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The Consequences of an Unreported Fender Bender
Unreported minor accidents risk denied claims, legal penalties including license suspension, and higher insurance premiums, with mandatory DMV reporting often required within 30 days.
- Soon, drivers must notify auto insurance companies within 24 to 72 hours and report to the State Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days for damage over $1,000.
- Many drivers choose to handle minor damage privately to avoid rate hikes and sometimes rely on insurer 'accident forgiveness' programs, but this can lead to costly consequences instead of saving money.
- Not reporting impairs insurer investigations and defense, as late notification hinders claims investigators and insurers may deny coverage if the other driver files a claim.
- Failure to report can lead to policy cancellation, mandatory SR-22 Certificate of Financial Responsibility filings, and placement in a high-risk category that increases premiums for years.
- In the resale market, CarFax and AutoCheck rely on collision repair shops and claims data, and unreported accidents leave vague marks that reduce negotiating power and diminish resale value.
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19 Articles
19 Articles
The consequences of an unreported fender bender | News Channel 3-12
Siarhei Kuranets // Shutterstock A fender bender can feel like a minor inconvenience, a brief, stressful disruption quickly resolved with a handshake and an agreement to “keep the insurance companies out of it.” Drivers often make this snap decision to avoid the immediate hassle of filing a claim or the feared increase in their car insurance rates. However, choosing to handle a car accident privately, regardless of how minor it appears at the …
Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center17Last UpdatedBias Distribution94% Center
Bias Distribution
- 94% of the sources are Center
94% Center
C 94%
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