our convenient contact form online or call us at 1-800-800-5678.
