Glossary
At-fault accident
A crash in which you are found mainly responsible, which your liability coverage pays for and which usually raises your premium at renewal.
Also called: chargeable accident, at-fault crash
An at-fault accident is one in which you, as a driver, are judged responsible for causing the crash, in whole or in part. Insurers make that call from police reports, statements, photos and state traffic law, and the decision determines whose liability coverage pays and whether your own premium goes up.
Insurers usually need a threshold for rating purposes. California's rules, for example, count an accident against a driver only if they were 51% or more at fault, and only if it caused injury or more than $1,000 of property damage; a hit-and-run victim is presumed not at fault. Separately, how much you can recover from the other driver often turns on fault percentages under comparative negligence rules.
The usual consequence is a surcharge at renewal, often lasting three to five years, plus the loss of claim-free or good driver discounts. The crash is also logged in claims databases that other insurers check. accident forgiveness can prevent the increase with the insurer that grants it. If you believe fault was assigned wrongly, ask your insurer how it decided and dispute it with evidence such as photos, witness statements or the police report. Your state insurance department can take a complaint if the insurer will not explain its decision.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026