Reader’s Question:

When an accident occurs and you don’t receive proof of car insurance, name, or address from the other motorist who hit you and they file a claim against you, can you turn them in for failing to show you with proof of their car insurance? I live in Houston Texas.

Bill

Houston, TX

If a law enforcement officer was not contacted or did not respond then there is really no recourse you have to obtain this information.

All accidents should be reported to your insurance carrier in Houston TX even if the police are not called. In this manner, they have a record of your side of the accident. This also protects you from incidents such as the one you mention wherein the information later changes and they file a claim against you. You should contact your insurance carrier, if you have not yet, and tell them what happened. At this point, it will be up to a claims adjuster to decide whether or not an insurance claim can be made against your auto insurance policy. The same would also apply to the other party’s insurance company.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

How much does your auto insurance rate rise in Houston Texas if you are at fault in an accident and the other driver claims injuries?

Sam

Houston, TX

There is no specific amount your auto insurance in Houston may increase but generally you might expect a 10% to 15% increase in your auto insurance rate premiums. Insurance providers are required to file their car insurance rates and rules with state regulatory bodies such as the Department of Insurance. In most situations, they impose a surcharge or charge ‘points’ to motorists who have been charged with an accident and/or who have made an insurance claim against their car insurance policy. So, there is no standard law that dictates that an insurance carrier can increase your car insurance rate premiums due to an accident. It’s just a matter of how the car insurance rates are filed and passed on to you as a result of an accident.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

This is my first time to buy car insurance? How much should I be expecting? Please help.

Morgan

Houston, TX

When it is your first time purchasing car insurance you need to educate yourself with requirements in Houston Texas and the the types of coverage you need.

Rating factors such as the amount of time you have been licensed will likely affect your car insurance quotes. For instance, normally a person that is an inexperienced driver and is purchasing car insurance for the first time will pay more than a long time experienced licensed driver that has been under other people’s insurance policies and is now purchasing their own car insurance policy.

Generally though, the average annual cost, according to the Insurance Information Institute for car insurance premiums nationwide in 2007 was estimated at $847 per insurance policy. Thus a new, inexperienced driver like you may expect to pay about twice the average.

You can get car insurance quote here by entering your zip code and other basic information. Good thing is that there is no limit to the number of free quotes you can get.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance quotes, First time driver car insurance