Will a claim raise insurance premiums?

[Gavin Allan]

What if a person had some damage to his vehicle because thi same person (the vehicle's owner) was mowing and the mower tossed a rock at the vehicle and damaged it-- if this person turned the damage claim into his insurance company, would it raise his premiums?

 

[Todd Z]

Depends on your policy....



Mine forgives you up to 1,000.00 in repairs 2 times, after that then they consider it a chargeable claim.....





I also can get 1 windshield a year, but if you need 2, then it is a chargeable claim....



Todd Z

 

[Richard L]

Depends on how long you were with the company. Most companies do not raise your rates for the first minor claim claim, or even a second or third claim if they are at least 3-5 years apart or more. Particularly if they are caused by flying missles, or weather damage that are not related to a persons driving record.



...Rich

 

[Dingo]

I had a really crappy insurance company once. A neighborhood kid used 4 cars in the neighborhood for BB gun target practice. I had a $500 deductible on collision and a $0 deductible on comp. They said comp wouldn't cover it because the BBs collided with the car.

 

[Doctor CAD]

You say you were just driving along and a rock flew up and hit your truck???

 

[Tom Schindler]

To add to what others have said.



Depends on how the "accident" was looked at. Is it a comprehensive claim? No, your rates will go up. Is it a collision claim? Odds are, the rates will go up. Some insurance companies have a forgiveness program that will allow one accident every three years, but not all are that way.



Shortly after Theresa purchased a house, she caused an accident that damaged 3 vehicles causing over $16,000 in repairs. She did not have American Family Insurance for more then 3 months before the accident.



Her premimum went up about 10 bucks a month for a year, and then it came down $20.00/month the following year and has stayed there until we got married.



Each company is different. Allstate talks a big talk on TV about how they take care of their policy holders, but being married to someone that worked for Allstate (Not in an agents office, but actually a claims center) they tell their employees to do different. Calling them to ask a question about a possible claim will be entered as a claim. Even if no money has been paid out, a claim was filed.





Tom

 

[Thomas Rogers]

No, DoctorCAD that's not what he said.



There's no reason not to tell the truth and a world of reasons NOT to lie to the insurance agent when reporting the incident.



Whether it is one's fault or not, if there isn't some other driving party with insurance to blame and seek compensation, the claim will be against policy holder; and whether the rates go up is totally up to the mercy and typically the procedures of the insurance co.



TJR

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Gavin, tell your hypothetical friend to get an estimate, then call a claims agent with his insurance company and present the "what if" scenario. They should be able to work with you (er, him) to figure out if the rates would go up, and if so, how much; or if such a claim would put you (er, him) into a "no more freebies" situation.



TJR

 

[Gavin Allan]

Sounds like a no-brainer... this guy probably has a $500 deductible and the claim probably is for $650....



Invest $150 to save more down the road by paying for the fix by himself...



THANKS!

 

[Scott Heckler]

Would it be covered under his homeowner's policy? Just a thought.

 

[Tommy VanNess]

That sucks Dingo. Unbelieveable.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Dingo,



You did get screwed by your insurance company. The BB's colided with your car, but your car did not collide with the BB's. In other words, the BB's were not insures, but the vehicle is. Since the vehicle was not moving, I assume, and the BB's were, that is comp.



Who was that insurance company?



With their thinking, hail stone was be collision since they would collide with your vehicle too.





Tom