My rate jumped after a hit-and-run that wasn't even my fault — can they do that??

This happened to me two years ago — rear-ended at a red light, other driver had no insurance, and somehow my rate still crept up at renewal. I was livid. I ended up calling my state's department of insurance to ask if it was allowed, and honestly just making that call seemed to light a fire under my carrier. Worth trying.

Former adjuster here. What a lot of people don't realize is that some carriers use something called a "CLUE report" — basically a claims history database — and even not-at-fault claims get logged there. Underwriters sometimes flag any claim activity as increased risk, regardless of fault. It's maddening and feels unfair, but it's more common than you'd think. That said, many states have laws specifically prohibiting rate increases for not-at-fault accidents, so your state's insurance commissioner website is your first stop.

They absolutely bank on you not pushing back. The rep who gave you "risk reassessment" non-answers is trained to be vague. Ask them in writing — via email or certified letter — to provide the specific actuarial or underwriting reason for the increase. When they have to put it in writing, sometimes the story changes fast.

A few practical things: (1) Request your full CLUE report — you're entitled to one free copy per year through LexisNexis. Check that the claim is coded correctly as not-at-fault. Miscoding happens more than you'd expect. (2) Look up your state's insurance regulations on not-at-fault surcharges — several states ban them outright. (3) If your carrier violated those rules, a complaint to your state's department of insurance is free and often gets a faster response than calling customer service ever will.

Shop around, full stop. Get quotes from at least four other carriers before your next billing cycle. Even if this claim shows up on your record, different companies weigh it differently. You might be surprised — I switched after a similar situation and actually paid less with a new carrier than I did before the incident with my old one.

Not about the insurance math, but — the stress of dealing with all this on top of everything else is real. I see it with patients all the time; the financial anxiety after an accident does a number on people physically too. Take it one step at a time. The parking lot situation wasn't your fault, and your frustration is completely valid.

Quick question — did you file the claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage, or did you pay out of pocket for the repair? Because how the claim was filed might actually matter here. UM claims sometimes get treated differently than collision claims in underwriting. Just want to make sure we're comparing apples to apples before assuming the worst.

The fact that you have that police report and a witness statement is actually a bigger deal than you might think. If you do end up disputing this — whether with your carrier or through a complaint — having documented proof that you were the victim and not the at-fault party gives you real leverage. A lot of people in hit-and-runs don't have that.