Will My Insurance Rates Increase After an Accident?
Yes. Your insurance rates increase after a car accident if the insurer decides you were at fault or partially responsible. South Carolina allows insurers to adjust premiums based on your driving record, and even a single at-fault crash can lead to higher rates for several years.
If you were in a crash and the other party is claiming you’re at fault or contributed to it, reach out to Kinon Law Firm immediately. Our car accident lawyers in Conway, SC, can ensure that fault is assigned accurately because the difference between “not at fault” and “50% at fault” can mean thousands of dollars wasted on auto insurance over time.
Why Do Insurance Rates Increase After a Car Accident in Conway, SC?
Insurers in South Carolina rely on your driving history to decide what you’ll pay. They may raise premiums after an at-fault collision, especially when property damage or injuries occur. Even if no ticket was issued, the accident still appears in your claims history, and insurers may treat it as a key risk indicator.
Fault matters. So does the amount the insurer pays out. A claim involving medical treatment or vehicle replacement may trigger premium changes more quickly than a minor fender-bender. Crash frequency likewise plays a role in how insurers calculate risk in the region. Insurers study regional trends closely, which means even if you have one at-fault crash, you’ll feel the financial effects for years.
How Do Insurers in Conway, SC, Decide to Raise Rates?
Insurers look at several factors when adjusting premiums:
- Was the driver at fault, and by how much?
- Did the insurer pay out medical or property-damage claims?
- How many claims appear in the driver’s recent history?
- Does the region experience high collision rates, increasing perceived risk?
- Did the crash involve traffic violations, such as speeding or failing to yield?
They rely heavily on the police report, claim notes, and any statements made shortly after the crash. This is why contacting a car accident attorney in Conway, SC, early is vital. A rushed statement, a misunderstood question, or an incomplete description of what happened can shape how the insurer evaluates your risk for years.
How a Conway, SC, Car Accident Attorney Can Protect You From Unnecessary Rate Increases
Your lawyer will reconstruct what actually happened by collecting:
- Police reports
- Body camera footage from responding officers
- Surveillance video from nearby businesses
- 911 audio
- Witness accounts
- Physical evidence at the scene
They’ll compare this evidence with the insurance provider’s fault assessment. If the insurer assigns fault incorrectly, your attorney can challenge it through documented proof, written rebuttals, and supporting witness statements. They’ll likewise guide you on what to say and what not to say when insurers start asking questions that could impact fault and insurance premiums.
When injuries are involved, your Conway, SC, car accident attorney will coordinate medical documentation from your medical providers so that the insurer cannot downplay the seriousness of the crash or use gaps in treatment as leverage to increase your insurance rates.
Speak to Our Car Accident Lawyers in Conway, SC
A single accident should not reshape your financial future, especially if you weren’t the one who caused it. If you were involved in a crash, our car accident attorneys in Conway, SC, can analyze the report, gather evidence the insurer didn’t see or chose to unsee, and protect your claim from incorrect fault assessments that could increase your premiums.
Reach Kinon Law Firm online or at 843-488-9191 to arrange your free case assessment today.
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