I stopped at a yield sign in order to yield to another vehicle. I was then hit from behind. The man claimed he could not find his insurance information but did write down all of his correct personal information, liscense and plate numbers. He contacted me and said his insurance is no longer valid but that he is willing to pay for damages. Do I still need to report damage to my insurance company? Should I get a lawyer? There was no police report filed. please any advice is appreciated.
2007-12-05 18:40:06 · 21 answers · asked by kosmic_one 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
In this case you should absolutely report it to your insurance company because now they will get to do their job! They will contact the person who hit you, make sure that the damage is covered, get the law involved if needed...everything! This is what you pay for so tell your insurance company everything and let them handle it.
2007-12-05 18:46:20 · answer #1 · answered by Miss Motor Mouth 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
File a police report! Better late than never! If you do not, you may have no future recourse against the at-fault party should he fail to follow through on his promise to pay for the damage. In addition, most states require motorists to have insurance, and your state may be one. If it is, the state may take steps to ensure that the at-fault party does not continue to drive without it.
I do not believe your insurance company can raise your rates for an accident in which you are not at fault. It would make sense to talk with your insurance agent to find out. If you have purchased uninsured motorist coverage, it may help you in this case. Then you can let the insurance company worry about going after the at-fault party.
2007-12-05 19:27:53 · answer #2 · answered by rkeech 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not having a police report is not going to help. And not contacting your insurance company isn't going to help either. And taking this guy on his word is the third thing that's not going to help. For pity's sake, contact your insurance company; that's why you pay premiums, for such an event as this. And yeah, you're going to need a lawyer to figure out how to get money out of the person who hit you. You could sue him in small claims court, but if you don't have pictures of the damage, that will be the fourth thing that isn't going to help.
2007-12-05 18:54:24 · answer #3 · answered by Chatelaine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
File a police report, inform your insurance,repair the damage and sue the other person for your deductible. If he claims to be willing to pay, then it is up to you whether or not you trust his word. But do file a police report so you have a record of the accident for future refrence if you need it. Good Luck
2007-12-05 18:53:34 · answer #4 · answered by Mickie K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want any chance of collecting damages, report the accident. Dont know where you live, but most states I know of require reporting damage over $300 or injury. Standard ploy of the guilty person offering to pay. Give him the bill though he will say he won't pay and you're too late to report it. I have yet to see an uninsured driver pay for damages unless taken to court. That's why they don't have insurance. They don't care if they injure others and never take responsibility. In my state, don't report an accident with over $300 damage within 5 days and you're good for a 1 year suspension of your license.
2007-12-05 18:48:58 · answer #5 · answered by genghis1947 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best advice you can get it this. File with your insurance company, telling them what the party said. They can collect the money and get the proper forms signed and you can get your vehicle fixed. But you really should have filed a police report. Why? Well, suppose this person suddenly gets amnesia and claims that conversation never happened, and you backed into his vehicle? His word against yours now.
2007-12-05 20:12:58 · answer #6 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, since this will be in small claims court, you probably won't need a lawyer, but you might want to consult one.
You'll go to a body shop and get an estimate, and then when you tell the guy he's going to be all shocked at how expensive it is and he'll tell you "I know a guy who can pull out dents for 50 bucks, man what are you talking about?!" And then it'll be like squeezing blood from a stone to get any money at all out of the guy, so you'll have to take the dumbass to court.
You're going to regret not having a police report.
And from now on, you're going to carry uninsured motorist coverage.
2007-12-05 18:48:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The easy way to do it: call your insurance company and file a Uninsured Motorist Claim (UM). Once your company verifies the other driver did not have insurance, they will be able to settle up with you under your um coverage. This includes providing a rental car while yours is being repaired.
Once they have settled up with you - they will contact the other driver to get him to pay them back. They will let him set up an interest free payment plan.
In the mean time, you will have your car fixed and getting paid back is your insurance company's baby. Your insurance company would have more leverage to get paid back. Usually they can have the other driver's license suspended, hire an attorney to sue him, turn him over to a collections agency.
2007-12-06 00:03:43 · answer #8 · answered by Boots 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he really wants to pay you, take his money,
but it sounds like it's alot of damage, probably not within his budget
if you want to cause a big stink call a lawyer,
your insurance will pay anything after the deductable.
if it is his fault, then his insurance should have paid you.
I'm going through a fender bender and we finally got the insurance involved and they're going to find out who was at fault.
ok good luck
2007-12-05 18:47:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a dealership and get a quote on how much the damages will be. Do this within the next day and see if he is willing to pay. If not, report damages to your insurance and talk to them.
2007-12-05 18:46:30 · answer #10 · answered by yusun 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋