A car accident is an unsettling experience, even when it’s a relatively minor collision. When it’s a serious accident with injuries, it’s even more traumatic. Sometimes, the distress of a California car accident continues for an extended period after the accident, as a car accident victim struggles through the aftermath, with painful medical procedures and recovery periods at the same time that they must deal with the legal implications of the accident, including a compensation claim for damages. In these situations, working with an experienced Van Nuys car accident lawyer can help ease the burden.
It sometimes seems like the after-effects of a car accident never end, but how long does a California car accident stay on your record and impact your insurance costs?
Is a Car Accident a Permanent Part of a California Driving Record?
In California, any driver involved in an accident with over $750.00 in property damage and/or any injuries or fatalities must report the accident to the police within 24 hours. They must also report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days.
If you were not at fault for the accident, there was less than $750.00 in property damage, and no injuries, the report probably won’t appear on your driving record at all unless you or the other driver reported it to the police or DMV rather than simply exchanging insurance information.
An accident remains on your record for about three years if you were not at fault for the accident; however, if you did not cause the accident, you may file an appeal to have the accident removed from your record sooner, especially if you have a clear driving record.
Most insurance companies do not increase a driver’s insurance rates based on an accident on their record if they were not at fault.
What If I Was at Fault for the Accident?
If you cause a car accident in California through a driving error, the accident remains on your record for three years, or up to ten years if the accident involved mitigating factors such as a DUI conviction or a hit-and-run.
Depending on the complexity of the accident investigation, the information that you were responsible for an accident could appear on your driving record within a few days or weeks.
How Does a Car Accident Impact My Insurance Rates If I Caused the Accident?
Your insurance company has access to the information on your driving record and will increase your rates if you were at fault for the accident. Typical car accidents negatively impact your insurance rates for three to five years if you are the at-fault driver. Still, there is no predetermined time limit for an insurance company to use your accident record against you. If the accident was severe and resulted in someone else’s bodily injury or wrongful death, the insurance company may raise your rates higher or keep them at a higher monthly premium for a longer period.
If you are responsible for more accidents within the three-year minimum that an accident remains on your California driving record, it will further raise your insurance rates or could result in the cancellation of your policy because the insurance company considers you a high-risk policyholder.
