Car accident by my wife. Insurance and other things. Please help?

Question

My wife hit the suv in the back at the signal. No big damage. No injuries. My right headlight is broken. His rear left bumber has a little bit damage. My wife has CA learner's permit. I have full insurance. What I should do now? I am kind of tensed very much as of what will happen. Since there were no injuries or damage, I didn't inform cop. I asked him too. He also said no need. But he took my car insurance company details and passed on the info to his insurance company. How does it work now? Should I do anything? Did I not do anything that I supposed to do? Please help me out. I am going out of my mind because I am tensed as this is unexpected and I never faced this kind of situation. Please help me!

Thank you very much!

Is it possible for me to call the Cop and inform now? What would they ask me if I call now? What should be the reason I should tell them for late information? PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!! I am very much tensed!!

I informed my insurance agent. Please guide me. I never faced this kind of situation. Should I inform the cop now? What would they ask me? Would they question me for late information?

My Insurance may say that my wife is not covered. Also, I fear that that person may claim to be injured. I already informed my ins co. But I fear the above 2 factors! Sorry to keep saying this. But Iam really getting mentally sick. Please!

Also, I am not even planning to claim insurance for my car, except for the other party. But I fear the above factor!!!

Is it okay if I call the cop and inform the same now?

For Bundymom's question:

"
What I want to know is if you were in the car with your wife, and if not, WHY NOT? If your wife has a learners permit that means she can only drive with licensed driver in the car that is over the age of 18.
"

Yes. I am with her while she was driving. She was NOT driving alone.

I already informed to my insurance company. What should I tell cops if I call them and tell them now? Please help! I fear much about the insurance factor. They may claim saying they have injury. In an event my insurance company rejects the insurance for my wife, I would be in total mess. I can pay some amount. But I don't know how much they may demand! Please!!

Answer 1

Not that they could have done anything at the time, but they can't do anything for you now. So forget the cops.

What I want to know is if you were in the car with your wife, and if not, WHY NOT? If your wife has a learners permit that means she can only drive with licensed driver in the car that is over the age of 18.

There is nothing for you to do. If your insurance will cover the loss they will take care of the damage to the other persons car. If he/she claims an injury they will deal with that as well. There is nothing for you to do and don't make it out to be something that it isn't...a big deal.

Answer 2

You failed to contact police, which is always incorrect and a mighty big mistake. In New Jersey, this is known as "leaving the scene of an accident" because you failed to contact police. Here, it results in getting a large number of demerits on your driving record, which equals increased insurance premiums, and maybe a fine or surcharge from the State.

Forget what the other driver may have said. You now are adversaries, because each one will look out for their own best interests, which will be in conflict. And, other drivers will often lie, lie, lie, then do all that they can to screw you for their own personal advantage. Happens all the time!

Don't be surprised if the other driver all of a sudden has some injuries, despite what they said at the scene of the accident. Soft tissue injuries (such as back and neck injuries) are not always immediately apparent. Instead, sometimes they take hours or a day or so to manifest themselves. Then, the injured party will contact a lawyer, and likely get rich, at the expense of your insurance company, of course, which will tend to raise your insurance rates, if they prevail in court. If your insurance is not enough to cover your "liability", then the other party could potentially attack your assets - real estate, income, and so on.

My advice to you would be to contact a good lawyer immediately. While lawyers are expensive, yet in your case, it would probably be cheaper and wise to hire one NOW.

In car accident cases, the police report is critical information that insurance companies use to decide who is at fault. Seeing how police were not contacted, this will likely greatly complicate the matter.

Answer 3

First of all, you already did a big mistake by not making a report with the police department. But never mind. You can still do so. Just tell exactly what transpired at the time of accident and please also state down your reason for the late notification.

After that, you will need to inform your insurance company of the existence of this accident. They will need a copy of your police report and open a claim file so that they can be prepared for any claims that might arise out of this accident.

In future, any accident that involves a third party must be reported first to the police department, then your insurance company. Unless you prefer to settle yourself with the other party of course. Then, you don't need to inform anybody. But then again, how can you be sure that this other party (aka third party) will not submit a claim later on with your insurance company (assuming you are at fault) even after you have paid him/her for the damages/losses?

So for your peace of mind, just let your insurance company handles everything for this accident. Good luck and chill out. Accident happens but this is what insurance for.

Message for Spicyguy, don't be so tensed. If you have already informed your insurance company, then good. You just need to report to the police dept only. Just tell the truth. And don't worry. Your insurance company will not DECLINE any claims that might be submitted by the other party whether there is any injury or not (called liability claim, by the way) even if they repudiate any claims from you, they would not do so against the other party. Because, first and foremost purpose of a motor/auto insurance policy is to cover any legal liability that might arise out of the use of an insured vehicle.

Answer 4

You should probably contact your insurance company and explain what happened. They will tell you what they want you to do. It depends on the insurance company. Look on your insurance cards you keep in your car. There should be a number you are supposed to call if you have been in an accident.

I have state farm and they told me I could teach a teenager with a learners permit and it would be covered, and they wouldnt raise my rates for him til he actually got his license. As always this varies by insurance company. As you know a person with a permit must have a licensed driver with them.

In the future if you are afraid of exhorbitant lawsuits and insurance clauses that exclude certain events (like drivers with permits) try getting an umbrella policy. They are cheap and really cover your butt in the event the other driver sues you or fakes an injury.

Answer 5

You don't need a police report to file a claim. Most of the time in minor traffic collisions, the police will not even come out for an accident unless there are injuries. You need to file a claim with your insurance company so that if the other party does contact you to get the vehicle repaired you did file a claim timely with your carrier, which you are under your contratual agreement to do so. Do not worry, that is what insurance is for - accidents. Go ahead and let your insurance company deal with it.

Answer 6

Call your insurance company at once and report the claim. They will take it from there. You will probably be asked to give a recorded statement of the events that took place, they will contact the other party and will send an appraiser to inspect the vehicle or have a 'direct repair' shop inspect it (the same goes for your vehicle also if you have collision coverage). Chill out -- this happens at least five thousand times a DAY.
P.S. -- ALWAYS call the cops.....

Answer 7

Always notify your ins co and the police.
That "nice person" who said, there's" just a bump just might come back and claim his transmission was damaged and his back hurts. Without a police report, you are at a disadvantage.
Even if minor and the police say they won't come out, like in bad weather, at least you can say, I did notify the police at ........, and they said ....! These conversations are taped.
You have covered your ###.
Want to really CYA. Do like the truckers do. buy one of those$ 10.00 one use, disposable cameras, keep it in glove compaertment.. in the vent of an accident, you can take photos of the cars and the area.

So,call your ins agent, tomorrow (* or Monday am) Goodluck.

Answer 8

You should have gotten his insurance information and called your insurance company with the information. After that, the insurance company will take care of it.

Answer 9

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