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Can anything bad happen if you don't report an accident?

My sister got into an accident and didn't tell her insurance company. Can she get in trouble? Her car is damaged, but she doesn't want to pay her deductible to get it fixed. She also doesn't want her rate to increase.

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“While it is common for people not to report accidents to avoid a rate increase with their
car insurance company
, there are consequences.
If she doesn’t report the accident and another driver was involved, the other driver could submit a claim. If her insurance isn’t aware of the accident, they may
deny coverage
. This means your sister will have to pay for the damages to the other vehicle, if applicable, as well as pay for damage to her own car out of pocket.
While insurance companies typically help with defense costs after an accident, they won’t help if you don’t report the accident. Even though your sister doesn’t want to pay her deductible, the cost of damage could outweigh the cost of it. If she doesn’t report the accident, she may have to pay even more to repair her car.
If your sister is worried about paying a deductible or her insurance increasing, lowering her deductible or shopping around for new car insurance are two options. Use the
Jerry
app to compare dozens of rates from top-rated car insurance companies.”
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