Hit and Run-is it worth it to report to insurance?

Question

I was just involved in a hit and run. I was merging into the Holland Tunnel, and a Van drove up on the side of my car, ripped my drivers side mirror off, scratched my car horriably, and just kept on driving!! This was not my fault, as I was in the lane first, he merged into my lane, over the solid line!! I have not done anything yet along the lines of reporting this, as I just got home from work. When we got out of the tunnel, they pulled over and flagged me down. The roads were very busy, and we didnt call the police. They said to me "are you high? You look like you are high". I just got out of working a 14 hour shift, so I look weathered. How dare they say that to me!! Now, I live in NJ, and have Geico Insurance, $500 deductiable, full coverage. I have the color of the van, and the license plate #. What should I do. I dont know if its worth it to report it to my insurance co. but I dont want to report it if its going to go to my insurance co. What should I do?

Answer 1

Thank goodness this was not a lot worse, in such a crowded area, you really could have been badly hurt.

You need to contact the Police immediately and fill out an accident report, this should have happened at the scene, but do not wait any longer.

The ploy of them trying to say that you were high is just so you will be scared to report it, nothing else. You also need to contact your insurance agent immediately, that should be call number two.

You are looking at a lawsuit being forced on you by the person/s from the van,
and if you do not report it you will have no possible way to defend yourself.
Sometimes these types of accidents get reported by observers and many major highways and tunnels have cameras recording traffic constantly so the whole thing could be on tape.

If you do not report it, it will make you look guilty. You have insurance for times like these, and if you are innocent and the victim here you have nothing to worry about. If you have a lawyer, you may want to contact him/her also; just in case you are threatened with a lawsuit.

Best of luck to you.


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Answer 2

Yes, you should report this, especially if you have the license plate # of the van, however, they did stop and the police should have been called then. It's not up to the other driver to decide if you're high or not. Although your fatigue could factor into the incident. How do you know they don't have YOUR license plate # and won't report YOU as the hit and run driver. You'll probably have to contact NYPD if the accident occurred on the NY side of the tunnel. There's no point in contacting your insurance company until you have a police accident report #.

Answer 3

Legaly, all accidents should be reported to the police within 24 hours. You should have exchanged driver license numbers.
Most likely your damages will far exceed $500.00 and best reported to your insurance for repairs. If they are not much above your deductable, you can pay the diff.
Since you have the license plate number, It will behoove you to report it to the police. It's certain that the paint can be matched to your damage. However, the other driver can accuse you of being at fault. If no witnesses, you may have a problem proving his guilt.

Bear in mind that the other driver may have already reported it to the police with accusations towards you.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Your first mistake was not calling the police right away. When in an accident, you need to establish your side of the story and calling the cops is the only way the insurance co. will recognize. You prob have coverage but the insurance co. will void your claim if you didn't call the cops. You have the license plate and should still call them. Then call geico.

Answer 5

Yes, report it. Always report an accident immediately. If you don't report it but the other driver does, it will look even worse on your insurance record.

Someone hit my car while it was parked on the street. Insurance only paid $600 over my deductible, but it didn't affect my rate since I had the police report proving it was a hit-and-run.

Answer 6

I think you should report it to the police first. Get an estimate for repairs and then figure out if it is worth the $500 deductible and the red flag on your insurance.

Answer 7

of course its worth it!!!!! Dont you want them to get caught? Dont you want to pay only 500 (or whatever your deductible is) instead of several thousand?

It kills me to see how reluctant people are to call insurance- this is what you pay for!

This will be a not at fault accident. The sooner you tell them.. the sooner they can chase down this loser and gets pics of his damage before he gets his car fixed.

It was a very bad decision on your part not to call the police... that may be a critical mistake. Now all this other guy has to say is "he switched lanes into me" and they wont be able to find him at fault b/c they have no proof.

But please please..c all your insuarnce.. seriously do you really think its going to make your rates go up thousands of dollars? (the cost you will have to pay for repairs if you pay out of pocket)

Answer 8

Get a quote on having it constant, whether it is withing a couple of hundred greenbacks of your deductible, simply pay for it your self, it is going to lower your expenses on multiplied rates ultimately. Don't name and ask what could occur on your top rate, the coverage corporation can rely the decision as a declare and broaden your top rate. If you might have a well description of the auto that hit your auto you would desire to dossier a file with the police.

Answer 9

You should report it to the police 1st, then get an estimate for repairs and then figure out if it is worth the $500 deductible. lol

Answer 10

You are required to report to your ins co ANY accident you are involved in. Period!