Expert Advice for Car Accidents

All Articles on Car Accidents

How Progressive’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Progressive’s accident forgiveness can prevent steep car insurance rate increases that usually follow an at-fault accident. Here’s how it works.
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Melanie Krieps Mergen
How Allstate’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Allstate’s optional accident forgiveness coverage waives the typical surcharge on your premium after your first at-fault accident.
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Matt Terzi
How Esurance’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Accident forgiveness is not available with Esurance but you can still adjust your coverage and look for discounts to keep your premium manageable.
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Rebecca Wardell
How Farmers Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Not every Farmers customer qualifies for accident forgiveness—and those that do must still pay for this perk.
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Kathryn Kurlychek
How Liberty Mutual’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Liberty Mutual offers accident forgiveness as an optional endorsement for existing policyholders—see if you qualify here!
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Drew Waterstreet
How Travelers’ Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Travelers offers accident forgiveness and minor violation forgiveness as part of their optional Responsible Driver Plan.
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Mary Cahill
How USAA’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
USAA’s free accident forgiveness will waive the premium increase for your first at-fault accident—but you need to remain accident-free for five years to earn this perk.
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Jason Tushinski
How Safeco’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Safeco’s free accident forgiveness won’t increase your premium after your first at-fault accident. Here’s how to qualify.
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Jennifer Justice
How AAA’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
With AAA, you can purchase accident forgiveness or earn it after five years of accident-free driving.
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Jaya Anandjit
How Erie’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
Erie’s free accident forgiveness won’t increase your premium after your first at-fault accident, but you aren’t eligible for the option until you’ve been their customer for three years.
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Jennifer Justice
My Car Was Totaled, Should I Cancel My Insurance?
If you’re thinking about canceling your car insurance after your car is declared a total loss, you may want to think again. Read on to find out why.
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Sarah Gray
Do Insurance Companies Cover Parking Lot Accidents?-1
Did you know 20% of all accidents occur in parking lots? Fortunately, with the right coverage, your insurance will protect your vehicle!
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Drew Waterstreet
Do Insurance Companies Cover Parking Lot Accidents?
Did you know 20% of all accidents occur in parking lots? Fortunately, with the right coverage, your insurance will protect your vehicle!
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Andrea Barrett
Do Insurance Companies Total Cars If Airbags Deploy?
Each state has its own threshold for declaring a vehicle a total loss—and airbags are expensive to replace. Here’s what you need to know.
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Bonnie Stinson
How State Farm’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
State Farm doesn’t offer accident forgiveness—but that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep your rates low after an accident. Here’s how.
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R.E. Fulton
How GEICO’s Accident Forgiveness Actually Works
GEICO’s free accident forgiveness will waive the premium increase for your first at-fault accident—but you need to stay accident-free for five years to earn it.
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R.E. Fulton
Will State Farm Insurance Cover a DUI Accident
State Farm will likely cover a DUI accident if you weren’t at fault. But if you were intoxicated and you caused the accident, they’ll likely fight the claim.
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Sarah Gray
Will my GEICO insurance go up if someone hits me?
GEICO won’t raise your premium after a no-fault accident, but you might lose your accident-free discount. Keep reading to learn more!
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Jessica Gibson
Does Progressive Insurance Cover DUI Accidents?
Progressive insurance will cover a DUI accident up to the limits of your existing insurance policy, but your premium will increase if you’re convicted of DUI.
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Mary Cahill
How Long Will Insurance Cover a Rental Car after an Accident?
With the right insurance policy, you can get up to 30 days of rental reimbursement after an accident—learn how to qualify here!
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Drew Waterstreet
How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your GEICO Insurance
An accident stays on your auto insurance record with GEICO for a total of five years.
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Jacqulyn Graber
How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Insurance with Progressive?
Progressive keeps a record of your car accidents for 3-5 years, during which time it may affect your car insurance rates.
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Jacqulyn Graber
How Long Do You Have To Submit a GEICO Claim After a Car Accident?
GEICO does not have a specific time limit for filing a claim, but you should do so as soon as you’re able to avoid having your claim denied for unreasonable delays.
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Sarah Gray
Can You Add Rental Car Insurance After a Car Accident?
Adding rental car insurance after a car accident won’t do much to help—and it may not even be the coverage you’re thinking of. Click here to learn more!
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Pat Roache
How to Lower Your Car Insurance After an Accident
Hope is not lost for cheap car insurance premiums after an accident! But you’ll need to implement these strategies.
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Drew Waterstreet
Complete Guide to Virginia Traffic Laws
From right of way and car accident laws to drunk driving and child seat-belt guidelines, here’s what you need to know about Virginia traffic laws.
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Bonnie Stinson
What to Do if You’re in a Car Accident Without Insurance but Not at Fault in South Dakota
You can still recover some damages if you get in an accident and don’t have insurance. But there will be consequences for driving without proper coverage.
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Julian de Sevilla
What To Do If You’re In a Car Accident Without Insurance But Not At Fault In Rhode Island.
Unless you’re 100% not at fault, you’ll have some financial liability in Rhode Island if you’re in a car accident without car insurance.
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Drew Waterstreet
All the Florida Traffic Laws You Should Know
From insurance laws to right of way to DUI regulations—here are all the Florida traffic laws you need to know!
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Jacqulyn Graber
All the Michigan Traffic Laws You Should Know
Michigan has strict DUI laws and unique turning patterns—here’s everything you need to know about Michigan traffic laws.
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Bonnie Stinson

All Questions on Car Accidents

What do I do if someone hit my car and fled the scene?
"What can I do if someone rear ended me then sped off? We agreed to move to a different spot, but they left. I got their license plate, but the number isn't associated with the vehicle they were driving. I wasn't able to call the police until later since I didn't have my phone with me."
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Emily Maracle
When do you need to file a police report in Alabama?
I recently was in an accident and I'm not sure if I need to file a police report. My car was damaged and I also had to go to the hospital for minor injuries. Do I need to file a report?
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Emily Maracle
How can I find out the cost of a car insurance claim?
I am new to driving and car insurance. I’m worried about what to do if I get into an accident and need to repair my car. How would I find out the cost of my insurance claim?
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Chloe Jenkins
How long should you wait to file an insurance claim after a car accident?
When should you file an insurance claim if you were in an accident? I was rear-ended a few days ago but I still haven't filed a claim. I've been pretty busy and I'd like to put it off for a few weeks if I can.
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Joshua Levy
What happens if you get into an accident without insurance?
What will happen if I injure someone in an accident and I don't have insurance? I don't currently have insurance.
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Emily Maracle
Why do so many head-on collisions occur on two-lane roads?
I’ve done some research and I found out that many head-on collisions occur on two-lane roads as opposed to other thoroughfares. Why would more head-on collisions happen on these types of roads?
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Eric Schad
How do I submit a claim off someone else's insurance?
I was in an accident on the highway. The other driver is at fault. How do I submit a claim for their insurance?
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Emily Maracle
How much money will the insurance company pay out for my totaled vehicle?
My Ford Edge has been deemed a total loss after it was hit by a motorist who was texting and driving. How much money can I expect from the insurance company? Will they offer book value or take certain factors into consideration, like the hardship of being without a vehicle?
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Alexah Grinnell
How long is it to make a claim on car insurance?
How long can I wait to make a claim on my car insurance? Someone hit my car while I was in a store and messed up my bumper. I know I need to file a claim, but I've been so busy!
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Joshua Levy
How long does it take for insurance to repair a car?
My son got into an accident recently and his car needs some repairs. He's driving my car for now, but we can't do that forever! How long will it take for insurance to repair his car so I can get mine back?
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Liz Jenson
How do I make a car insurance claim when I'm not at fault?
A few days ago, a drunk driver slammed into the passenger side of my car. Everyone's okay, but one side of my car is completely crushed. I was not at fault here, but I've never had to file a claim before—I don't know what to do. How do I make a car insurance claim when I'm not at fault?
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Ben Guess
How do I check my car insurance policy?
What’s the best way to look up my car insurance policy? I was in a minor accident about a week ago. No one was harmed and the damages to my car weren’t horrible, but I'm not sure if my car insurance will cover the cost of repairs. How can I check?
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Chloe Jenkins
What is the time limit to sue someone after an accident in New York?
"I got into a car accident 2 years ago and wasn't at fault. I initially didn't have any injuries, but now have back issues resulting from the accident. Is it too late to submit a claim for medical costs?"
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Emily Maracle
How do you stop a car alarm?
How do you turn off a car alarm that won’t stop going off? Someone hit my car and my alarm has been going off for three straight minutes. I have no idea what to do!
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Joshua Levy
How to explain car accidents to insurance?
I got into a fender bender last weekend, and I haven't reported anything to my car insurance yet. What is the best way to explain a car accident to your insurance company?
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Carlos Kirby
What information is needed when reporting a claim?
How can I make sure I give the claims agent all of the information they need? Unfortunately, I was in an accident yesterday and was so frazzled that I don't think I even knew what I was saying! Is there any way I can contact them again and give them the information they need now that I’m in a better state of mind?
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Shannon Martin
What can I do if an insurance company won’t pay me for my labor?
A driver crashed through a fence on my property and caused extensive damage to my fence, yard, kid’s toys, and more. The estimate to clean up and remove the debris was $1,250 that I could not pay upfront, so I cleaned it up and disposed of the waste on my own. I assumed the insurance company would compensate me for my labor, but they are refusing to pay. Do I have any options?
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Jack Walsh
What is the best way to protect yourself after a car accident?
What can I do to make sure I am safe after a car accident? I haven't been in one before, but I don’t want to take any chances—I want to make sure I am as prepared as possible. If I do get into a car accident, how should I protect myself?
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Shannon Martin
How much does it cost to fix a car frame?
I was in a bit of a fender bender with my old 1993 Toyota Tacoma. I don’t have collision coverage, so I have to get my truck repaired myself. I think there may be some frame damage, but it is still drivable. How much does it cost to fix a car frame?
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Shannon Martin
What do I do if I get into a not at-fault accident?
"Do I need to inform my insurance if I filed a claim with the other person's? I was in a multi-vehicle accident and the at-fault driver was arrested at the scene. I have medical bills and need to get a rental car as well. What should I do next?"
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Emily Maracle
How do I see if a car is insured?
I'm sort of panicking. I got into a little accident today, and the other person gave me their phone number and said they would send me their insurance information. I haven't heard from them since! Can I check on their insurance anywhere else?
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Liz Jenson
Can I get an attorney if I wasn't at fault in an accident?
I was injured in an accident and the police determined I wasn't at fault. Am I able to get a lawyer to represent me? I'm having issues with the other driver's insurance company.
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Emily Maracle
How do I find my car insurance company from a policy number?
I wrote down the policy number of someone that rear-ended me last night, but I was really shaken up, and I’ve forgotten which company they were insured. How can I find their car insurance company from the policy number alone?
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Matthew Macgugan
How does GEICO decide if a car is totaled?
I was recently in an accident and GEICO said my car was totaled. I'm not upset about taking the money for the car to buy a new one; it was about time to get a new one anyway. But I'm curious; how does GEICO decide if a car is totaled? It looked fine to me.
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Eric Schad
Is Arizona a no-fault state?
I recently got into a little bit of an accident while driving through Phoenix. I overheard somewhere that Arizona is considered a no-fault state, but I wanted to make sure this is true. So, is Arizona a no-fault state?
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Kevin Martinez
What happens to a car seat in an insurance claim?
I'm planning on making a claim on my collision insurance for a recent accident. If my child's car seat was damaged, can I submit it as part of the claim?
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Sophie Newman
How does an auto insurance claim work after an accident?
My car was recently damaged and I know I need to file a claim. How do I do that? What are the next steps?
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Jackie Whalen
How do I bill my insurance for home healthcare?
I was in a pretty bad car accident a few months ago. I had to file a claim for damage and my initial injuries. I've had to have home health care as well. How do I submit the bill for home health care to my insurance?
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Emily Maracle
How much will you have to pay for car insurance?
I got into a car accident a few weeks ago but my insurance hasn't changed yet. I'm expecting my rate to bump up but I don't know by how much. How do you calculate car insurance?
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Joshua Levy
How do you know if a car has frame damage?
I was recently in an accident with my Jeep. It seems off when I drive it now. I'm worried it has frame damage. What are the signs?
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Sophie Newman

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