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Related Questions from DMV Answers

• When do I have to file an accident report?

  • Reports and Records

  An accident report usually needs to be filed whenever there is an injury or death, or property damage of a certain dollar amount, or both. Even if the police come and take a report at the scene of the car accident, it’s your responsibility to make sure it’s properly filed and to file it yourself if it wasn’t. Make sure you have enough insurance to cover any incident that might arise...

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• How do I file an accident report with the police and the DMV?

  • Insurance > Auto Insurance Claims

  The extent of your auto accident will determine whether or not filing a car accident report with the police is required. Usually a fender-bender resulting in minor car damage will not necessitate a police report; but whenever injury or death is involved, a police report becomes mandatory. You may, depending on your state, also be required to file a car accident report with your DMV. File an Accident Report With Police The officer on the scene will initiate the police report process. When answering his or her questions remain calm and free of judgment. Don't charge the other driver, if applicable, with blame. And be sure to answer each question truthfully. If asked how fast you were driving, don't say 15 mph when you were operating at 30 mph. The police are experienced with piecing together..

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• What are my options if I receive an unacceptable settlement following a car accident?

  • Insurance > Auto Insurance Claims

  Your car insurance company might handle hundreds of car accident and personal injury settlements each week. The volume equips representatives at your auto insurance company with valuable experience at reviewing accident claim details. However, when it comes to the final insurance settlement terms, insurance companies can still make mistakes. Working With Accident Claim Adjusters Speak with your auto insurance claims adjuster and discuss the details of your car accident settlement. Options you can discuss with the claims adjuster include: Lowering the number of comparable autos used to determine the value of your vehicle. Unexpected repair costs required to fix your car. Costs to repair other damaged property related to the auto accident. Medical expenses. Lost wages associated with missing..

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• Will an auto accident that isn't my fault affect my car insurance rate?

  • Insurance > Auto Insurance Claims

  If you have been involved in an auto accident that was not your fault, your car insurance rate is not likely to increase. However, making a certain number of accident claims, to include several small claims, could result in a higher premium over time. Small Auto Claims Regardless of who is a fault, a driver who consistently files small auto claims runs the risk of being assessed as an at-risk driver. For this reason, you might consider paying for that scratch on your bumper out of pocket, provided the cost of repair is minimal. Auto Insurance Discounts Being involved in a car accident can disqualify you for certain discounts, such an accident-free discount. Review your auto insurance policy for discount eligibility requirements. Car Insurance Cancellation In the worst-case scenario, filing..

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• Do I have car insurance coverage for a rental car if I get in an accident?

  • Insurance

  You might assume your car insurance policy will cover a rental car if you are ever in an accident, but this is not always the case. Rental car coverage does not automatically come with all car insurance policies. If another driver is at fault for the accident, their insurance policy may cover your rental car, but there is no way to predict whether other drivers even have auto insurance or how much liability coverage they have. You must specifically add rental reimbursement to your policy if you want this coverage for yourself. Most auto insurance companies only charge an extra dollar or two per month for rental reimbursement coverage. A rental car for two weeks may cost around $500, so the cost of this coverage is small in comparison. Even if you only have one accident every eight years,..

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