So I was driving straight down the street and I stopped because there was a lot of traffic up ahead and some bonehead coming out of his driveway scrapes my car. It doesn't look that bad, about 5 inches a across with some paint loss ...i'm guess a few hundred bucks in damage.

Question is:

Is it worth gong thru insurance?

If I report his to my insurance (I have a $1000 deductible), and the accident is obviously his fault...when his insurance pays me the damage, can my insurance company raise my insurance price?

If he doesn't have insurance, and mine pays to get mine fixed, can they raise my insurance?

 

Personally I wouldn't bother with insurance. If you can get the money from this guy personally I'd say go that route, otherwise if you have the money fix it. If not then of course file it on insurance or just wait till you can afford to fix it. I don't think they can raise your insurance but I have heard of insurance companys doing that. Wether thats true or not I do not know.

-Alex

Edit: Make sure to take pictures and so on of all the damage so if you decide to sell your car you can show the buyer exactly what happened in case they are worried about the accident.

 

You would be an idiot NOT to use insurance! Your insurance won't go up. This is a non-fault accident, which depending on your state's laws, either his insurance will pay for it or yours will. Again, your insurance will not go up.

Don't fall into the trap of not wanting to make a big deal out of it. Your car is damaged through no fault of your own and you should get it made right again at no inconvenience or cost to you. The only way I wouldn't go through insurance is if he is really willing to pay you the amount to get it properly fixed at a GOOD body shop.

 

^From experience I agree with rynberg. It's likely the damage will end up being more than either one of you anticipated it would be. Hopefully you've got his insurance info and some witnesses.
If he's un-insured, your insurance should pick it up (after your deductible) but they can go after him. I think they call it subrogation. And in my state, that doesn't count against you. Good luck.

 

I totally disagree. If its just a 5 inch scratch its not going to be expensive at all to fix. If he has this guys info I'd just have him pay up. If he chooses not to pay up THEN I would go through the insurance company. If this was a more serious accident then I'd def. just have the insurance company handle it.

-Alex

 

I don't know...they don't charge by the inch on scratches. Depending on where the scratch is and alot of other factors, a "5 inch scratch" can be VERY expensive. At least on my salary.

 

When did they stop charging by the inch?! LOL Yea depending on where it is and so on could up the cost.

-Alex

 

A good body shop doesn't just touch up paint the scratch, you know? You can do that in your driveway. A GOOD body shop will have to blend the new paint into the car. For example, when my left rear was lightly crunched by the gas lid in a parking lot incident, one of the best body shops in the area fixed it -- they painted the entire rear fender up to the roof, the rear bumper, and the hatch. Obviously the OP's incident might not require such extensive work but.....

 

Go and get a free estimate from a reputable shop. Let that be (damage repair amount) the determining factor on which option you'll take to repair your damage.

Was the accident investigated by the Police? Was an incident/accident report filed? Did you obtain adverse party personal/Ins information?
.

 

i would use an insurance claim here as well, however, i would deal directly with his insurance company, provided you have that information. i have settled at least 3 claims directly when i was involved in incidents similar to what you describe and my insurance was never involved or informed of the claim.

 

No kidding, I know how a "GOOD" bodyshop works. When my rear fender on the pass. side got a dent in it the body shop painted that whole fender over the roof and the other fender due to not having any real "stopping point" If the guy will pay up, theres no reason to go through an insurance company, if he wont then I'd file it.

-Alex

 

Almost everyone says they will pay for it themselves, until they find out that the little scratch is going to cost $1500 to repair. Report it to the other guys insurance company. They understand that small repairs like this be costly, and they will take care of you with very little hassle. They will probably even pay for a rental car while your car is being repaired. The guy who hit you isn't going to do that, and he isn't going to want to pay $1500 to repair your car either.

 

Most states have a cost amount to make it a recordable accident (police report) most police will tell you if it doesn't meet or exceed that amount to work it out on your own. If your insurance is 1k deductable is it worth all the hassle to deal with insurance if it doesn't cost that much to fix? I'm sure the guy would rather work it out with you. Did you get a police report ? ? ? ? Jack

 

Wrong! Police have no authority over what an insurance company will, or will not do. Any police officer that tells you to work it out without reporting to an insurance company, is acting beyond the scope of his duty, and should be reprimanded. It is not his job to give such advice.

 

The problem here is I think the damage is quite minor...say a few hundred bucks and I have a 1k deductible., but I'll know tomorrow....so what if I go and ask him for the monies and he pays me...then later on he files a claim that I hit him and I need to repair his car...that is the dilemma i guess...who the hell knows what he is going to do...any thoughts?

 

Also, is it right for me to call his insurance directly or let my insurance call his company. Just need to some ideas here...thanks....and who knows what he will say.

 

Well, get a check from him and go and deposit the check right away to make sure it will clear. 1 you will have all his info from the top left hand corner of his check and 2 it will show proof of payment from an accident that was his fault. If your still worried past that point then have him sign something that states you 2 resolved the situation personally and he agrees the accident was his fault, that hes paid you, and you owe him nothing. Past that I really dont see him being able to get away with doing that. If you don't think thats enough then just file it on insurance and be done with it.

-Alex

Edit: Is there anybody that witnessed the accident?

 

Yes. I have one third party witness that says it was the other guys fault...

So, do I call his insurance or do I have my insurance call his insurance for this minor ding?

I just don't want my insurance to get raised because of someone elses fault.

I guess i don't file a claim with my insurance

 

As others has stated your insurance won't raise. Contact your insurance and they should take care of everything for you.

-Alex

 

Actually Adam C, this is right. My state mandates a police report whenever the accident occurs on a public right-of-way and the damage exceeds $1000 on any one vehicle or involves injury. Most states have similar mandates. Beyond that, local police may differ on their response to an accident. In my city, if it doesn't meet the above criteria, the police will assist in the exchange of information between drivers, but they won't take a report. And they will tell the driver's to "work it out" on their own. That may or may not mean turning it in to the insurance company.

 

That's obsured, so basically if the cop knows nothing about body work and how extensive some repairs can get you can be screwed out of a police report for the insurance?

 

WOW please tell me the name of this body shop... next time ill have them do my car if its for insurance stuff.... last one got pretty cheap on the job (probably cause they didnt want to fight w/ the insurance company, although im not sure why they wouldnt want to as they get more $$) anyway, lay it on me... i need a GOOD body shop for once in my life -heath

 

Heath, it's Works Auto Body in Santa Clara....

 

Nothing absurd about it. I guess you can try calling your own insurance adjuster out to the scene, but I doubt he'll show up.
Locally, the Cops receive some related training, but yeah, it's their best guess whether it goes over. And if later it is found to be over, a retro report can be made. Besides, alot of people don't want a police report. They have to wait at the scene, citation(s) get issued, a record of the accident goes on to BOTH driver's histories and, at least in my state, both drivers are required to submit their own "driver's report" to the state. Many just don't want to be bothered.

 

Again, all i wanted to figure out is that if the damage is less than $500, is it worth reporting to my insurance......then again, i don't think he has admitted fault although I probably need to get it in writing cause i know it is his fault.