Auto Insurance Coverage for Road Debris

When you have collision and comprehensive car insurance coverage you are protected from most damages your vehicle may suffer, including hitting objects on the road or flying objects hitting your car while driving or parked. Road debris is one of those hazards that can fall under either collision or comprehensive coverage but luckily they are typically sold together in most cases. So, whichever way it happens you may be covered by either of them. However, consequences may be different on your auto insurance rates going forward. This post will explain the distinctions between the two scenarios, the importance of the classification, and the potential outcomes.

Comprehensive Coverage: When Road Debris Hits Your Car:

Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle from most damages out of your control such as theft, vandalism, acts of nature, fire, hitting an animal and flying or falling objects hitting your automobile. So, comprehensive coverage may provide compensation when a flying object falls onto your parked car or when it does when driving. For example, strong winds may lift the three branches in the air and hit your vehicle or items falling off other vehicles may go airborne and hit your car. So, comprehensive coverage includes road debris hitting your vehicle while you are parked or driving. Then, your vehicle insurance would pay for repairs or replacement, minus deductible.

Collision Coverage: When You Hit Road Debris:

Collision coverage is designed to protect your vehicle in accidents, regardless whether you are at fault or not. So, collision coverage may pay for damages to your vehicle resulting from colliding with objects, other vehicles, posts, rails or a property, minus deductible. Colliding with debris on the road while driving is typically classified as a collision coverage matter since it didn’t hit your vehicle but you hit it with your vehicle when it was lying on the road. In the same way, if you try to avoid a flying object hitting your automobile and end up hitting another vehicle, object, a tree, rails or come off the road and cause damage to your automobile, it is still considered a collision damage. In this case, the end result is that the flying object didn’t hit your automobile but you crashed it to something else.

Importance of Classification:

Understanding whether an incident involving road debris is categorized as a collision or comprehensive coverage matter is essential for determining the coverage applies and reimbursement you may receive from your insurance provider. It helps establish the specific terms and conditions applicable to your policy, including the deductibles you need to pay. However, you would be less worried about it when you know you have both coverage on your vehicle insurance policy and make a claim if you prefer. Both coverage would have a deductible so you may need to get a few repair quotes and see if your damages are higher than the deductible.

Consequences on Claim History and Auto Insurance Rates:

The classification of an incident as a collision or comprehensive claim can have consequences for your claim history and car insurance rates. Hitting debris lying on the road may be considered an at fault claim since there is no third party involved in the accident and may result in sizable increases on automobile insurance premiums from the next renewal. This is because individuals with at-fault accidents are often seen as having a higher likelihood of future claims. In contrast, comprehensive claims are less impactful for your rates, as they are typically considered unavoidable incidents not directly caused by your actions.

Understanding the potential impact on your claim history and rates is crucial for making informed decisions about filing a claim. It’s important to consider the potential rate increases and weigh them against the cost of repairs. In some cases, if the damage is minor and the repair costs are close to your deductible, it may be more cost-effective to pay for the repairs out of pocket to avoid potential rate hikes.