Should I claim Insurance under my own policy or another person policy?

Question

I was involved in a 3 car collision. I was hit in the rear and due to the impact, I hit the vehicle in front of me. Police report also states that I was not at fault. I have a $2000 dedeuctible. Should I approach my own insurance company to pay for the repairs or should I approach the vehicle who is at fault to pay for it? What are the pros and cons? Will my insurance premium increase if I go through my own insurance company.?

Answer 1

Okay, here's the deal......cops don't determine negligence, and that's what car accidents are about, negligence. So forget the police report, it's not needed (unless you didn't get the info on the other parties involved and then the police report helps). As long as the other drivers verbally confirm to their respective carriers the accident happened as you say you're fine.

Now to answer whether you should go through your insurance or not......I suggest you go thru your own and here's why: the at fault CAN NOT PAY YOU A DIME until they speak with their driver/policyholder, confirm the facts of loss with them, speak to you and the front car, all the while determing if there is valid coverage for the loss. Assuming all goes well you're looking at possibly 2-3 days before they can setup repairs for you. If things don't go well, specifically, their driver/policyholder is out of town or is avoiding them for whatever reason, nothing will be done. In the event the policy is not valid you're gonna have to go thru your carrier anyway. ALSO, depending on the limits of policy and the extent of damage done they could have a limits issue and again they won't pay upfront and you'll be forced to go thru your insurance. If you go thru your insurance you can get your repairs underway asap and not have to worry about 'what's going on' with the other insurance. Sure you have to pay your $2000 deductible but that's what you agreed to pay if your car was wrecked--can't moan & groan about it now. Your insurance will subrogate the at fault & once they get paid you'll get yor $2000 back (unless there's a limits issue where you'll get a pro-rated share).

Your rates should not increase but ALWAYS ask your agent as he/she is the only one who will know.

Answer 2

If your car is still driveable? I would suggest that you contact the insurance company that rearended you. If you were stopped waiting when rearended and the police report confirms this, you won't have any issues. Don't use your own insurance company unless you really have to!! Why should you pay the deductible? I only say this if your vehicle is still driveable. Sure the other company needs to confirm the facts of the accident with their driver and may need to even get this police report. This may be a quick process. I handled claims for 6 years and handled these all the time. Once the facts were confirmed, we were very quick to handle the damage to the vehicles. If the other company delays responding to you, you might want to consider going through your company, but with a $2000 deductible, think it through.

Give the company behind you a chance to resolve it quickly and fairly. If that fails, yes, go through your own company.

Good luck

Steven Gross

Answer 3

I live in a no-fault state and i was involved in an accident recently. It was called a 50-50 accident with no-one issued a ticket. I was told my rates COULD NOT go up unless I was at fault and ticketed. My vehicle was totaled and the other guys insurance paid me 50% of it's value. It has been a year and a half and I have changed insurance companies with no increases in my premiums. Your insurance company needs to know because they will help you. You pay them and they are supposed to work for you! Good luck!!

Answer 4

Premium increases are determined by underwriting and may go up no matter if you claim or not. If you decide to use your own insurer for repairs you will have to shell-out 2K to the body shop as your portion of repair costs. Your insurance company will then subrogate the other company for all costs involved with your claim and refund your deductible, though it could take months. Give the other company a shot -- if it's a good company, (USAA, State Farm, etc) it will go really smooth. They will inspect your vehicle (provided of course they accept liability) and send you a check for rerpair costs. If it's a small, internet company you could be facing real misery.

Answer 5

You need to report the incident to your insurance company and let them sort it out. Generally speaking the person who hit you will pay for the damage to the rear of your vehicle, you will pay for the person you hit in front of you, and the front of your vehicle.

Answer 6

The police report, which will need to be supplied to all involved parties and insurance agencies, will determine who hit who and when - BUT if you are in a no-fault insurance state, it really doesn't matter. But because the first rule of an insurance company is "don't pay claims unless forced to", start with the other companyies as primary in the accident and try to make yours secondary, as it will reduce the outlay your insurance has to make on your behalf. And yes, your rates will rise some. No way around it.

Answer 7

The last time I heard about the same thing. The cops said that the person that hit you was at fault for damage to your car. Then you were responsible for the damage to the car in front of you. The cops said that you failed to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you.

I would turn it in to my insurance company and let them fight it out and see what happens..

Answer 8

go talk to your Insurance company they should get a hold of the other insurance company's to pay for your car... and no your Insurance should not go up if you did not get a ticket..

Answer 9

TAKE IT TO YOUR AGENT , YOUR INSURANCE SHOULD GET EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF , AS FAR AS WHO PAYS FOR WHAT , IF NEEDED THEY SHOULD SUE THE OTHER PARTY FOR DAMAGES