Auto Accident with no Police report and now I think the guy is trying to stick it to me. Help?

Question

Car in front of me stopped suddenly to make a left hand turn at a right banking corner. He almost had to make a small u-turn to make it. In any case I hit him. We get out look at damage to our cars. He has an old Corvette with metal bumpers and I have a plastic mini van. He looked fine, I took a little bumper damage. We exchanged insurance, drivers #'s and contact info just out of reaction that we felt like we should do something. Now he's calling me telling me he took his car in and there is $2000 worth of damage. I think he's pulling something. If no police report was made out and I have not called my insurance yet, where do I stand? Am I liable at all? Should I tell him to contact his or my insurance company? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

i work for an insurance agency, and no matter how small any accident you always call your insurance company to report it in case of things like this, insurance companies work very hard to prevent fraud. how long has it been since the accident, call your company ask to report a possible claim, and tell them the situation, get in contact with his insurance company as well, because if your making the effort to report this, it wouldn't look to good if he hasn't reported anything and claims to have damage......call your agent

Answer 2

Yes, you are liabile. No, you do NOT have to pay him. There is a good possibility of some high dollar damage on the Corvette (I actually specialized in Vette repairs when I worked at a body shop years ago). Call your insurer ASAP and give them all your information. The lack of a police report is not good but also not the end of the world. Please -- I beg you to let your claims adjuster handle this situation. You will not have to have any more contact with the other party other than to inform him that your insurer will be in touch.

Answer 3

Always get a police report. You know that now. It is time to let the insurance companies fight it out.

It may not actually be your fault. (Although most likely it is) if the guy slammed on the brakes and didn't put on his turn signals. There are some people out there that make their living by doing this. They will also claim a back or neck injury and try to fraud the insurance company.

Since this guy was driving a 1974 or earlier Corvette, I seriously doubt if he was one of those guys. He was driving a classic car, so repairs may be expensive on it.
Just talk to your insurnace agent and follow his instructions.

Answer 4

There doesn't have to be a police report made for a claim to be filed. If you want to handle it without insurance, tell him that you want him to get an estimate at a repair place you are comfortable with, make sure he gets a printed estimate, and have him show it to you. That way you know what he is saying is true and you can just pay the repair place not him. If you want to bring insurance into it have him contact your insurance company and let them take care of it. They will probably contact you for your statement. Unfortunately, when you rear end someone, it is almost always blamed on you unless the other person broke the law. Good luck!

Answer 5

If there is any damage to either vehicle on public property the police should be called to the scene and a report written up, this way you have a 3rd party witness as to how much damage was done, it is not to late to file a police report and be sure to notify your insurance company as they will want to see his car before any repairs are made to the car. BTW the police have no authority on private property like shopping centers But they can write up a report and if someone is injured this gives them authority to do what ever they see fit to do.

Answer 6

Here's how it's gonna shake out . . .

You'll report the accident to your insurance company telling them about his Bozo manneuver.

He'll report the accident to his insurance company leaving out his Bozo maneuver.

The two adjusters will discuss the accident and agree on the common elements. One of those is that you hit the rear of his car . . . (i.e. you were following to closely).

The elements not in both narratives are nothing more than negotiating points.

Statements made at the scene, the area of material damage on the two cars, how adamant you are that you're not entirely at fault and credibility issues will bear on just how much each adjuster accepts as his policyholder's percentage of fault.

It's in your best interest to tell the WHOLE truth. The one who tells the truth that is consistent with the verifiable facts of loss is the one whose position is easiest to defend.

It might go to a "round table" of experienced adjusters, supervisors or managers in the company or a "claims conference" where adjusters from other carriers get together to chew the fat on losses they have no financial interest in for the purpose of providing an objective opinion on the loss circumstances.

Believe it or not, insurance companies actually try to be fair to all parties invovled. At least that's how I always ran my desk.

I've heard it said that the earmark of a fair negotiation is where nobody walks away happy with the outcome.

Don't expect to get your cake and eat it too.
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Answer 7

i work in insurance, and some companies will not pay a claim w/out a police report. Your at fault for not maintaining an assured clear distance b/c you rear ended the guy. It doesn't matter if they stop suddenly. I would call your agent and let him/her know what happened and get his/her advice on it. You may still be able to file a police report, but be prepared to be cited.

Answer 8

If you hit him coming from behind, you are indeed at fault and liable. That old corvette is probably worth a lot more than your minivan. You'd better file a police report ASAP, as most municipalities require one above a specific amount of damage.

Answer 9

Um.. clearly your at fault here. You hit the rear of his vehicle aka you rearended him. Doesnt matter that he stopped suddenly- you have to maintain proper distance.

Call your insurance unless you want to be sued personally. How is he "pulling something" by wanting to get his car fixed? geesh

Answer 10

tell him that no police report was made so you are not paying anything . he has no proof that you were at fault . this is why it is always best to call the police no matter what so that some ppl dont try to stiff others on moneys owed . you dont owe him anything cause he did not want to call the police . did you see his drivers license ? do you know if he even had one ? just too much to question here . good luck .