What to Do When the Other Driver Is at Fault
Document the scene, report it to your parent's insurer, and let the at-fault driver's insurer pay for the damage and any injuries.
A parent rear-ended at a stoplight
Your parent is stopped at a light and the car behind them doesn't brake in time. Nobody is badly hurt, but the bumper is crushed and your parent is shaken. You get a call that afternoon because they don't know what to do next, and you weren't there to see it happen.
You walk them through it over the phone. You tell them to get the other driver's name, insurance information and license plate if they haven't already, and you ask whether police were called. You then call your parent's insurer together, your parent on the line since the policy is in their name, to report the accident and start a claim. The other driver's insurer later accepts fault and pays for the repair and a rental car while the work is done. Your parent never has to pay anything out of pocket, and the claim doesn't affect their own insurance history since they weren't at fault.
Does a not-at-fault accident raise my parent's insurance cost?
Usually not, because insurers generally don't hold a driver responsible for an accident that wasn't their fault. The claim typically goes against the other driver's policy and their history, not your parent's.
That said, rules on this vary by insurer and by state, so it's worth checking your parent's policy or asking their insurer directly how they handle not-at-fault claims. Some insurers note any accident on a driving record even when fault is clear, though it shouldn't carry the same weight as one your parent caused. If you're ever unsure, ask the insurer plainly whether this claim will factor into renewal pricing.
Reporting the accident to your parent's own insurer
If you do
Your parent's insurer opens a claim right away, documents the accident while details are fresh, and can step in to help if the other driver's insurer delays or disputes fault. You also get a claims adjuster on your side who can guide your parent through repairs and paperwork.
If you don't
You rely entirely on the other driver's insurer to act in good faith and move quickly. If they deny fault or slow-walk the claim, your parent has no one already engaged to help push back, and you may lose time gathering evidence that was easier to collect right after the accident.
Once you understand how a not-at-fault claim works, compare quotes to see if your parent's policy still fits.
What actually happens after the other driver is at fault
- Report it to both insurers Your parent's insurer should hear about the accident even though the other driver caused it. This protects your parent if fault is later disputed or new damage shows up.
- The other insurer pays the claim Repairs, medical costs and rental cars are typically covered by the at-fault driver's policy. Keep records of every expense so nothing gets missed during reimbursement.
- Fault takes time to confirm Insurers investigate using police reports, witness statements and damage patterns before assigning fault. Encourage your parent to avoid saying who was at fault at the scene and let the investigation determine it.
- A rental car may be needed If the car is undrivable, the at-fault insurer usually covers a replacement while repairs happen. Ask early what the daily limit and total time covered will be.
- Medical bills can come later Some injuries, especially soft tissue ones, show up days after the crash. Make sure your parent sees a doctor even if they feel fine immediately after.
What if the other driver doesn't have insurance?
Then your parent's own policy may need to cover the damage, if it includes uninsured motorist coverage. This varies by state, since some require insurers to offer it and others don't, so check what your parent's policy includes. Without it, your parent may have to pursue the other driver directly for payment, which is often slow and uncertain.
Can I handle the claim calls if the policy isn't in my name?
Usually only with your parent's permission, since insurers generally need the policyholder's consent to discuss details with someone else. Ask the insurer about adding yourself as an authorized contact on the account. This lets you call on your parent's behalf without them needing to be present for every conversation.
What if my parent is partly blamed even though it wasn't their fault?
Then the payout may be reduced based on how much fault each driver is assigned, depending on your state's rules. Some states still allow recovery even with partial fault, while others cut it off entirely past a certain point. Ask the insurer directly how fault percentages are decided and what that means for any payment.
