What Happens if the Court of Appeals Rules Me Not At Fault?
I was found at fault in a car accident back in December 2023 and will be appealing this decision in the court of appeals in about 18 months.
As a result of that ruling, my car insurance premiums have skyrocketed—nearly doubling compared to what I was paying before the accident. If the court ultimately determines that I’m not at fault, will my insurance provider reimburse me for the inflated premiums I’ve paid for the duration of this appeal (roughly 18 months)? In other words, will I get back the difference between my current premiums and what I should be paying based on this new determination?
If the Court of Appeals determines that you were not at fault for the crash, it may impact your insurance premiums moving forward, but reimbursement for past premiums can be a more complicated matter.
Generally, insurance companies base their rates on risk factors, including driving history. If you are found not at fault, your insurance company may reevaluate your risk and could adjust your premiums accordingly in the future. However, it’s unlikely they would reimburse you for the excess premiums you paid during the 18-month waiting period.
To get a clearer picture of your situation, you might want to:
Contact Your Insurance Company: Ask them about their policy on premium adjustments following a court ruling. They can provide specific guidelines on how they handle cases of being found not at fault.
Work with a Lawyer: Consulting with a legal professional who specializes in insurance or accident claims can provide more insights into whether you can pursue reimbursement and what your options are.
Review Your Policy: Check your insurance policy for any clauses that might address your question about refunds or adjustments based on fault determinations.
While being found not at fault is crucial for your future insurance rates, unfortunately, it typically does not result in reimbursement for the premiums you’ve already paid.