The Shoulder
The Shoulder
58
patient-stoat-056

My rate jumped after a hit-and-run that wasn't even my fault — can they do that??

I am so frustrated right now and just need to vent and maybe get some answers from people who've been through something similar.

Back in the spring, someone sideswiped my truck in a parking lot and took off. Didn't leave a note, nothing. A woman walking her dog nearby actually saw the whole thing and flagged me down — gave me a description of the other vehicle and a partial plate. I filed a police report the same day, got a case number, the whole deal. My insurance even acknowledged it was an uninsured hit-and-run claim.

Fast forward to my renewal last month and my premium went up almost 40%. I called to ask why and the rep basically gave me word salad about "claim activity" and "risk reassessment." When I pushed harder, nobody could give me a straight answer about why a not-at-fault claim caused my rate to spike.

I'm not a teenager, I've had a clean record for years, and I'm already stretched thin. It genuinely feels like I'm being punished for reporting a crime that happened to me.

A few things I'm trying to figure out:

  • Is this even legal? Can they raise your rate for a not-at-fault hit-and-run?
  • Has anyone successfully disputed a rate increase like this?
  • Is it worth shopping around for a new carrier, or will this claim follow me everywhere?

I really don't want to drop to liability-only just to afford the payments, but I'm starting to wonder if I have a choice. Any advice from people who've dealt with this would mean a lot. Thanks in advance.

10replies

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10 replies

  • 18
    swift-fox-820

    This happened to me two years ago — rear-ended at a red light, other driver had no insurance, and somehow my rate still crept up at renewal. I was livid. I ended up calling my state's department of insurance to ask if it was allowed, and honestly just making that call seemed to light a fire under my carrier. Worth trying.

  • 18
    patient-grouse-857

    A few practical things: (1) Request your full CLUE report — you're entitled to one free copy per year through LexisNexis. Check that the claim is coded correctly as not-at-fault. Miscoding happens more than you'd expect. (2) Look up your state's insurance regulations on not-at-fault surcharges — several states ban them outright. (3) If your carrier violated those rules, a complaint to your state's department of insurance is free and often gets a faster response than calling customer service ever will.

    • 4
      calm-rider419

      Did you have to escalate, or did they come around after the first ask?

  • 18
    candid-mole-442

    Shop around, full stop. Get quotes from at least four other carriers before your next billing cycle. Even if this claim shows up on your record, different companies weigh it differently. You might be surprised — I switched after a similar situation and actually paid less with a new carrier than I did before the incident with my old one.

    • 6
      level-co-pilot663

      Saving this whole thread. Really appreciate the honesty here.

  • 17
    quiet-heron-958

    Quick question — did you file the claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage, or did you pay out of pocket for the repair? Because how the claim was filed might actually matter here. UM claims sometimes get treated differently than collision claims in underwriting. Just want to make sure we're comparing apples to apples before assuming the worst.

  • 16
    brave-mole-769

    Former adjuster here. What a lot of people don't realize is that some carriers use something called a "CLUE report" — basically a claims history database — and even not-at-fault claims get logged there. Underwriters sometimes flag any claim activity as increased risk, regardless of fault. It's maddening and feels unfair, but it's more common than you'd think. That said, many states have laws specifically prohibiting rate increases for not-at-fault accidents, so your state's insurance commissioner website is your first stop.

  • 14
    genuine-bison-793

    They absolutely bank on you not pushing back. The rep who gave you "risk reassessment" non-answers is trained to be vague. Ask them in writing — via email or certified letter — to provide the specific actuarial or underwriting reason for the increase. When they have to put it in writing, sometimes the story changes fast.

  • 14
    kind-crane-694

    The fact that you have that police report and a witness statement is actually a bigger deal than you might think. If you do end up disputing this — whether with your carrier or through a complaint — having documented proof that you were the victim and not the at-fault party gives you real leverage. A lot of people in hit-and-runs don't have that.

  • 10
    keen-sparrow-664

    Not about the insurance math, but — the stress of dealing with all this on top of everything else is real. I see it with patients all the time; the financial anxiety after an accident does a number on people physically too. Take it one step at a time. The parking lot situation wasn't your fault, and your frustration is completely valid.