How Much Will My Insurance Go Up After an Accident in Texas?

Insurance is supposed to cover your losses when you become involved in an accident. Unfortunately, insurers also price your policy based on how likely the risk of an accident is. If you become involved in a crash and make an insurance claim, your premiums could increase. This is such a source of concern that some people avoid reporting accidents.

The reality, however, is that the amount your insurance will increase can vary dramatically depending on many factors, including who was at fault for the incident, how severe the damage was, and whether you had policy protections in place like accident forgiveness coverage. 

The San Antonio accident attorneys at The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC will help you to understand your rights when dealing with insurance companies after an accident and can fight to help you make insurers pay the amount they should when you suffer losses.

Give us a call or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an accident lawyer or read on to learn more about how much your insurance goes up after a Texas crash. 

Factors That Affect How Much Your Insurance Increases

There are many different factors that can affect how much a crash is likely to increase your auto insurance premium. Some of those factors include:

• Whether you were at fault for the crash
• If anyone got hurt
• How extensive the damage was
• How many years of driving experience you already had
• Whether there are aggravating factors like aggressive driving or impaired driving
• Whether you have accident forgiveness coverage on your insurance plan

Insurers focus on pricing risk, and if you are seen as a riskier driver, you will pay higher premiums. As a result, the clearer it is that you were at fault for the crash and the more severe the losses, the more insurers will see red flags that prompt them to raise prices. 

Typical Increases in Insurance Premiums After an Accident

How much your premiums increase will vary based on the factors above, as well as other personal details specific to you. However, here are some general estimates for how much costs often increase after a crash happens:

• Minor at-fault fender bender with small repairs (under $1,000): This usually results in around a 10% to 25% increase. 
• Moderate at-fault accident with some repair cost ($1,000 to $5,000): You can expect premiums to increase around 30% to 50%.
• At-fault accidents with injuries:  If someone is hurt, you can expect that premiums will increase more substantially, even if the injuries were relatively minor. Premiums may rise as much as 50% to 75%. 
• When a vehicle is totaled and you are at fault: If a vehicle is totaled in a crash, the insurer must pay out a substantial sum, and you are seen as a riskier driver. You could expect premiums to increase by 75% to 100% or more. 
• Drunk driving accidents: If you are involved in a DUI accident, your insurer may decline to renew coverage, or you may see premiums double or triple. 

Premiums are also likely to increase more substantially if a teen driver becomes involved in an accident. 

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today

It can sometimes be difficult to determine who was at fault or what the extent of the damage was in an accident. Don’t assume you shouldn’t go through insurance, and don’t assume the law will find you are to blame. If you’re involved in a crash, call the San Antonio injury lawyers at The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC to understand your rights and learn how we can help you.