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I was in an at-fault accident and don't have collision insurance

I was at-fault in an accident and totaled my vehicle. I tried to talk to my insurance about getting a payout or something but they said because I don't have collision insurance I won't receive anything. I need my vehicle for transportation and everything. What options do I have?

Feb 14, 2018 Bakersfield, CA

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Ava Lynch

Senior Analyst

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior analyst, providing insights and data analysis as one…

Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of options here unless you had specifically asked for collision and comprehensive coverage and your insurance representative never applied it or charged you for it. Collision and comprehensive is the coverage that offers physical protection for your vehicle whereas your basic liability is what protects you from being financially responsible for the damages you cause to other vehicles. So, in an at-fault accident, your liability insurance paid for the damage to the other person's vehicle but because you didn't have collision coverage, your insurance won't be able to help you. If you own the vehicle, you might be able to sell the salvaged vehicle and use that money as a down payment for another vehicle. That might be your only option at this point.

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