Will a Hit and Run That I Didn’t Cause Affect My Insurance?
Dealing with a hit and run accident is stressful on its own. When someone else crashes into your car, cause damage, and then drives off, it is more frustrating than a regular accident because you might not know who was responsible, and you might not have any way of tracking them down. Now you have to deal with the physical damages that they caused to your car and the injuries that you sustained if you were in your car.
In order to cover those costs that weren’t your fault, you probably are interested in filing a claim through your insurance, but you might be wondering what that will do to your policy. Let’s take a look at whether or not a hit and run that you didn’t cause will affect your insurance.
Illinois Insurance Policies After a Hit and Run
In general, a hit and run accident that wasn’t your fault shouldn’t cause your insurance company to raise your policy rates. Typically, insurance rates will only increase if you’ve been in a chargeable accident. Each state has its own guidelines for what a chargeable accident is, but in general, it’s when you were over 50 percent at fault for what happened.
Since the hit and run wasn’t your fault, it shouldn’t be considered a chargeable accident. However, if you file claims often, then filing a claim for a hit and run, even though you weren’t at fault, could end up increasing your insurance rate.
You have an insurance policy to cover you when you need it, so you might think that using your policy by making claims is an efficient use of it. Even though this logic makes sense, that might not be the case. Filing insurance claims often, even when you might not need to, can lead to your insurer increasing your rates.
The best way to know how your policy will be affected after a hit and run you didn’t cause is to contact your insurer directly. They can answer all of your questions and let you know how a claim could affect your rates. If you’re unhappy with the way they handle an accident that wasn’t your fault, you could shop around for other policies at other agencies that better suit your budget and expectations.
What Should You Do After a Hit and Run?
Even if you’re not sure about filing an insurance claim to cover he property and bodily damages of a hit and run that wasn’t your fault, you should still know the steps you should take after the collision so that you get the best outcome possible. Here is what you should do after you experience a hit and run so that you can get justice for what happened to you:
- Make note of any information you can. If you saw the car, take note of their license plate number, car make, model, and color. You’ll also want to take note of the time of day, any conditions outside, and any other information about what happened to give investigators a firm idea of the cause.
- File a police report. Calling the police and ensuring they file a report is an important step. This gives a firm record that you weren’t at fault and gives more evidence for later when you make an insurance claim for file a legal suit against the driver.
- Take pictures. Just like taking notes, taking pictures of the scene can be very helpful for you. If you’re able to get a picture of the driver or their car, that can also be beneficial.
- Seek medical treatment if you’re hurt. Sometimes hit and run accidents only cause property damage, but if you were in the vehicle when it was struck, you could suffer from injuries. You’ll want to get medical treatment right away, even if you don’t think you were hurt.
- Contact your insurance company. Even if you’re not sure about filing a claim, you still should reach out to your insurance company or agent to determine how they could help you or what your options are after an accident.
- Hire a car accident lawyer. Having a car accident lawyer on your side can help you navigate this difficult and complex situation. They will be able to answer your questions and ensure you feel confident in your claim.
Prince Law Firm is Here for You
When you’ve experienced a hit and run, you might not know where to turn. You could have physical and emotional injuries as well as property damage, and nobody to hold accountable for those damages. That’s were a Marion, IL car accident lawyer from our firm comes in.
At Prince Law Firm, we’re here to help you get the justice that you deserve for what you’ve gone through. We’ll investigate and work toward holding the responsible party accountable for what they’ve done. Reach out to our office today so that we can start working for you.
