Home Car insurance Car insurance claims Does insurance cover damage from road debris? Does insurance cover damage from road debris? Comprehensive and collision insurance will cover vehicle damage if you hit an object in the road. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Elizabeth Rivelli Elizabeth Rivelli Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer who covers various insurance topics. Her areas of expertise are life insurance, car insurance, property insurance and health insurance. Elizabeth’s byline has appeared in dozens of online publications, including Investopedia, CNET and Bankrate. She has also written for several insurance carriers. Reviewed by John McCormick John McCormick John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology. Expert insight from Daniel Ferrara Daniel Ferrara Owner of Ferrara Insurance Group.Go to comment Updated on: August 23, 2024 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. It’s common to see debris on the road. Thankfully, most junk is usually off to the side. However, car parts, bits of the road, garbage and other waste can turn up in your driving lane – presenting a dangerous situation. More than 700 people are killed each year and 17,000 injured because of road objects, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the human cost is incalculable, hitting something in the road with your car has a material cost. The price to repair just a side panels on a car can range from $100 to more than $3,000, according to J.D. Power, the consumer insights, advisory and data analytics firm. Fortunately, certain types of car insurance cover debris damage and accidents that result from attempting to avoid hitting a mattress, lumber, piece of furniture or other road hazards. Key Takeaways If you hit something in the road and you have a full coverage insurance policy, your collision and/or comprehensive insurance will pay for the repairs. If you have a minimum coverage policy with liability-only insurance, your policy will not provide any coverage for debris damage. Hitting road debris is considered an at-fault accident because objects in the road are generally thought to be avoidable. Categorized as such, your insurer may raise your rates. What is debris damage? Debris damage occurs when you hit something other than a vehicle, such as a piece of furniture, a tire, construction materials, or a part that fell off another car or truck. Falling objects are another common form of road debris. For example, if a ladder falls out of a work truck you’re driving behind and hits your vehicle. Or, if roadwork leaves broken pieces of concrete behind, it can make its way into the road where you might hit it. Understanding car insurance coverage for road debris damage There are several types of car insurance that will cover road debris damage. If you have a full coverage insurance policy, your collision and/or comprehensive insurance will pay for the repairs. If you have a minimum coverage policy with liability-only insurance, your policy will not provide any coverage for debris damage. Is hitting road debris covered under collision? Collision insurance usually covers accidents with other cars. However, collision insurance will also cover road debris, even if the incident did not involve another vehicle. When your car comes into contact with road debris, it may be considered a collision for insurance purposes. For example, if you hit a mattress in the middle of the road, it’s a collision insurance claim because you collided with the object. Is hitting road debris covered under comprehensive? Comprehensive insurance is sometimes called “other-than-collision” insurance. It typically covers non-accidents incidents, such as theft, vandalism, flooding, and accidents with animals. However, comprehensive insurance may also cover debris damage, depending on the source of the debris. Is hitting road debris an at-fault accident? In most cases, hitting road debris is considered an at-fault accident because objects in the road are generally thought to be avoidable. However, it all depends on the specific situation. “For example, if an animal jumps into the road in front of you and you manage to miss it but crash into something like a neighbor’s mailbox, it is considered a collision and deemed your fault,” says Daniel Ferrara, a former senior sales rep for Liberty Mutual Insurance. “And, your rates can go up.” Insight: Keep in mind that road debris damage claims are usually considered to be the driver’s fault. As a result, your car insurance premium can increase after a debris damage claim. If the damage is minor, you might consider paying for repair out-of-pocket in order to avoid a rate increase. Earl Jones, a insurance agent for the Missouri Farm Bureau, says that hitting something in the road will more than likely be classified as an at-fault accident in most states, which could remain on your record for at least three to six years, depending on state laws. “As a result, the accident could result in a rate increase of your insurance. But that increase can also depend on the insured’s driving record at the time of the accident,” Jones says. If that accident is counted against the driver, it can lead to the loss of home/auto discounts and even umbrella insurance coverage, he says. Who is responsible for damage from road debris? In general, the driver who hits road debris is responsible for the damage. If there is debris that is already loose on the road, there are no other drivers to blame. Depending on the situation and your insurance company, you could be held responsible, and your rate could increase after the claim. On the other hand, if the accident resulted from a truck’s improperly secured load, you may be able to file a claim against the other driver’s insurance policy. In this case, the other person’s property damage liability insurance would cover your vehicle damage. Depending on their policy limits, your collision insurance might also cover some of the cost. Because it can be difficult to prove fault in a road debris claim, having a dashboard camera can come in handy. The camera can capture the accident and get a better view of where the debris came from. If the debris came from a car or truck in front of you, the camera may also capture the license plate number, which can be helpful when filing a claim. QuickTake Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? What happens if you keep auto insurance claim money instead of making repairs? 7 magic words to expedite insurance claims Want to sue your insurance company? 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Insurers requesting tax, divorce and other documents You did me wrong: What to do before you sue your insurer Don't shoot yourself in the foot: When to file that auto insurance claim How to arbitrate a car insurance claim dispute See more > Exclusions and limitations in road debris damage coverage When reviewing your insurance policy, pay attention to any exclusions and limitations. There may be items listed as “exclusions” that your insurer won’t cover. The exclusions and limitations for road debris damage will depend on your specific car insurance policy. Some policies may have more coverage for road debris than others. Additionally, insurance companies may treat road debris damage claims differently. As mentioned earlier, collision insurance and comprehensive insurance are the two types of car insurance that will cover debris claims. However, if you have a minimum coverage policy that only provides liability insurance, you’ll have to pay for damages out-of-pocket. Filing a road debris insurance claim If you need to file a claim for road debris damage, follow these steps: Document the damage: Before you contact your insurance company, you should document the damage to your vehicle. Take pictures and videos of the damaged areas, and write down exactly what happened. If you’re able to take photos at the scene of the incident, that will help the insurance company understand what happened and what type of debris was in the road. Gather supporting documents: When filing a claim, you want to provide as much information as possible. If you have a police report or witness statement from someone who saw the incident occur, include those with your claim documents. Submit claim paperwork: The next step is to contact your insurer and start the claim process. You can often file claims online. You also work with an agent over the phone. An agent will walk you through the claim reporting process and explain what information is needed. They can also give you an idea of how long it will take to investigate the claim. Wait for claim approval: After the claim has been submitted, you’ll most likely have to wait for it to get approved. A claims adjuster might contact you if they need more information or have questions about what happened. Once the claim is approved, you will receive compensation for the damage or the insurance company will pay the auto body shop directly for the repairs, minus your deductible. Frequently asked questions Does insurance cover undercarriage damage? Yes, car insurance will cover undercarriage damage if you hit something in the road. Does car insurance cover running over an object in the road? If you run over something and it damages your vehicle, you can file a claim for debris damage. Depending on the situation, it will either be covered under your collision insurance or comprehensive insurance. Does car insurance cover rock damage? Yes, your full coverage car insurance policy will cover vehicle damage caused by a rock. Whether you hit a large rock in the middle of the road or a rock falls onto your vehicle, it will be covered by a full coverage policy. If I hit something on the freeway, will my insurance cover it? Yes. Your car insurance policy will cover all road debris damage, no matter where you are driving, including on freeways, streets and parking lots. Final thoughts Hitting road debris while driving can cause serious damage, but certain types of car insurance will cover the cost of repairs. You must have a full coverage policy with collision insurance and comprehensive insurance to get a claim paid. Also, keep in mind that road debris damage claims are usually considered to be the driver’s fault. As a result, your car insurance premium can increase after a debris damage claim. If the damage is minor, you might consider paying for repairs out-of-pocket to avoid a rate increase. –Kathryn Pomroy contributed to this report. What our expert says Q: If I hit an animal in the road will my rates go up? Daniel FerraraOwner of Ferrara Insurance Group. “If an animal jumps into the road in front of you and you manage to miss it but crash into something like a neighbor’s mailbox, it is considered a collision and deemed your fault. And, your rates can go up.” Elizabeth RivelliContributing Researcher | . .Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer who covers various insurance topics. Her areas of expertise are life insurance, car insurance, property insurance and health insurance. Elizabeth’s byline has appeared in dozens of online publications, including Investopedia, CNET and Bankrate. She has also written for several insurance carriers. In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2024 Car insurance rates by state in 2024 What is full coverage car insurance? 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Part 1: How insurance companies spot bogus claims Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1 On this page What is debris damage?Understanding car insurance coverage for road debris damageWho is responsible for damage from road debris?Exclusions and limitations in road debris damage coverageFiling a road debris insurance claimFrequently asked questionsFinal thoughtsWhat our expert says ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates