Ever hit a pole with your car and your first thought was if the insurance would cover the damage? The answer could be either yes or no depending on the kind of coverage you have.
Keep reading to find out which coverage works in the event your car hits a fixed object. (For guidance on filing a claim or adjusting your coverage after an accident, you can always call Insure on the Spot at 773-202-5060 for help.)
What type of car insurance covers hitting a pole?
If your car hits a pole, the only coverage that protects you is collision insurance. It pays for damage to your car from any collision with another vehicle or a stationary object (like a pole), regardless of who is at fault.
Basically, you’ll just need to pay your chosen deductible amount toward the repairs, and insurance covers the rest up to your policy limit. Typically, the limit for collision claims is the actual cash value of your vehicle, so if the damage is less than your car’s value, collision insurance should cover it (minus your deductible). Keep in mind that you will always have to pay your deductible out of pocket for a collision claim; for example, if repairs cost $2,000 and you have a $500 deductible, the insurer would pay $1,500 and you’d pay $500.
On the flip side, comprehensive insurance (if you have it) covers damage from non-collision events. That includes things like theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, or hitting an animal. Comprehensive coverage does not typically apply when you crash into a stationary object such as a pole, because that scenario is considered a collision that you could potentially have avoided. (For example, if you swerved to avoid a pothole and hit a pole, it’s still treated as a collision claim, not comprehensive.) So while comprehensive insurance is valuable for other incidents (and is often paired with collision as part of “full coverage”), it won’t pay for your vehicle’s damages in a pole collision.
It’s also important to understand your liability insurance in this situation. Liability coverage is required in almost every state (including Illinois) and it covers damage or injury you cause to others. If you hit a pole, liability insurance can pay for the property damage – in this case, the cost to repair or replace the pole you struck. For example, if the utility company or city bills you for the damaged pole or any other property (like a fence or guardrail), your property damage liability coverage should cover those costs up to your policy’s limit. Illinois drivers are required to carry at least $20,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident, but the damage from a single pole collision usually stays well within that amount. Bottom line: Collision coverage is what pays for your own car’s damage when you hit a pole, while liability coverage pays for the pole’s damage – and comprehensive coverage generally isn’t involved in this type of accident.
What should I do if I hit a pole with my car?
If you collide with a pole, it’s important to stay calm and take the proper steps immediately. Here’s what you should do right after hitting a pole:
- Check for injuries: First, ensure that you and any passengers are okay. Call 911 if anyone is hurt and needs medical attention.
- Move to a safe area: If the car is still drivable, carefully move it out of traffic (for instance, pull into a shoulder or parking lot) and turn on your hazard lights to prevent further incidents.
- Call the police: It’s usually required by law to report an accident that causes property damage. In many areas (including Illinois), you must notify the police for any crash involving significant damage to property. Tell the dispatcher you hit a stationary object; they may send an officer to make a report. Do not leave the scene, even if it’s a single-vehicle accident (more on the consequences of leaving in a moment).
- Watch out for hazards: If you struck a utility pole, be aware of potential dangers like fallen live wires. Stay in your vehicle if power lines are down, and call 911. There’s an immediate electrocution risk if you exit the car onto electrified ground. The police and utility company will secure the area.
- Document the accident: If it’s safe, take photos of your car’s damage and the pole you hit. Note the exact location, time, road conditions, and any relevant details (e.g. was the pole on private property or city property?). This documentation will be useful for your insurance claim.
- Notify your insurance company: It’s best to report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible, ideally from the scene after speaking with police. You can call Insure on the Spot or your insurance agent to start the claims process. Provide all the details and photos you collected. The insurer will guide you on the next steps, such as getting an estimate for repairs.
Following these steps will ensure your incident is properly handled and recorded. In Illinois, accidents that cause over $1,500 in property damage (or over $500 if an uninsured vehicle is involved) must be reported to law enforcement and the Illinois DMV. Given that hitting a pole can easily cause thousands of dollars in damage (especially if the pole needs replacement), you’ll likely need an official police report. Insurers often require this report for single-car accidents involving property damage. So by promptly involving the police and your insurer, you can protect yourself from potential legal issues and ensure that any eligible insurance coverage can be applied to the accident.
Will my car insurance rates go up after hitting a pole?
A single-car accident like hitting a pole is usually considered at-fault, which means it will likely lead to higher insurance premiums on your next policy renewal. Insurance companies see a collision with a fixed object as a preventable accident caused by the driver, so it often results in a surcharge or loss of any safe-driving discounts. How much of an increase you’ll see can depend on your insurer’s rating policies, the cost of the claim, and your prior driving history. For example, if this is your first accident and it was relatively minor, some insurers might apply a moderate increase or even forgive the accident under an accident forgiveness program (if offered). But if you have past accidents or violations, or if the damage claim is large, you could face a more significant premium hike.
There are also other factors surrounding the crash that can affect the outcome. If you were speeding or driving under the influence when you hit the pole, you might receive a ticket or DUI charge in addition to the collision claim. Those violations would further impact your insurance rates and could even lead to a non-renewal of your policy. On the other hand, if you swerved to avoid a more serious accident (say, dodging an animal or another car) and then hit the pole, you’d still be found at fault for the pole impact, but you should explain the circumstances to your insurer. They will cover the claim (if you have collision coverage) regardless of fault, but fault will matter for your record and future rates.
It’s also important to note that not filing a claim might prevent a rate increase, but this is only an option if you can afford all the repairs out of pocket and if no third party is making a claim. If the damage to your car is only a little more than your deductible, you might consider paying for repairs yourself to avoid an insurance claim on your record. However, you must report the incident to your insurer if the pole’s owner (like the city or utility company) is going to file a claim for the damage, or if there’s any possibility of injuries or other liabilities. Failing to report a claim that later comes to light could result in denial of coverage.
What happens if I hit a pole and leave the scene?
If you knock down or damage a pole, you are responsible for reporting it. Driving off can be considered a hit-and-run offense. In Illinois, for example, fleeing the scene of a property-damage accident is a Class A misdemeanor. This level of offense can carry serious penalties: up to a $2,500 fine and even up to one year in jail for a hit-and-run involving only property damage. Moreover, if the damage to the pole or surrounding property is significant (over $1,000 in Illinois), the state can revoke your driver’s license for leaving the scene.
From an insurance perspective, fleeing the scene can jeopardize your coverage. When you later try to file a claim, the insurer will likely investigate and may find out that no police report was filed at the time of the crash. Insurance companies rely on police reports as key evidence for claims. If you left without reporting, the insurer could deny your claim due to the violation of policy terms (which typically require you to report accidents and cooperate). You’d then be stuck paying for all damages yourself, and you might even face civil liability for the pole’s damage if the owner pursues you.
Therefore, legally and financially, it’s best to never leave the scene after hitting a pole. Instead, do the right thing by calling the police. Report what happened, and inform your insurance company. If the pole is a utility pole, also remember the safety aspect. There could be live electrical wires, so leaving hastily could put you or others in danger. Stay put and wait for authorities to arrive. Taking responsibility at the scene will minimize legal consequences and improve the chances that your insurance claim is handled smoothly.
What if I hit a pole and don’t have insurance?
If you don’t have auto insurance at all and crash into a pole, you will be personally liable for all the damages. This means you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket to repair your own vehicle and to cover the cost of the damaged pole or any other property (the utility company or local government may bill you for the replacement). It also doesn’t help your wallet that utility poles can be expensive to fix and you could run into spending thousands of dollars.
To add insult to injury, you’ll also be facing legal penalties for driving uninsured. In Illinois, driving without the required insurance carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 even for a first offense, and the state will typically suspend your driver’s license and vehicle registration for up to three months as a consequence. To reinstate your license, you’ll need to pay a reinstatement fee and provide proof of insurance to the Illinois Secretary of State. After an accident, the state may also invoke the Safety Responsibility law, which can suspend your license until you pay for all damages you caused. Furthermore, being involved in a crash without insurance often triggers a requirement to file an SR-22 insurance certificate. An SR-22 is a form that your new insurer files to prove you carry the state’s minimum liability coverage. Illinois will mandate an SR-22 filing for a certain period (often 3 years) in order to reinstate your driving privileges if you had an accident while uninsured. This places you in a “high-risk” category, usually meaning higher insurance premiums moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does liability insurance cover hitting a pole?
A: Liability insurance will cover the damage to the pole, but not your car. Liability (property damage) pays for repairs to someone else’s property that you damage, in this case, the pole, up to your policy limit. However, your own vehicle’s damage from the collision won’t be covered unless you have collision coverage on your policy.
Q: Will collision or comprehensive insurance pay for a pole accident?
A: Collision insurance is what covers damage to your car if you hit a pole. Comprehensive insurance, on the other hand, generally will not cover this, because hitting a stationary object is treated as a collision (comprehensive covers non-collision events like theft, fire, or hitting an animal). So, you need collision coverage for a pole accident; comprehensive alone won’t pay for your car’s damage in this scenario.
Q: Do I have to pay a deductible if I file a claim for hitting a pole?
A: Yes. When you use your collision coverage to fix your car, you’ll pay your chosen deductible amount first, and then insurance covers the remaining repair costs (up to the car’s value). For example, if you have a $500 deductible and the repairs cost $2,000, you pay $500 and insurance pays $1,500. There is no deductible for liability coverage on the pole’s damage. Your insurer will pay that portion in full, up to your policy limit.
Q: Will my insurance go up even if I only damaged a pole and no one else was involved?
A: Probably. Single-vehicle accidents like hitting a pole are usually considered at-fault claims, which means they often lead to a premium increase upon renewal. The fact that no one else was involved doesn’t avoid the surcharge and from the insurer’s view, you caused a collision. The rate hike could be modest or significant depending on your insurance company and driving history, but it’s common to see some increase in your rate after an at-fault accident.
Q: Should I call the police if I knock down a pole with my car?
A: Yes, you should contact the police any time you hit a stationary object like a utility pole. In many jurisdictions, you’re legally required to report accidents that cause property damage over a certain dollar amount. The police will document the incident and create an accident report. This report not only keeps you compliant with the law, but it’s also important for your insurance claim. Additionally, if the pole is a power line or traffic light, authorities need to secure the area for safety. Failing to report the crash could be considered leaving the scene, which is illegal.
Q: What happens if I hit a telephone pole and drive off?
A: Leaving the scene is a hit-and-run, even if it’s just a pole. This is against the law. For instance, in Illinois it’s a misdemeanor punishable by fines and possible jail time. Your driver’s license could be suspended or revoked for fleeing an accident scene. On top of legal consequences, your insurance claim can be denied if you don’t report the accident properly. It’s always best to stay, report the incident, and deal with the situation responsibly rather than trying to avoid it.
Q: If I don’t have insurance and crash into a pole, what should I do?
A: You’ll need to take responsibility for all damages out of pocket, and you should get insurance immediately to avoid further legal trouble. In Illinois, driving without insurance carries heavy penalties (fines, license suspension) even before the accident costs. After the crash, the state will likely require you to obtain an SR-22 filing as proof of insurance for license reinstatement. Essentially, you must pay for the pole damage yourself and face the legal fines. Moving forward, do not drive uninsured. Secure at least the minimum liability coverage to protect yourself. Consider contacting an insurer like Insure on the Spot to help you arrange coverage and an SR-22 if needed.
Q: Does hitting a pole count as an “at-fault” accident?
A: Yes. In almost all cases, hitting a stationary object (pole, tree, fence, etc.) is considered at-fault on the driver’s part. There may be rare exceptions (for example, swerving to avoid a reckless driver or an animal might be taken into account, but the collision with the object is still usually attributed to you). Being at-fault means your insurer will cover your damages only if you have collision coverage, and it means the incident can be listed on your driving record, potentially impacting your rates.
Q: Will my insurance cover injuries if I’m hurt from hitting a pole?
A: If you have coverage for injuries such as medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP) on your policy, those can cover your medical bills after a single-car accident, up to their limits. These coverages pay for your injuries regardless of fault. If you don’t have those, you’d rely on your health insurance. Remember that collision coverage only covers vehicle damage and doesn’t pay for medical costs. Injuries to others would fall under bodily injury liability if anyone else was hurt (though typically in a solo pole crash, the only injuries would be to the driver or passengers of your car).
Having an accident like hitting a pole can be stressful and costly, but the right insurance coverage makes all the difference. Collision coverage will take care of your car, and liability coverage will handle the external damage. If you have more questions or need to adjust your policy after an incident, Insure on the Spot is just a phone call away at 773-202-5060. We’re here to help you stay protected on the road.