What Happens When You Don’t Report an Accident

“I want my auto insurance rate to increase."

There are very few people who have ever uttered this statement. In fact, most of us want to do everything possible to lower our auto insurance rates.

It’s natural to have the cost of your auto insurance on your mind. No one wants to pay more than they have to. In these days of affordability, we are all looking for the best ways to keep our auto insurance rates steady. Some people even have the cost of their auto insurance on their mind following a minor fender bender.

If a fender bender happens, a driver may spring into panic mode. In these cases, drivers may try to avoid reporting an accident to their insurance company. The might fear that their rates will increase because of the accident.

Failure to report an accident is not a good idea. In some cases, it may even be against the law not to report an accident.

Don't be like some people, and neglect reporting a fender bender. Always report accidents to your insurance company, no matter how minor they appear. You will save yourself a lot of trouble in the future.

Reporting an Auto Accident Protects You

A minor fender bender may not seem like a major problem. After all, it’s just a few scratches. It may not seem like you even need to have repairs made.

If you’ve exchanged information with the other driver, you might assume you are out of the woods? Many people think that will be the end of the matter.

Wrong. You could find out later that the damage to your vehicle is more than you originally estimated. In fact, the exacerbated damage may even prevent your car from driving as it should.

This could lead to more severe costs down the road. Minor fender benders can set off snowball reactions that cause other problems.  Failure to repair the car properly could allow other problems to develop as a result of the accident. The car might eventually need repairs that are far beyond what you can afford to pay.

That is why you should always report a car accident, no matter what. Reporting an accident protects you. It verifies with your insurance company that you noted damages when they occurred. Prompt reporting also demonstrates that you're prepared in case any further damages appear.

You May Have to File Claims Against Your Insurance

Exchanging information is always a great idea, but so is filing an accident report. In fact, in certain instances, you will need to call a police officer for a minor fender bender. A police report means that a licensed officer took note of the damages, and did so in an ethical way. He or she did not underestimate or overestimate the damages on the report.

Sometimes, you might encounter another driver who doesn't want to file a claim. Treat these situations with caution. A person who encourages you not to file an insurance claim may not have any insurance. Furthermore, they may be trying to avoid a rate increase. When you only exchange information, you have very little residual evidence to substantiate your damage claims. That could come back to haunt you later.

Contact your insurance company while you are at the scene of the accident. They can often send an adjuster to the scene of the accident. If not, they will tell you how to secure the vehicle until an adjuster can review the damages. This can which helps you in the end. Otherwise, you may have to file the damages to your vehicle on your policy, which isn’t the best option.

Reporting an Accident Is a Requirement in Many States

You should report an accident to your insurance company because it’s usually the law. Most states require you to report accidents even when it comes to fender benders. If you fail to report an accident or file a claim, you may face legal penalties. These can include the possibility of a fleeing the scene charge.

If you simply exchange information and don’t not report the accident, your insurance company may have a legal right to refuse to cover the damages you discover later. This is because your failure to initially report the accident makes it difficult for the company to discern what damages it should cover.

When it comes to an auto accident, regardless of the magnitude, it’s better to be safe than sorry. You should take protective measures to ensure you aren’t on the hook financially. Most importantly, contact your insurance company to tell them about the accident. It is better to face a claim on file than deal with exacerbated damages in the future.