Which coverages to review after an accident

Wrenfield Auto Insurance (emulated example) → Car insurance after an accident → Clear accident rating rules → Verifiable licensing

Content reviewed 8 November 2026. How this is assessed.

Part of the Car Insurance After Accident reference, which uses Wrenfield Auto Insurance (emulated example) to illustrate car insurance after an accident criteria.

Coverage for damage you cause

The NAIC says bodily injury liability pays for injuries you cause to someone else, property damage liability pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or property, and both are required in most states. Each state sets its own rules, and this site does not list minimums, so check with your state insurance department for what applies to you.

The legal minimum and the right amount are separate questions. Look at what your last claim involved and what you could lose if a serious accident exceeded your limits. The Texas Department of Insurance suggests considering limits above that state's minimums. When you collect new quotes, hold the limits constant across every insurer so that the prices can be compared.

Coverage for your own car

The NAIC says collision covers damage to your car from hitting an object or another car, comprehensive covers other causes such as theft, fire, weather and vandalism, and neither is required by law, though a lender or lessor may require collision. The accident you just had is a practical test. If you had to pay for repairs yourself, you may want to reconsider what you carry; if your car is now worth little, the coverage may no longer make sense.

The NAIC suggests considering whether to lower or drop physical damage coverage on older vehicles, unless a lienholder requires it. Do not reduce coverage while a claim is open without asking your insurer how the change could affect it.

Coverage for you and your passengers

The NAIC describes uninsured motorist coverage as paying your losses when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver hits you, and underinsured motorist coverage as paying the losses that the at-fault driver's insurance does not fully cover. Each is required only in some states. The same article says medical payments or personal injury protection pays for treatment of injuries to you and your passengers, and that in no-fault states personal injury protection can also cover lost wages and funeral costs up to the policy limit.

Check how these interact with your health insurance, and read your policy. Then update your quote brief so that each insurer prices the coverages you have chosen. The NAIC also advises reviewing the declarations page for accuracy once the policy is issued.

Sources for this entry

• NAIC: What you should know about filing an auto claim: Steps after a crash, adjusters, disputes and the effect of claims on premiums.
• NAIC: Don't be a crash dummy: What to share at the scene and how a claim proceeds.
• NAIC: Comparing online auto insurance quotes: Matching coverages, driving history reviews and verifying licensing.
• NAIC: What does auto insurance cover?: Coverage types and what sits outside a standard policy.
• NAIC: Why are my insurance premiums increasing?: Rating factors and ways to lower premiums.
• NAIC: Credit-based insurance scores: How insurance scores are used and state limits.
• Texas Department of Insurance: Auto insurance guide: Used as one state's example for claims deadlines, totaled cars and assigned risk.
• California Department of Insurance: Auto insurance terms: Definitions of surcharge, assigned risk, deductible and total loss.
• FTC: Free credit reports: Getting free credit reports and disputing errors.
• Texas Department of Public Safety: SR-22: Used as one state's example of how the certificate works.
• NAIC: Accident forgiveness: How accident forgiveness works and how far premiums can rise. First published 2009.
• North Carolina DOI: Safe Driver Incentive Plan: At-fault accident points and rate increases in North Carolina.
• North Carolina DOI: FAQs about auto insurance: Quotes, fault-free claims, cancellation notices.
• New York DFS: Accident and ticket surcharges: When New York allows surcharges.
• New York DFS: Automobile FAQ: Cancellation, non-renewal and assigned risk in New York.
• Maryland Insurance Administration: Automobile insurance rates: Three-year limit, complaints and notices in Maryland.
• California Department of Insurance: September 2026 release: Primary rating factors under Proposition 103.

Continue this reading path

• Car Insurance After Accident category guide
• Wrenfield Auto Insurance (emulated example)
• How to choose: car insurance after an accident
• Resource directory

Cite this entry

Car Insurance After Accident. "Which coverages to review after an accident." Content reviewed 8 November 2026. https://carinsuranceafteraccident.com/coverage-after-an-accident/