car hit my car - what do we do?

[globetrotter]

somebody hit my wife's car, with her and the kids in it. nobody was hurt, but the rear bumper was knocked around.

so - insurance numbers and contact details were exchanged. what next? this is a one year old car, I may sell it one day. the damage seems to be minimal. do I report it to my insurance, do I deal with the other driver to fix it (she hit us direct from behind at a red light - it seems pretty clear whose fault it was). I don't want to find that there is structural damage that causes me grief in the future that I didn't notice now.

any suggestions?

 

[Joffrey]

I guess you could take it to the shop for a look see, if no significant damage, let it slide. Otherwise make an insurance claim (if it's worth the rate hike).

 

[feynmix]

you should prolly find out how much it will cost to get it all fixed. If the cost is significantly above the deductible, then claim it. If not, you can just ask the other driver to pay for the expenses.

 

[imageWIS]

First of all and most importantly, I'm happy to read that no one was hurt.

Secondly, did you get a police report?

Third, I would follow Jodum's advice. Personally, I would get it repaired regardless of which route would be required to take to fix it (insurance or out-of-pocket), because I don't like to be reminded of what occurred; but I am a very "˜clean break' sort of person, YMMV (no pun intended).

Jon.

 

[globetrotter]

my wife called the police, and they told her to go to a police station, they weren't sending any body out. since it happened in chicago, and we live in a suburb, that means now going to a station in chicago, if we do want a police report, and it probrably means going at least twice, I am guessing.

if it was clearly the other cars fault, will it still raise our insurance rates?

 

[tommib]

Defiantly get it checked out and the person who hit your car can put it on their insurance right?

 

[tiecollector]

Where did it get hit? I got hit a few months ago in a parking lot. The guy was drunk afterwards I realized when I saw the douche again stumbling around at 4pm. He ran into my car twice in a row and gave me a huge dent in my fender. My car is such a ************* that if he was super apologetic I would have just said forget about it but he knew how to work the system.

1) in a private parking lot there is nothing that can be done by the police except mediate between the insurance companies I found.

2) he knew there were no cameras in this parking lot so he sped off so no witnesses could be found afterwards. I followed him for a mile and finally got him to pull over.

3) he called my bluff because without a signed admission, the insurance companies will just battle it out and he will be 60% at fault and I'll be 40% at fault or something so I'm like what's the point if I have to pay anyways when my car isn't even near mint?

When I saw him in another parking lot I was going to etch something onto his hood but by the time I found his car he was already stumbling back out.

 

[Piobaire]

Glad to hear no one was hurt. Still file a telephone police report. I have known people that did not file a report, talked with the other person (who was at fault), decided to settle up privately. Then the other person (who was at fault) files a bogus police phone report and phones it into the insurance company as the victim.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

Where did it get hit? I got hit a few months ago in a parking lot. The guy was drunk afterwards I realized when I saw the douche again stumbling around at 4pm. He ran into my car twice in a row and gave me a huge dent in my fender. My car is such a ************* that if he was super apologetic I would have just said forget about it but he knew how to work the system.

1) in a private parking lot there is nothing that can be done by the police except mediate between the insurance companies I found.

2) he knew there were no cameras in this parking lot so he sped off so no witnesses could be found afterwards. I followed him for a mile and finally got him to pull over.

3) he called my bluff because without a signed admission, the insurance companies will just battle it out and he will be 60% at fault and I'll be 40% at fault or something so I'm like what's the point if I have to pay anyways when my car isn't even near mint?

When I saw him in another parking lot I was going to etch something onto his hood but by the time I found his car he was already stumbling back out.


at a traffic light - no witnesses (or, my wife and the other driver didn't try to ask anybody). the other driver was on her parents insurance.


the sytem I am used to is basically no fault - each side pays their costs (from the insurance). I think it works differently in america, but I am getting the feeling maybe not. I think I'll just take this to a body shop, and then call the other drivers father and see if we can get it taken care of. I finally have good insurance rates, I don't want to **** with them.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Glad to hear no one was hurt. Still file a telephone police report. I have known people that did not file a report, talked with the other person (who was at fault), decided to settle up privately. Then the other person (who was at fault) files a bogus police phone report and phones it into the insurance company as the victim.

good point.

 

[tiecollector]

Oh yeah, if it is at a traffic light it is actually a law that you HAVE to report it (in CA at least) within 10 days. So if you file and they don't then you can win that way. Otherwise, (in CA at least) unless there were witnesses and signatures, it will be some percentage you at fault. If you want to settle privately get stuff signed within 10 days.

My mom got a dent in her door by someone opening their door angrily while arguing. She got a signature from the chick's bf and when the police contacted them they tried to deny fault but couldn't because of the note they had signed.

My roommate in college got hit in a parking lot and got witnesses and I think he still ended up paying 10%.

 

[teddieriley]

If it's the other side's fault, you should not be paying out of your own pocket and of course your insurance won't go up. It's not your fault. The other side's insurance will have to pay your deductible and associated costs (ex. rental car). Although this looks pretty minor. Problem is, if you report it, it will end up on carfax, and if you try to sell it, someone will know your car was in a fender bender. If less $1000 in damages, I would call the other person and ask if they agree that it's in their best interest that you settle outside of insurance (although unclear to me whether the fix can end up on carfax this way).

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

If it's the other side's fault, you should not be paying out of your own pocket and of course your insurance won't go up. It's not your fault. The other side's insurance will have to pay your deductible and associated costs (ex. rental car). Although this looks pretty minor. Problem is, if you report it, it will end up on carfax, and if you try to sell it, someone will know your car was in a fender bender. If less $1000 in damages, I would call the other person and ask if they agree that it's in their best interest that you settle outside of insurance (although unclear to me whether the fix can end up on carfax this way).


I'm a little slow today, but since it was a rear end collision it is always the other person's fault. Try to get them to settle out of court with signed admissions and a check ASAP otherwise you have no choice but to go to the police.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

If it's the other side's fault, you should not be paying out of your own pocket and of course your insurance won't go up. It's not your fault. The other side's insurance will have to pay your deductible and associated costs (ex. rental car). Although this looks pretty minor. Problem is, if you report it, it will end up on carfax, and if you try to sell it, someone will know your car was in a fender bender. If less $1000 in damages, I would call the other person and ask if they agree that it's in their best interest that you settle outside of insurance (although unclear to me whether the fix can end up on carfax this way).

I was under the impression that Carfax worked under the vehicle's VIN, so anything that happens to your vehicle, wreck or not, independent of whose responsibility it is/was, it will end up on the carfax report. Then again, I'm not entirely sure on that, so this is pretty pointless.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

If it's the other side's fault, you should not be paying out of your own pocket and of course your insurance won't go up. It's not your fault. The other side's insurance will have to pay your deductible and associated costs (ex. rental car). Although this looks pretty minor. Problem is, if you report it, it will end up on carfax, and if you try to sell it, someone will know your car was in a fender bender. If less $1000 in damages, I would call the other person and ask if they agree that it's in their best interest that you settle outside of insurance (although unclear to me whether the fix can end up on carfax this way).

thanks - this was exactly what I was looking for.