How many days do I have to report a car accident to State farm so I can file a claim later?

Hi everyone,

I am with State Farm and I rear-ended a car two weeks ago. There is no damage to the other car, but mine has about $3,000 in damage. The car is worth around $5,000. I can get it fixed for under $1,000 without using insurance.

  1. How many days do I have to report the accident to State Farm if I want to file a claim later?
  2. Will they deny my claim if I don’t report it within 30 days?
  3. How much might my insurance rates go up if I file a claim?
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State Farm does not have a specific deadline for filing a car accident claim. However, they require claimants to report the incident as soon as possible meaning within a few days after the accident. While there is not a strict 30-day limit, it is advisable to report promptly to ensure a smooth claims process.

It is also important to note that State Farm does not automatically deny claims if you don’t report within 30 days. However, timely reporting is essential to avoid complications.

Filing a claim can lead to increased insurance rates. The exact impact varies based on factors like your driving history, the severity of the accident, and State Farm’s policies.

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There’s no strict deadline to file a car accident claim with State Farm, but letting them know ASAP is key! This helps them start the process quickly.

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The time limit for filing a claim likely depends on the statute of limitations in your state. In my state, it’s typically 3 years. However, most policies include a clause requiring you to notify them of any loss as soon as possible. While you might technically still be able to file a claim later, delaying can raise suspicions and make it harder for the company to investigate and determine liability.

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Typically, insurance policies adhere to the state civil statute of limitations relevant to the underlying civil suit. For auto accidents, this period is usually a year or more, depending on the state. The reason you’re not getting direct answers is that over 90% of the respondents work in the insurance industry, and, as one of them, I can tell you that your question raises some suspicions.

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Alright, if you don’t report it and he later sues you for injuries or other issues, the insurance company might technically deny coverage due to a late report. This often happens when people seem fine initially but later hire a lawyer and seek medical treatment. Whether coverage is actually denied could depend on your explanation for not reporting the incident, as most insurance companies prefer not to deny coverage if they can avoid it. However, I wouldn’t risk it.
Source: claims adjuster with over 20 years of experience.

I appreciate your explanation, Johnstone1! It’s helpful to know that although there isn’t a hard and fast 30-day window in which to file a State Farm auto accident claim, promptly reporting the incident is essential to a seamless claims procedure. Although late reporting does not always imply denial, prompt reporting helps avoid difficulties. Remember that depending on a number of variables, submitting a claim may have an impact on insurance prices.

Thank you, MaxSniddesSupport, for sharing. It is useful to be aware that insurance policies frequently adhere to the state’s civil statute of limitations for vehicle accidents, which differs from state to state and is typically one year or longer. Since most respondents are wary about answering such questions because they work in the insurance industry, it makes sense why direct responses could be hard to come by.