It happens. Maybe you are in a rush or maybe it’s parked just slightly differently than normal, but you’ve just hit one of your cars with another one of your cars. What happens now?
Car Insurance
Good news, you have insurance! Or at least you should! Specifically, you should have a full coverage insurance policy. A full coverage insurance policy is usually a combination of many different types of policies/coverages. The three below are considered the backbone of what is commonly referred to as a “full coverage” policy:
- State Required Liability or No-Fault Insurance Coverage: This policy helps cover bodily injury and property damages to others in an accident that you caused. If you’ve hit your own car with another car, this type of insurance is not applicable.
- Collision Coverage: This policy helps pay for the property damages to your vehicle. This coverage is most likely what will be applied to your damaged car(s).
- Comprehensive Coverage: This policy helps cover damages that were NOT the result of an accident, like vandalism or theft. However, depending on the nature of the property damage, this policy may become applicable to your claim.
Deductibles
Both collision and comprehensive coverage usually come with deductibles, which means you’ll likely have to pay a certain amount of money out-of-pocket before your insurance will begin to pay for the rest of the property damage bill. For example, if you caused $1,000 in damage but the policy has a $500 deductible, you’ll have to pay the $500 before your insurance will cover the remaining $500. If you’ve damaged both cars, it is likely you’ll reach that deductible quickly.
Contact your Car Insurance Provider
After you’ve gotten over the frustration of having hit one of your own cars with another one of your cars, take photos. Document the damage done to both vehicles, as well as the larger area of the incident (the driveway, street, etc). Then, give your car insurance provider a call and let them know what happened.
Contact a Lawyer
If you are unsure of what to do, contact a car accident attorney Phoenix, AZ trusts. Our experienced attorneys at Kamper & Estrada, PLLC have seen a lot of different auto insurance policies over the years. Contact our office for a free consultation. Our team can help you learn what sort of coverages you may be entitled to under your auto insurance policy.
