Can someone submit a claim to your car insurance?

[lillygator]

I tipped over a motorcycle a week or so ago as I was backing out of a space, took a while to find the owner who was under 21, great kid very understanding. He did not want to call the cops, felt an accident report was not necessary. His bike was picked up and there were three scratches. I gave him my info, name address phone my insurance carrier - but not the number.

We last spoke and I had said call me I will pay for whatever.

Well today I get a message from my car insurance that someone has submit a claim....?? He has not called me at all --- and I had been expecting a call with the new paint job, etc.

This happened in a parking lot, no witness, but I had to go in and get several guys who worked there to pick up the bike so they all saw the damage....no headlight or taillight was damaged ===== very suprising.

 

[cepmom]

yes, they can. Once DD rear ended someone and they exchanged info. No police were called as it was a very minor fender bender. We tried to get in touch with the woman several times and tell her we would pay for her damage, but she never called us back. I had not notified our insurance agent as we were trying to avoid going through the insurance. The woman put a claim in to our insurance anyway and we got stuck with the surcharge.

Looks like he decided to go through insurance instead of just having you pay....that stinks.

 

[lillygator]

but how does that work? now it would be my word against his?? I should have called the cops now that I think about it. It was so minor though. I am anxious to see what he reported. He told me no worries I have already wrecked it three times!

 

[cepmom]

well inour case, my insurance company called me and said they had received a claim for the accident. We had to then submit an accident report. I guess if the reports don't match up then they will investigate it further. Did your insurer say how much the damage was for? Was it out of line for what you thought the damage was?

 

[lillygator]

no I just had a message to call them, and I went online and could see a claim was opened.

in 12 years of being with them this is the second claim. yikes!

 

[Green Tea]

I had a little ding incident in a parking lot. I left a business card and on the back wrote my agent's name and phone number and the company the insurance was with. I took pictures at the time of the damage to document it. The owner never called me. I assume they called the agent and it is being taken care of. That's the way I like it-me not involved.

 

[jenrose66]

yes, they can. Once DD rear ended someone and they exchanged info. No police were called as it was a very minor fender bender. We tried to get in touch with the woman several times and tell her we would pay for her damage, but she never called us back. I had not notified our insurance agent as we were trying to avoid going through the insurance. The woman put a claim in to our insurance anyway and we got stuck with the surcharge.

Looks like he decided to go through insurance instead of just having you pay....that stinks.

It actually doesn't stink. I work in insurance claims and I see things go bad all the time. Both parties will agree to settle privately, then they start getting estimates and the people who caused the damage will say "that's too expensive" "you're trying to rip me off". Next thing you know, weeks if not months go by and no repairs completed.

Insurance exists for accidents. If you damage someone elses property you have insurance to cover that. Call in the loss and report the claim. It's the right thing to do.

 

[cepmom]

It actually doesn't stink. I work in insurance claims and I see things go bad all the time. Both parties will agree to settle privately, then they start getting estimates and the people who caused the damage will say "that's too expensive" "you're trying to rip me off". Next thing you know, weeks if not months go by and no repairs completed.

Insurance exists for accidents. If you damage someone elses property you have insurance to cover that. Call in the loss and report the claim. It's the right thing to do.

I see your point but it does stink when you live in MA where the insurance rates are outrageous especially for young drivers and the surcharge lasts for 6 years. Can't wait until DD is no longer considered "an inexperienced driver"

 

[golfgal]

but how does that work? now it would be my word against his?? I should have called the cops now that I think about it. It was so minor though. I am anxious to see what he reported. He told me no worries I have already wrecked it three times!

Yes, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get a police report because people have been known to lie about accidents.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I backed into someone a few years ago. They said "no worries" and from the looks of the vehicle, the scratch/small dent I did was the least of their worries. A neighbor took it upon themself to call the police for me as they were looking out the window

Long story short- police came, no report, and I called my insurance to look into getting my bumper fixed, but never filed a claim, because it was not much more than my deductable. By the time I called (3 hours after the accident), the other driver had already filed a claim w/ my insurance. No worries my butt

 

[TerryKitten]

Yes, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get a police report because people have been known to lie about accidents.

You can't always get one if you ask the PD for one. I was in a little fender bender a week ago. No damage was seen on either car, we exchanged information and went on our ways. I went to the police station to get a report issued and was told that the police don't issue reports after the fact. I was also told that even if they are called to the accident and no one is injured and the damage insignificant they wouldn't do a report. They are too busy. She said the best thing to do is write it down for your own records.

I called the insurance people because I knew if I gave my info, she will probably call them. There was a crack in her bumper... so my insurance and me get to pay for it. Fun.

 

[georgina]

It actually doesn't stink. I work in insurance claims and I see things go bad all the time. Both parties will agree to settle privately, then they start getting estimates and the people who caused the damage will say "that's too expensive" "you're trying to rip me off". Next thing you know, weeks if not months go by and no repairs completed.

Insurance exists for accidents. If you damage someone elses property you have insurance to cover that. Call in the loss and report the claim. It's the right thing to do.

Right! And then when it's time to renew they will choose not to renew your policy. Insurance exists for accidents, but don't dare have one if someone else in your family has had one in the past 3 years! I had a minor accident in a rental car in another state with a driver who barely spoke English, so I thought I had better report it. The damage to the rental was about $100 over my deductible, and the other driver never filed a claim, yet our company dropped us. That's one reason why people avoid reporting things to an insurance company.

 

[tazdev3225]

I was backed into in a parking lot. I was parked and not in my car. Security at the place I was located at let me know immediately. I was actually in the guard house as a friend is the sargeant. I went out to see the damage and my taillight was broken. The guy that hit me gave me his wife's business card and told me to call her in the morning she would pay for everything. I had the police come out and then called my insurance company just in case I would need their help. I got the cost of replacing the light and my DH called her. When she heard the cost she wanted to see estimates. At this point I told her it was only about $175 for the light and labor. After the estimates it was over $1000 as the bumper was also damaged. She drug her heels calling the insurance company but let it slip who her insurance co. was. I called and they wound up paying for everything.

 

[golfgal]

You can't always get one if you ask the PD for one. I was in a little fender bender a week ago. No damage was seen on either car, we exchanged information and went on our ways. I went to the police station to get a report issued and was told that the police don't issue reports after the fact. I was also told that even if they are called to the accident and no one is injured and the damage insignificant they wouldn't do a report. They are too busy. She said the best thing to do is write it down for your own records.

I called the insurance people because I knew if I gave my info, she will probably call them. There was a crack in her bumper... so my insurance and me get to pay for it. Fun.

Sorry but that is just the department being lazy. If you request a report they need to give you one. I know they are busy but time and time again you see people filing false claims for insurance, changing stories about what happened, etc. and the only way to protect yourself is to get a police report.