Originally Posted By: Nick1994
This is a Comprehensive insurance claim, as the shopping cart blew into your car. Comprehensive claims don't raise insurance rates, it's like hail damage or a rock hitting your windshield.
Who told you this? This is something that could possibly vary by state, but it my experience *any* insurance claim will raise your rates. Even if it's something as innocent as a hit & run claim that's not your fault.
There are lots of insurance companies that have some sort of forgiveness, but you certainly pay for that in higher rates vs. other insurance carriers/policies that do not have this provision.
My two experiences that support this:
when I was first driving about 15-20 years ago, I filed a windshield claim. I stopped by one of those roadside repair places that claim to be no-deductible and had a cheap repair done (I was too stupid or broke at the time to pay for it out of pocket.) That small $25 claim or whatever it was, haunted me for the next 5 years. When I'd get a quote, if I did not list a comprehensive claim, I would get a normal rate, but as soon as they verified my driving/insurance history, it went up some $100-something every six months and it was explained in the "Why did my rate change" section of buying the policy that I did not report a previous comprehensive claim and the glass claim was it! If I did report it in the quote process, I simply got the higher rate. Again, this could vary by state or insurance carrier, I think I had Geico at the time.
The second one was getting sideswiped while driving when another vehicle tried to turn into my lane without looking in their blind spot. I stayed in my lane, because if I had maneuvered in the other direction to avoid him, I would have hit another car. The guy took off, but I was able to get the plate number and report it to the police. I kept having to call the police for an update, when I finally got information about it, the other vehicle was registered to an older lady that said she was not driving at the time, and the police could not establish fault toward the vehicle owner. They said was a civil matter and I should attempt to sue in small claims court. Long story short, I reported the $1,000 damage to my insurance carrier-- I believe it got turned in as a collision claim (perhaps uninsured motorist, I can't recall) and they pursued subrogation. That went nowhere (presumably because the police report did not establish a faulty party) and I paid dearly for that claim for the next 5 years.
Needless to say, if the claim is not substantial, I will NEVER involve my insurance company unless I am certain I am free from all liability. A lot of states use comparative/contributing negligence formula, so if you are even 1% at fault, your rates will go up. Insurance companies aren't your friend, they are there to take your money as a customer and profit from it, not to help you out. They are nice about it and do it with a smile though, so many people get the warm fuzzy feeling-- like they're actually there to help you, but not in my experience.
