Car Totally Smashed with an Open Claim
This week, my child totaled my car.
Interestingly, two years ago, she had a minor accident in the same vehicle, and my insurer offered me a check for $3,400. I opted to repair it myself at that time. However, Progressive mentioned that there’s a three-year window in my state to reopen the claim and receive payment.
Now, I’m wondering if I can collect on that previous claim while also filing for the totaled car. I do have receipts for the repairs I made before this recent accident.
Before the car was totaled, Progressive indicated that I wouldn’t need to provide proof of the previous damages; they’d simply issue the payment.
Regarding the accident from two years ago, when does the clock start ticking for rate increases? Is it from the date of the accident or today? Progressive offers accident forgiveness for claims under $500, so thankfully, that previous incident didn’t affect my rates. Plus, there were no payouts to the other driver since it was deemed a 50/50 situation.
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds quite complex, but I’ll do my best to help clarify things for you.
Reopening the Old Claim: Since you have receipts for the repairs you made to the vehicle from the previous accident, you may be able to reopen that claim with Progressive within the three-year timeframe they mentioned. It would be advisable to contact them directly, explain your situation, and provide the necessary documentation to support your claim for the $3,400.
Claims for the Totaled Car: You can file a claim for the recent accident that totaled your car. Typically, insurance companies won’t consider a previous claim when assessing a new one, so you should be able to pursue both claims, as long as they are valid and properly documented.
Impact on Rates: As for the impact on your rates, the clock usually starts ticking from the date of the accident. However, since you mentioned Progressive’s accident forgiveness policy, it seems your previous accident did not affect your rates due to the specifics of their policy. It’s worth checking with them if reopening the old claim affects your rates or if the fact that you did not have a payout from the recent accident may shield you from a rate increase.
Given the intricacies of insurance claims, I highly recommend discussing your situation with a representative from Progressive. They can provide you with tailored advice based on your specific policy and circumstances. Good luck, and I hope everything works out for you!