Does My Insurance Go Up If Someone Hits Me?
Being hit by another driver feels like adding insult to injury — and then comes the worry that your own insurance rates might climb even though the accident wasn't your fault. It's a fair concern, and the honest answer is: it depends. Not on any one factor, but on a combination of your insurer, your state, your policy history, and how the claim gets paid.
How Fault Factors Into Rate Increases
Most people assume insurance works on a simple rule: if you caused the accident, your rates go up; if someone else did, they don't. That's roughly how it's supposed to work — but the reality is more complicated.
When the other driver is clearly at fault and their insurance pays, your insurer ideally has no reason to penalize you. The claim runs through the at-fault driver's liability coverage, your insurer may not even be directly involved, and your driving record stays clean.
The situation gets murkier when:
- You file a claim through your own insurance (even temporarily, while liability is sorted out)
- The accident involves uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Fault is disputed or shared
- Your insurer uses broad rating factors that count any claim involvement
When Your Own Policy Gets Pulled Into It
Even if you weren't at fault, you may end up filing a claim through your own coverage — particularly if the other driver has no insurance, flees the scene, or their insurer is slow to respond. This is when things get complicated.
Collision coverage on your own policy can pay for your vehicle's repairs upfront. Your insurer may then pursue reimbursement from the at-fault driver's insurer through a process called subrogation. If subrogation succeeds, you typically get your deductible back — and in many cases, a not-at-fault claim handled this way won't affect your rates.
But not always.
Why Some Insurers Still Raise Rates After Not-at-Fault Claims
Insurance companies use actuarial data to set rates, and some research suggests that drivers who've been in accidents — even ones they didn't cause — statistically file more claims in the future. That logic may feel unfair, but it's legally permitted in most states.
Some insurers specifically exclude not-at-fault claims from rate calculations. Others don't. And some states have laws that prohibit insurers from raising rates after a not-at-fault accident. Whether your state has those protections matters a great deal.
Here's a general breakdown of the variables at play:
| Factor | How It Can Affect Your Rates |
|---|---|
| Who filed the claim | Claims through your own policy carry more risk of a rate impact |
| Your insurer's rating model | Some companies penalize any claim; others exclude not-at-fault incidents |
| State law | Some states prohibit rate increases for not-at-fault accidents |
| Your claims history | Multiple prior claims — even not-at-fault — can compound the effect |
| Whether subrogation succeeded | Recovery from the at-fault driver's insurer may limit your exposure |
| Type of coverage used | UM/UIM claims, collision claims, and liability claims are treated differently |
The Role of "Accident Forgiveness" 🚗
Many insurers offer accident forgiveness as a policy feature — either built in after a period of clean driving or purchasable as an add-on. This can protect you from a rate increase after a first accident, regardless of fault. Whether it applies to not-at-fault accidents specifically varies by insurer and policy terms.
If you have this feature and haven't used it, a not-at-fault accident may be a case where it's automatically applied. But that's something to confirm directly with your insurer — not assumed.
What Happens at Renewal
Rate changes from accident involvement typically don't hit mid-policy. They show up at renewal, when your insurer reassesses your risk profile. That gap between the accident and your renewal date can make it easy to miss the connection.
If your rates do increase at renewal following a not-at-fault accident, you have options. You can ask your insurer directly how the claim was coded on your record, request a review if the at-fault determination was clear, or compare quotes from other carriers — since your claims history follows you, but how competitors weight that history varies.
What Stays on Your Record
In most states, accident records are maintained for three to five years by insurers. Some states have their own motor vehicle record systems that track this separately. A not-at-fault accident may still appear on your record even if it didn't result in a rate increase — which can matter when you switch insurers or shop for new coverage.
The Piece Only You Can Fill In
Whether your rates actually go up after being hit depends on your specific insurer's rating practices, your state's consumer protection rules, which coverage paid the claim, and your prior claims history. Two drivers in the same city, hit under nearly identical circumstances, can walk away with completely different outcomes depending on who their insurer is and how their policies are written.
The general principle holds: not-at-fault accidents shouldn't raise your rates, and often don't — but the protections aren't universal, and the details of your policy and state are the deciding factors. ⚠️