After a car accident, most people worry about the immediate problems first. Is everyone okay? How badly is the car damaged? Will the insurance company cover the repairs? Do I need medical care?
Then another stressful question comes up: how much does car insurance go up after an accident?
The honest answer is that it depends. Your rate may increase slightly, significantly, or not at all depending on the accident, your insurance company, your driving history, whether you were at fault, whether anyone was injured, and whether a claim was filed. A small property damage claim may affect your premium differently than a serious injury accident. A not-at-fault accident may be treated differently than a crash you caused. Your policy, coverage, state laws, and claims history can all play a role.
In Missouri, drivers are required to carry minimum liability insurance. The Missouri Department of Revenue states that a motor vehicle liability policy must meet minimum limits of 25/50/25, which means $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
But minimum insurance coverage does not always mean a crash will be simple. If the accident caused injuries, medical bills, lost wages, long-term pain, or a dispute over fault, the issue may become much bigger than your monthly premium.
At the Law Office of Uhrig & Brown, the team represents Missouri accident victims in car accident, truck accident, and serious injury cases. Their car accident lawyers help clients deal with insurance companies, claim documentation, negotiations, and litigation when needed.
Will Your Car Insurance Always Go Up After an Accident?
Your car insurance does not automatically go up after every accident. Whether your rate increases depends on the facts of the crash and your insurer’s rules.
If you caused the accident, your insurance company may consider you a higher risk and increase your premium at renewal. If the accident involved injuries, major property damage, or a large payout, the increase may be more noticeable. If you have had other recent claims or tickets, the increase may be even higher.
If you were not at fault, your rate may not go up in the same way. However, some drivers may still see changes depending on their insurer, claims history, state rules, and whether their own policy paid any benefits. For example, if your insurance company paid for repairs under collision coverage and then tried to recover the money from the at-fault driver’s insurer, your policy history may still show a claim.
The reason this feels confusing is that insurance pricing is not only based on one accident. Companies may look at your driving record, claim frequency, location, vehicle type, coverage limits, deductibles, age, credit-related insurance scoring where allowed, and other risk factors.
So, while the question is simple, the answer is personal. Two people can be in similar accidents and still see different premium changes.
How Much Can Insurance Increase After an At-Fault Accident?
There is no single number that applies to every driver. Some people may see a modest increase, while others may see a major jump after an at-fault accident. The amount depends on the insurer, the severity of the accident, the cost of the claim, and the driver’s history.
An at-fault accident may affect your insurance because your insurer views it as a sign that you are more likely to file future claims. If your company had to pay for another person’s vehicle damage, medical bills, or other losses, that can also influence how your policy is rated.
The increase may be larger if the crash involved:
- Significant property damage
- Injuries to another driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian
- A total loss vehicle
- Multiple vehicles
- A previous accident or ticket on your record
- A DUI or reckless driving allegation
- A lawsuit or serious injury claim
- A large liability payout
The premium increase is only one part of the financial impact. You may also have a deductible, rental car costs, out-of-pocket expenses, missed work, or medical bills. Uhrig & Brown’s car accident page notes that insurance companies may deny liability, dispute the severity of injuries, or refuse to offer a fair settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages, and future medical care.
What If the Accident Was Not Your Fault?
If the accident was not your fault, you may hope your insurance will not increase at all. In many cases, a not-at-fault crash may have less impact on your premium than an at-fault accident. But it is still important to pay attention to how the claim is handled.
If the other driver caused the crash, their liability insurance should usually be the first place to look for compensation. Their policy may pay for your vehicle damage, medical bills, lost wages, and other losses, depending on the facts and available coverage.
However, the process does not always go smoothly. The other driver’s insurance company may dispute fault, delay the claim, offer less than your losses are worth, or argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash. This is when a rate question can turn into a legal question.
If your own insurance company pays under collision coverage, medical payments coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, or underinsured motorist coverage, your claim history may become more complicated. That does not mean you did anything wrong. It simply means there may be several insurance issues happening at once.
If you were injured in a crash you did not cause, it is worth speaking with a car accident lawyer before accepting a quick settlement.
Does Filing a Claim Make Insurance Go Up?
Filing a claim can affect your insurance, but not every claim has the same impact. A small glass claim, a roadside assistance claim, a no-fault claim, and an at-fault injury accident may all be treated differently.
Insurance companies often look at both the type of claim and the amount paid. A claim involving injuries or large property damage may be viewed differently than a minor claim with a small payout. Your past claim history also matters. A single accident after years of clean driving may not be treated the same as multiple recent claims.
Some drivers wonder whether they should avoid filing a claim to prevent a rate increase. That may seem tempting after a small scrape, but it can be risky. If someone was injured, if there is significant damage, if the other driver may file a claim, or if fault is unclear, failing to report the accident can create bigger problems later.
Uhrig & Brown has noted in its own car accident content that even minor crashes can create frustration as people navigate insurance claims, and that car accident lawyers can help clients pursue compensation for injuries, damages, and losses.
How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Insurance?
The amount of time an accident affects your insurance depends on your insurer, state rules, and the type of accident. Many insurers look back several years when evaluating risk, but the exact period can vary.
An accident may affect your premium at renewal, and the impact may decrease over time if you avoid additional claims or violations. However, if you have multiple accidents, speeding tickets, or other traffic violations, the effect may last longer or lead to a larger increase.
It is also possible for a serious crash to affect more than your insurance rate. If someone was badly injured, the claim may involve medical bills, lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, liens, settlement negotiations, and possibly a lawsuit.
That is why it is important not to focus only on the premium increase. If the crash caused injuries, your bigger concern may be whether the insurance available is enough to cover the damage.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance?
A premium increase can be frustrating, but an underinsured driver can create a much bigger problem. If another driver caused the accident and does not have enough insurance to cover your losses, you may need to look at other coverage options.
Missouri’s minimum liability limits are 25/50/25, but serious injuries can easily exceed those amounts. A hospital stay, surgery, physical therapy, lost wages, and long-term care can create losses far beyond minimum coverage.
This is where uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage may matter. Uhrig & Brown has content explaining that uninsured and underinsured motorist issues arise when an at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance, and that accident victims may need help identifying available sources of compensation.
If your own policy includes coverage that applies, your insurance company may be involved even though you did not cause the crash. These claims can still become disputed, especially when there are serious injuries or questions about the value of the case.
How Fault Affects Insurance and Injury Claims
Fault is one of the biggest factors in both insurance rates and injury claims. If you caused the accident, your insurance company may have to pay for damage or injuries. That can affect your future premium. If someone else caused the accident, their insurer may be responsible for paying your damages.
But fault is not always agreed upon. Insurance companies may try to divide fault between drivers. They may claim you were speeding, distracted, following too closely, failed to yield, or did not react quickly enough. Even if you believe the other driver was completely responsible, the insurance company may see it differently.
This matters because disputed fault can affect both your claim and your insurance. If the insurer assigns some blame to you, it may reduce the amount offered for your injuries or property damage.
A lawyer can help investigate what happened and push back against unfair blame. Evidence may include the police report, photos, witness statements, traffic camera footage, vehicle damage, medical records, and expert analysis.
For serious accidents, it is important to gather evidence quickly before it disappears.
What If the Accident Caused Injuries?
If the accident caused injuries, the insurance question becomes much more serious. You may be worried about your premium, but you may also be facing medical bills, lost income, ongoing pain, therapy, surgery, or future care needs.
Injury claims are different from simple property damage claims. The value of the case depends on the severity of your injuries, the cost of treatment, how long recovery takes, whether you can work, and whether the injuries affect your daily life.
Uhrig & Brown’s car accident page explains that insurance companies may dispute the severity of serious injuries and refuse to offer a fair settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages, and future medical care.
This is why you should be careful before accepting a settlement. A quick offer may not account for future treatment, ongoing symptoms, reduced earning ability, or pain and suffering. Once you settle, you may not be able to ask for more money later.
If you were hurt, speak with a lawyer before signing anything from the insurance company.
Can a Lawyer Help Keep Your Insurance From Going Up?
A personal injury lawyer generally does not control how your insurance company sets your premium. Insurance rates are determined by your insurer based on underwriting rules, claim history, driving record, and other factors.
However, a lawyer can help with the parts of the accident that may affect the claim. This can include investigating fault, documenting injuries, dealing with the insurance companies, identifying available coverage, and pushing back when an insurer tries to blame you unfairly.
If you were not at fault, a lawyer may help strengthen the evidence showing that another driver caused the crash. If your injuries are being minimized, a lawyer can help present medical documentation and damages clearly. If the at-fault driver’s insurer is delaying or underpaying the claim, a lawyer can negotiate on your behalf.
So, while a lawyer cannot promise what will happen to your premium, they can help protect your legal and financial position after the crash.
Should You Pay Out of Pocket Instead of Filing a Claim?
Some drivers consider paying out of pocket after a minor accident to avoid a possible insurance increase. This may make sense in very limited situations, such as a tiny scrape involving only your own vehicle and no injury risk.
But paying out of pocket can be dangerous if another person was involved. Injuries may appear later. Vehicle damage may be more expensive than expected. The other driver may change their story. You may accidentally miss a reporting deadline under your policy.
Before deciding not to report an accident, read your policy carefully and consider the risks. If anyone was injured, if another vehicle was involved, or if fault is unclear, it is usually safer to report the accident and get guidance.
If the accident caused injuries, the priority should not be avoiding a rate increase. The priority should be making sure medical care, evidence, insurance coverage, and legal rights are handled correctly.
What Should You Do After an Accident to Protect Yourself?
After a car accident, there are steps you can take to protect both your insurance claim and your legal rights.
First, make sure everyone is safe and call 911 if anyone is injured. Get medical care as soon as possible if you have pain, dizziness, numbness, headaches, limited movement, or any other symptoms.
Second, document the scene if you can do so safely. Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, traffic signs, license plates, damage, injuries, and surrounding area. Get contact information from witnesses.
Third, report the accident to your insurance company. Stick to the facts. Avoid guessing about fault or saying you are fine before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Fourth, keep all records related to the crash. This includes medical bills, repair estimates, prescriptions, missed work notes, insurance letters, photos, and receipts.
Finally, talk to a lawyer if you were injured, fault is disputed, the insurance company is pressuring you, or the settlement offer seems low.
When Should You Call a Car Accident Lawyer?
You should consider calling a car accident lawyer if the accident caused injuries, involved disputed fault, resulted in a denied claim, involved an uninsured or underinsured driver, or led to a settlement offer that does not cover your losses.
Legal help can also be important if the insurance company is asking for a recorded statement, blaming you, delaying the claim, or saying your injuries are not related to the accident.
At Uhrig & Brown, the firm focuses on car accidents, truck accidents, and serious injury litigation in Missouri. Their team fights insurance companies and negligent drivers on behalf of injured clients.
Their contact page also explains that they offer free consultations for people dealing with personal injury or workers’ compensation issues.
So, How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident?
Car insurance may go up after an accident, but the amount depends on fault, claim severity, your driving history, your insurer, and whether the accident caused injuries or major damage. An at-fault accident usually has a greater chance of increasing your premium than a not-at-fault accident, especially if the claim involved significant costs.
But your premium is only one piece of the bigger picture.
If the accident caused injuries, the more important question may be whether the insurance companies are treating the claim fairly and whether the available coverage is enough to pay for your losses. Medical bills, lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage can quickly become more expensive than a rate increase.
If you were injured in a Missouri car accident, or if the insurance company is blaming you, delaying the claim, or offering less than your losses are worth, contact the Law Office of Uhrig & Brown for a free consultation. Their team can review what happened, explain your options, and help you protect your claim.
