Common Auto Insurance Myths After an Accident

Your premium may stay the same if:

• You weren't at fault
• You have accident forgiveness
• The claim is minor
• Your insurer offers a good driver discount that still applies

Even a small scratch or dent can lead to hidden damage—or the other driver changing their story later. If that happens, and you never reported the accident, your insurer may deny coverage.

While insurance companies might recommend a preferred partner for faster processing or guaranteed repairs, they cannot force you to go there.

Even with comprehensive and collision included, you may still face:

• Deductibles
• Rental car limitations
• Coverage gaps for custom parts
• Depreciation-related payouts

Depending on the situation, your insurer may pay first and recover costs later from the at-fault driver's insurance. This speeds up the repair process and minimizes delays.

Police reports help, but insurance adjusters also analyze:

• Statements from both drivers
• Damage photos
• Traffic laws
• Witness accounts

What looks like a small repair can easily turn into thousands of dollars. If the other driver backs out or the damage is worse than expected, you're left without insurance protection.

Even a vehicle that appears repairable might be declared a total loss if fixing it is too expensive compared to its market value.

Your car's payout after an accident is based on:

• Age
• Mileage
• Condition
• Market value