Should I Report My Car Accident To My Insurance Company?
Updated: May 23
The short answer is, yes. You paid for the insurance plan, why not use it? What if the other driver decides to sue you later on, even though you did nothing wrong?
Many people don’t know that most insurance companies require that you let them know any time you get into a car accident. Every insurance policy that you pay for, is a contract. You agree to pay them money and in exchange they agree to pay for your injuries, your legal defense, or your car.
But buried deep down in the fine print of your insurance contract that you didn’t read (because nobody does, except us lawyers), is a technical requirement. It will likely say something like, “You must notify us anytime there’s an accident, and if you don’t we don’t have to pay for things.”
If you don’t let them know about your accident, how will they know to defend you, or pay for things?
Does reporting a car accident raise my rates?
Depends on the insurance company. Depends on who is at fault. But remember, you’ve already paid for your insurance. You’ve been paying for it for years, maybe even decades. How much money have you given to the insurance companies over the years? You’ve now gotten into an accident that your insurance company is contractually obligated to pay you for, and you’re going to just…. walk away?! They agreed to pay you if things happen, and things have happened. Why should the insurance company executives keep all of their yacht money? They'll raise all of our rates anyway (i). Go collect. Or better yet, let us at Chig Legal do all the work for you.
Do I need a lawyer for my car accident?
When in doubt, report your accident. Then call us. You have enough going on to be dealing with insurance companies and fine print. The call is free. You CAN go through the insurance claims process on your own and you CAN file a lawsuit without a lawyer. But these are generally bad ideas. And if you don't have to pay us out of pocket, why do it alone? At Chig Legal, we've been doing this for a very long time. We know what your accident is "worth" and will make sure to get the full compensation that you deserve for the losses that you sustained. Don't let 'em off the hook. Call us at 312-300-2444. www.chiglegal.com