Property damage in an auto accident is considered to be damage done by or to a vehicle, including to stationary objects or structures, like fences and mailboxes. Property damage in an accident is typically covered by the at-fault driver's property damage liability insurance.
Liability insurance, which is required in almost every state, does not pay for the at-fault driver's own expenses, however. If you cause the accident, you can only have your vehicle repairs covered if you have collision insurance. To underscore the importance of these types of car insurance coverage, the average property damage claim was $3,841 for liability insurance in 2018 and $3,574 for collision coverage.
For more information, check out WalletHub's guide to property damage liability insurance.