Assigning Blame: Car Insurance Coverage if the Accident is Your Fault

Nobody is perfect. That is certainly the case when it comes to driving on the open road. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the first thing you need to do is call 911. The police officers will show up, take a look at the scene, and probably assign blame the one or more of the parties involved. If the accident was your fault, is your auto insurance company going to pay to fix your car? The answer is that it depends.

You Have a Policy That is Liability Only

There are multiple types of insurance policies. If you are trying to spend as little money as possible on car insurance, then you probably have a policy that is liability only. This means that if you are involved in an accident that is your fault, your insurance company will pay to fix the car of the other driver. On the other hand, they will not provide you with any money to fix your own car. That is why you should avoid purchasing liability-only insurance as long as you can afford collision or comprehensive coverage.

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You Have a Policy That Is Collision or Comprehensive Coverage

If you decide to pay for a collision or comprehensive coverage, your insurance company should pay to fix your car even if it is your fault. At the same time, your insurance company is not going to cover 100 percent of the damages. For example, the vast majority of insurance policies are going to have something called a deductible attached to them. You are responsible for paying the deductible. Then, if the damages exceed the value of the deductible, your insurance company should cover the rest of the damages up to the limit of their liability. That is why it is important for you to work with a repair shop that has a lot of experience. You want to make sure you are getting an honest quote on how much it is going to cost to fix or replace your car.

Protect Yourself and Your Car

Ultimately, there are a lot of factors that will play a role in whether your insurance company will pay to fix your car if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident that is your fault. If you only have liability coverage, your insurance policy will not provide you with anything at all. On the other hand, if you have collision or comprehensive coverage, your insurance company will probably pay to fix or replace your car. Keep in mind that your insurance company does have a legal limit of liability. Therefore, if the damage is too great, you may still be responsible for some of the repairs. Contact our team of car insurance professionals today.