Does my car insurance cover damage caused by road rage?

Your car insurance may not cover damage caused by road rage because it resulted from an intentional act, not an accident. Your coverage depends on exactly what happened, the types of car insurance coverage you have, and your deductible.

Unfortunately, heavy traffic in many cities means that road rage is rising. As a result, a claim could increase your insurance rates, especially if you were the aggressor in the situation. Here’s some additional information about whether car insurance covers damage caused by road rage.

Car Insurance and Damage Caused by Road Rage

Standard liability and collision insurance policies usually don’t cover road rage if you’re the guilty party. Companies don’t want to be responsible if you cause damage to another driver’s vehicle or injuries intentionally.

If someone else is the aggressor, you can sometimes use your collision insurance when the other driver’s liability insurance doesn’t pay. Unfortunately, with many road-rage incidents, the other driver leaves before sharing their insurance information or speaking to the police.

This makes finding good uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage important for protecting yourself from road rage. Therefore, it’s crucial to ask yourself, “Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured?” to make informed decisions about your coverage. Some of the best uninsured motorist coverage car companies are GEICO and State Farm.

Comprehensive coverage can pay for damages that didn’t come from a collision. For example, another driver in a parking lot could become angry, step out of their car, and push a stray shopping cart toward your vehicle.

Even though road rage led to the incident, most insurance companies would consider this vandalism. Car insurance requirements and laws vary depending on the state and the company.

Aggressive Driving vs. Road Rage

Aggressive driving includes speeding, changing lanes without signaling, using your horn often, and other actions. In many states, aggressive driving is a traffic offense that could increase insurance rates, but road rage can lead to an assault charge.

In addition, many insurance companies will pay for damages if you hit another vehicle at a stoplight because you didn’t brake soon enough. However, they won’t pay if you intentionally exhibit road rage and cause the crash.

Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Damage Caused by Road Rage

Case Study 1: No Coverage for Damage Caused by Road Rage

Emily was involved in a road rage incident where an aggressive driver intentionally sideswiped her car. Unfortunately, her car insurance policy did not provide coverage for damage caused by road rage. Emily had to bear the expenses of repairing her vehicle on her own.

Case Study 2: Utilizing Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Jason encountered a road rage situation where another driver intentionally rear-ended his car. The aggressive driver fled the scene, leaving Jason with significant damage to his vehicle. Fortunately, Jason had uninsured motorist coverage as part of his car insurance policy. He was able to file a claim and get compensation for the repairs to his car.

Case Study 3: Comprehensive Coverage for Non-Collision Damage

Sarah parked her car in a parking lot and returned to find it vandalized due to an act of road rage. The angry driver had kicked and dented her car’s doors. Since Sarah had comprehensive coverage, her insurance company covered the damages caused by the road rage incident under the vandalism clause of her policy.

Things to Remember About Road Rage and Car Insurance

In many parts of the United States, road rage is a crime. However, being a victim or an aggressor could lead to high expenses and insurance rates. To find a policy that can help with road rage, you can compare car insurance with our free tool and choose the best option for your needs.