I am an uninsured driver. I got into a fender bender in a grocery parking lot?

Question

It happened today. I believe it was my fault. I called the police, they said we didn't need an officer as long as noone was hurt.The other driver was so shook up she called her husband and he told her the same thing thepolice told me..to exchange info. We exchanged all info but I didn't tell her I didn't have insurance. I had just been in an argument with another shopper for locking her dog in her hot car and was very shook up.
I'm NOT excusing myself. What should I do now to make this right. She didn't show me her insurance so I don't know who she has. Will I have to pay her or the insurance Co.? Can I have them get more then one quote? I will make this right , help me please.

BTY this is Washinton state. And I was backing out of a parking spot as she was coming around the corner. Very slow speed...appears to be small damage...but you know how cars can be.

yes in Wa. on private property police no not have to come.

Answer 1

It's up to the "victim" to initiate the process. Depending on the extent of the damage, she may or may not contact her insurance provider. If she does go through the insurance, they will require that she get an estimate from an authorized repairmen and reimburse her. Trust me, they will make sure that the amount of the damages are appropriate -- they don't want to pay for more than they have to. Tthey will then contact you to get recompensed for what they've paid.

If she doesn't go through the insurance (which you will know if she contacts you directly), then yes, I would ask for multiple quotes as ultimately you are responsible for the full amount. All in all, I would wait for her to contact you. I don't suppose you got a photo of the damage to her vehicle?

Good luck.

Answer 2

As noted, people frequently try to take advantage of the situation. Contact your insurance company and let him file a claim with them. They'll ask for evidence that you were at fault, and he'll have trouble with that aspect of the event, especially since no police report was filed. You're upset because a tiny scratch is worth $950. Well, that's not unreasonable. But the bigger issue is - Who's at fault? This is where both of you have weak cases. You may want to send your insurance company the photos you took. Maybe *you* are entitled to some compensation, but a lot will depend on the provable facts surrounding the incident. And that's where both of you have weak cases. Can't predict what your insurance company will do, but at a minimum, you might be responsible for an accident. Probably a single accident won't affect your premiums, but a second event could trigger something like a premium hike. Work with your insurance company. Tough to play "catch up" well after the event, but it's not the first time a too-small accident has grown to this extent. Your insurance company has more experience than you do, so take their lead. ... Best of luck!!

Answer 3

Normally, both insurance companies would work to some agreement in determining who was at fault and pay for reparations for both cars, but since you do not have insurance you will have to do some of the legwork. More than likely, the other driver's insurance company will be contacting you for information and they may "stick it" to you if you aren't prepared. If you took pictures of the damage, you may be able to take them to a reputable bodyshop and ask for an estimate. They may be hesitant since they prefer to inspect the car personally but I'm assuming this was a low speed accident in a parking lot and only cosmetic damage...no major damage affecting the frame or drivability. After you get the estimate, you can compare it to what her insurance company finds you liable for. Depending on how things play out, you could pay for the repairs directly or if her insurance covers the cost of repair, you'll pay the insurance company. Hopefully, this can be settled amicably otherwise I'd seek legal help.

Answer 4

Don't get upset. You cannot do anything to change it now, you just have to deal with it. Fortunately it doesn't sound like anyone was hurt. Whether you pay her or her insurance company is really up to her (or her husband as the case may be). If she files a claim with her insurance company they will come after you for whatever they pay. As long as it isn't too much, don't argue and just be happy you did not get a ticket for no insurance. Get insurance right away so that you don't get into a serious accident without it. Even if you get the minimum insurance with liability only you are better off than having none.

If you get caught with no insurance in most states you get a license suspension and it is even more difficult to get insurance.

Answer 5

Ideally, the damage is small enough to be handled and negotiated between the two of you without the insurance companies getting involved. One point worth mentioning to the person you backed into is that their insurance is likely to go up if they report a claim (regardless of fault) so they may be better off having you pay for the damages and not reporting it to their insurance company. I am not sure of the law in Washington, but in Michigan (a no fault state) my insurance went up when my vehicle was vandalized, simply because I issued a claim.

Answer 6

don't tell her you don't have insurance. she could get mad and call the police. just tell her that because the damage was so small that you would rather pay her out yourself than file an insurance claim. tell her that if you have another claim on your auto insurance, that they are going to start charging you as a high risk policy. then have her get 3 estimates from body shops in your town. agree to pay the most sensible estimate directly to her. don't pay the highest one. if you don't have the cash, then go and get a personal loan at your bank or credit union. i think that will make it right. be careful and good luck

Answer 7

this depends on state law. you can be straight up and stay in contact with the other driver and try to pay the bills as they come or make it hard on her. If the estimate is way out in left field (to high) ask for another estimate or recommend a repair shop you trust. In some states what happens on private land does not require a police report or accident report.

Answer 8

You can either pay her directly, or if she goes through her own insurance, they'll come after you and you'll have to pay them back, plus her deductible. It's not just the damage, it's ALSO the rental car while hers is getting repaired.

She doesn't HAVE to get more than one quote. She can take it anywhere she wants, have it fixed, and take you to small claims court - where you'll have to pay it, unless it's "unreasonable' in the judge's opinion.

Yep, with you backing out of a spot, it's pretty cut and dried your fault.

If you hit her bumper, it could easily be $2,000 when you're all done. If you hit her door, only one piece, it will likely be under $500.

Answer 9

You're in major trouble. The main reason to have insurance is that the insurance company handles all the hassle of dealing with claims. Without insurance, you're on your own and unless you just agree to pay whatever they ask, you'll end up in court paying a lawyer to defend you. Best bet is to approach the other driver informally and friendly.... be conciliatory and offer to make them right. You need to have them sign a release so that they cannot make future claims. As you do not have an insurance company, run, don't walk to a lawyer and get him or her to provide you with a release form for them to sign. If they won't grant a release, you're screwed. Better get insurance.

Answer 10

I was in an uninsured accident myself and I had to pay the other person's insurance company the cost for the damage done to her car as well as her (un-needed) hospital visit. Then I had an SR-22 put on my license for 2 years. It sucked!!!