Does my car insurance cover damage caused by my own negligence?
Car insurance covers damage caused by your negligence in some circumstances, depending on the type of policy you choose and the insurance company. However, using insurance for an at-fault accident raises insurance rates for drivers in the United States by an average of 24%. Learn more about the types of car insurance that could pay for negligence.
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
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UPDATED: Feb 6, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Feb 6, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Liability insurance won’t pay for repairs on your vehicle, but it protects you from having to compensate others for their losses
- Collision or comprehensive car insurance can sometimes cover damage from negligence as well
- Insurance companies often consider negligence carefully, and laws about negligence vary in different states
In some cases, car insurance covers damage caused by your negligence. Coverage depends on the type of car insurance coverage policy you choose, the insurance company, and the circumstances of the damage.
Does your car insurance cover damage caused by your own negligence? Here’s some additional information about the types of car insurance that cover negligence, how laws vary in different states, and how insurance companies might determine negligence.
Does my car insurance cover damage caused by my own negligence?
Many types of car insurance cover damage caused by negligence. People often call accidents from negligence at-fault accidents. Some examples of negligence while driving that could lead to an accident include:
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Ignoring a yield sign
- Speeding
- Changing lanes abruptly or without signaling
- Texting while driving
- Tailgating
- Not using headlights in the rain or at night
The average cost of car insurance in the United States is $147. Even if you don’t have an accident, receiving a traffic ticket could increase your car insurance rates and make you seem more likely to be negligent.
An accident, from negligence or otherwise, increases car insurance rates by an average of 24%. To get a better rate, looking for the best car insurance company for people with accidents on their driving records is a good idea.
Liability Car Insurance for Negligence
Liability insurance pays for damage to other people’s vehicles caused by your negligence. It can help you avoid replacing someone else’s costly car, truck, or SUV. Without insurance, you might also have to defend yourself from a lawsuit. In many areas of the United States, liability insurance is required.
Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage to my own car if I am at fault in an accident?
Collision Car Insurance for Negligence
Collision insurance covers damages to your vehicle after an accident. If you cause a crash because of negligence, your collision insurance usually pays for repairs.
However, your insurance rates may increase. Searching for the best collision coverage car insurance companies can help you keep your rates as low as possible.
Comprehensive Car Insurance for Negligence
Comprehensive insurance pays for damage when your car is sitting still, and insurance companies don’t usually determine fault for comprehensive coverage. This type of insurance is optional, and policies with comprehensive and collision are often called full coverage.
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Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Damage Caused by Negligence
Case Study 1: Liability Coverage for Property Damage
John was driving and accidentally rear-ended another vehicle while not paying attention. The other driver’s car suffered significant damage. Fortunately, John had liability car insurance, which covered the property damage caused by his negligence. His insurance company paid for the repairs to the other driver’s vehicle, saving John from paying out of pocket.
Case Study 2: Collision Coverage for Own Vehicle Damage
Sarah was driving in heavy rain and lost control of her car, causing it to collide with a tree. The accident was a result of Sarah’s negligence. Thankfully, Sarah had collision coverage as part of her car insurance policy. Her insurance provider covered the damages to her own vehicle, allowing her to get it repaired without incurring a substantial financial burden.
Case Study 3: Comprehensive Coverage for Non-Collision Damage
Mike parked his car outside his house, and a severe hailstorm struck the area. Hailstones damaged the car’s roof, hood, and windows. Since Mike had comprehensive car insurance, his insurance company covered the damages caused by the hailstorm, even though the incident was beyond his control. The comprehensive coverage protected Mike from having to pay for the repairs himself. (For more information, read our “Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a hailstorm or heavy rain?“)
Negligence and Car Insurance Coverage: The Bottom Line
Car insurance usually compensates others involved in an accident if you were negligent. To get payment for damage to your vehicle, it’s a good idea to choose collision and comprehensive insurance along with liability insurance.
This combination is often called full coverage. To select the type of car insurance that can protect you, compare car insurance and consider the options available carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes of damage can comprehensive insurance pay for?
Causes of damage that comprehensive insurance often pays for include:
- Theft
- Wind
- Tornadoes
- Hurricanes
- Flooding
- Fires
- Falling trees
- Vandalism
- Hail
Insurance companies understand that many of these hazards are difficult to predict. They usually don’t call drivers negligent if they park under a tree that later falls or leave a vehicle in a driveway instead of a garage before a sudden hailstorm.
Do negligence laws differ depending on the state?
Different states often have different laws about negligence. In no-fault states, the person at fault or negligent is responsible for paying for other people’s property damages but not their medical expenses.
However, drivers must have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical costs, and everyone takes care of their health expenses after an accident.
In at-fault states, also called tort states, liability insurance must cover property damage and bodily injuries.
It can compensate other people involved in an accident for medical expenses and property damage, but you’ll need collision insurance to get help for repairs to your vehicle. Most states have at-fault laws about negligence.
Which states are no-fault?
No-fault states include:
- Hawaii
- Florida
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New York
- New Jersey
- North Dakota
- Utah
- Kentucky
- Pennsylvania
Other states not on this list are at-fault states.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.