Question
Damage to fog light insurance claim
I cracked my bumper and my fog light is also damaged. My deductible is $500. Should I file a claim? While looking for parking at an event, I decided to pull off the road to turn around and continue looking for parking. There was a vacant lot on the street that I turned into, there was no proper lighting so I didn’t see there was a mound of dirt on the right hand of my path and I ran into it. I saw that I cracked my bumper in a few places and my fog light was also damaged.
Answer
So there are a few things to consider before you file the claim.
- How much does it cost to repair the damage to your car? If it's less or close to the amount of your deductible, then you wouldn't want to file a claim because they wouldn't pay much for the damages, if any at all.
- Is the damage is more than your deductible?
- Will the claim will be listed as an at-fault accident?
- An at-fault accident will negatively impact your rates for up to five years. Here is more information on whether or not you should file a claim. Also, here is information on what to expect if you do file a claim. Good luck and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. Below are some expected rate increases for Washington
| Year After Accident | Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| 0 - No Accident | $1,160 |
| 1 Year Later | $1,482 |
| 2 Years Later | $1,804 |
| 3 Years Later | $2,126 |