This weekend, a cyclist ran a red light and crashed into the side of my car in NYC. She was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and the police were called to document the incident. They confirmed that I wasn’t at fault, and I’m not concerned about the minor damage to my vehicle.
Do I need to notify my insurance even if I don’t plan to file a claim and I’m not at fault? If I do inform them, will this affect my insurance rates?
It’s definitely a good idea to notify your insurance company about the incident, even if you don’t plan on filing a claim. This is because accidents involving your vehicle can potentially impact your record, and notifying them ensures you’re covered in case any issues arise later on, such as the cyclist claiming more injuries or damages than initially reported.
As for whether this will raise your rates, most insurance companies consider fault when determining premium increases. Since the police report indicates that you are not at fault, it’s less likely that your rates would increase as a result of this incident. However, policies can vary, so it’s best to check with your insurer for their specific policies regarding non-fault accidents.
Overall, keeping your insurance company in the loop is a good precautionary measure.