My car was hit by another car at an red signal while I was waiting. The other car hit me from rear side. Insurance company is paying the damage as applicable, however on renewal of policy they took off my NCB (no claim bonus). I had discussion with agent that it is not fair when I was not at fault, which was agreed by other driver and police.

My point is I am penalized same as other driver who was at fault. Agent say insurance compnay look for claim made by me not for who is at fault. Please suggest...


Thanks for your suggestion... Suresh

Find a new carrier

Your insurance company paid to repair your car, less your deductible right? Then they should have gone after the other person's insurance company to get reimbursed (and to recover your deductible). Did they do that? If your company was fully reimbursed by the other, so that they incurred no expenses, then your rates should not go up.

I suggest you shop around and see if you can get a better rate from another company. Next time this happens, where you are not at fault, consider working directly with the other driver's insurance company to get reimbursed for repairs, rather than through your own insurance company.

Great Ebaines, I was expecting same from insurance company. Seems I have to approach some higher authority for issues of increase in premium, and deductible I paid for not-at-fault accident. Thank you much

EB is right, your carrier should not have paid anything. A few years ago I was sideswiped on a snowy street. A car was coming around a curve and I saw he was going too fast so I pulled over to the curb. He lost control and sideswiped me. There was no question it was his fault and he acknowledged it. I put in a claim directly to his carrier even though I informed my carrier. But his carrier picked up everything.

Your carrier should have told you to put in the claim directly. Even if they did pay out, they should have been reimbursed by the other carrier. There should have been no deductible involved, since this should have been covered by the other policy's liability not collision coverage.

However, that does not mean they can't raise your rates. You can appeal to your state's Dept of Insurance. All insurance carriers are regulated by the state. But they generally have fairly broad freedom to change rates. So I really doubt if you will get any satisfaction. Shop around for a new carrier.

First

1. has the other company paid anything yet ?

2. Did your company pay to fix your car ?
If so have they been paid back

If they are paid back fully, they are suppose to also pay you back your deductable.

A few companies rate any accident as an accident when it comes to a safe driver discount, no matter whose fault.

I lost a safe discount when my car was struck IN A PARKING LOT, while parked, and I wasn't in it!

You have to read the terms of the policy very closely - it may be a "no claims" discount OR a "no event" discount.