steady-marten-5685/11/2026

Will filing a UM claim raise my rates? Got hit by someone with zero coverage

So this happened to me about three weeks ago and I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of it. I was sitting completely stopped at a four-way intersection waiting for the light to change when some guy blew through and clipped the rear corner of my car hard enough to spin me halfway around. Witnesses said he had to have been going at least 20 over the limit.

Here's the kicker — when the cops ran his info, turns out the guy had no insurance at all. None. So now I'm being told I need to file through my own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to get anything, which honestly feels backwards. I did nothing wrong and now I have to go through MY insurance?

My biggest fear right now is that my rates are going to shoot up because of this. I've had a clean record for years and I really can't afford a big premium increase. I've seen some stuff online saying most states have protections for not-at-fault drivers, but I genuinely don't know if those protections cover UM claims specifically or just regular collision claims.

Also — my neck and upper back have been bothering me since the crash. I went to urgent care the next day and they said soft tissue strain, gave me some meds, and told me to follow up. I haven't officially "settled" anything yet because I'm still hurting and not sure if this is going to turn into something longer.

Has anyone here actually gone through a UM claim? Did your rates go up? And should I be talking to a lawyer before I say too much to my own insurance company? I feel like I'm navigating this completely blind.

8 replies

Most helpful first

wise-dove-8875/11/2026
I went through almost this exact situation about two years ago — uninsured driver, totally my claim through my own UM coverage. My rates did NOT go up. My insurer actually told me upfront that a not-at-fault UM claim wouldn't be counted against me. That said, I've heard it can vary depending on your state and your specific policy, so I'd double-check your declarations page or just call your agent and ask point blank before you file.
clear-wolf-7625/11/2026
Former adjuster here. Most carriers have internal guidelines that flag UM claims differently than at-fault collision claims, and in a lot of states they're legally prohibited from surcharging you for a not-at-fault incident. BUT — and this is important — "most" and "legally prohibited" don't mean every single company follows the spirit of those rules perfectly. Some will find indirect ways to reassess your risk at renewal. I'd get it in writing from your insurer that this claim won't result in a rate change before you proceed. That paper trail matters.
hearty-swan-2305/11/2026
Please be really careful about what you say to your own insurance adjuster. Even though it's YOUR policy, they're still looking out for the company's bottom line. Don't minimize your injuries, don't say you're "feeling okay" if you're not, and don't let them rush you to close the claim while you're still having symptoms. Soft tissue injuries can linger and sometimes get worse before they get better.
- daring-badger-1285/11/2026
  Hey, at least you HAD UM coverage — so many people don't and they end up with nothing when this happens. It feels unfair to go through your own insurance and it is unfair, but you're not completely out of options here. That coverage exists exactly for this scenario, and if you handle the claim carefully you might come out okay.
steady-bison-9765/11/2026
The neck and back stuff you're describing after a rear-quarter impact is really common and can take weeks to fully show up. Please do that follow-up your urgent care mentioned — don't skip it. Soft tissue injuries are notorious for feeling manageable at first and then flaring up. You want a documented medical trail showing continuous care, both for your recovery and for any claim you end up making. Don't tough it out in silence.
curious-crane-9415/11/2026
Not legal advice, but — yes, talk to a personal injury attorney before giving any recorded statements, even to your own UM carrier. Many PI attorneys offer free consultations and can walk you through your state's specific rules on rate surcharges for UM claims. They can also help you understand when it's safe to settle given that you're still symptomatic. Settling too early with lingering injuries is one of the most common and costly mistakes people make.
- candid-newt-5515/11/2026
  On the rates question specifically — look up your state's insurance code or google "[your state] not-at-fault accident rate increase law." A lot of states have statutes that explicitly say insurers can't raise premiums for claims where you weren't at fault, and UM claims typically fall under that umbrella since the whole point is that someone ELSE caused the damage. Your state insurance commissioner's website is actually a surprisingly useful resource for this kind of thing.
bright-crow-1455/11/2026
Short answer: call your agent today and ask two questions. One — will this UM claim be coded as not-at-fault in your file? Two — does that mean no surcharge at renewal? Get the answers in an email if you can. Stop guessing and go straight to the source. You've got enough stress already.