Car Accident Insurance Info needed

[JoiseyMom]

Nothing major TG, just a small fender bender. I was standing still in a parking lot yesterday with my turn signal waiting for a spot. A person in on of those HUGH SUV/Trucks backed into me. SIgh. Now, I only have a small dent, but where it is my DH isn't sure if it can just be popped out of if they have to replace the panel. Now, my car is almost brand new. I got it earlier this year and I want it to be fixed correctly not on the cheap, if you know what I mean.

The women who hit me apologized and went on and on about how it was her fault and how sorry she was...Ok, thanks fine. Lets get my car fixed. I thought I would be nice and get an estimate on my own, but I need to make an appt for that, and they isn't happening until Friday.

Now, my concern is if these people decide it can be fixed cheaper then my estimate, can I still contact their insurance company? The wife on the phone already asked if I would bring it to some dent ex type place. Ummm..maybe her DH fixed their car like that...but I want my fixed correctly, if you know what I mean.

Ok, so if I wait until Friday and they balk, will I have any issues first calling the Insurance company, (theirs is Allstate), or mine if I have too??

I haven't had to deal with an accident in about 10 years, and that was one someone totalled my car.

THanks guys. We are in NJ if that helps!

 

[scrapquitler]

You have their information, right? Call your insurance company and provide the information to your insurance company. They (your insurance company) will handle it.

 

[JoiseyMom]

You have their information, right? Call your insurance company and provide the information to your insurance company. They (your insurance company) will handle it.

Yes, I have all that. But I am trying to be nice and they want to pay it themselves and not have that on their insurance and have their rates go up. I just want my car fixed the correct way.

She called me back with the number of this dent specialist. I took it, but said no matter wait I am getting an estimate from my Auto body guy. I hope it's an easy fix, I don't want to be without my car!!

Sigh...this is such a PIA!

 

[golfgal]

Sure, be nice, only to have them come back to you and change their story. Sorry, get a police report and contact their insurance company. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get a police report, no matter how minor the damage AND if a police officer tries to tell you he can't do a report in a parking lot is just being lazy, they CAN file a report anywhere. If you don't go through insurance, get 3 estimates-that will be the "fair" way to decide what is reasonable.

 

[barkley]

if you go through your insurance company the other party can always opt to pay the bill directly vs. putting it through their insurance company, but then you've got your insurance company backing you up.

dh spaced out and drove away from the pump at a gas station-but forgot to take the gas hose out of the car it did some minor damage to the pump so he provided the info. to the station manager. before he even got home the manager had called his insurance company who in turn contacted ours. our agent called and we discussed what the cost was (manager already knew cuz apparantly it's not an uncommon occurance). we opted to pay out of pocket. we cut the check to the insurance company for the gas station, no claim was done through our insurance-no rate increase.

 

[chloeloveless]

It’s good to be nice, but you also have to be practical here. Call your car insurance company and ask them to handle this on your behalf. Like others are saying, if the at-fault party wants to pay from their pocket, it’s their option, you make sure, you follow the right process.

 

[mjkacmom]

Sure, be nice, only to have them come back to you and change their story. Sorry, get a police report and contact their insurance company. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get a police report, no matter how minor the damage AND if a police officer tries to tell you he can't do a report in a parking lot is just being lazy, they CAN file a report anywhere. If you don't go through insurance, get 3 estimates-that will be the "fair" way to decide what is reasonable.

Second this. DH just got into a small accident - he was in someone's blindspot, and the other guy hit him, taking off his mirror. The guy appologized, and admitted fault. DH called me, and I told him to call the police. The cop shows up, the other guys says it was DH's fault. The officer explained to the guy that it was obviously his fault, and wrote up the report.

DH is trying to be nice (we're in NJ, too, and an accident really increases insurance rates), and is offering the guy the chance to pay the bill OOP ($175), and the guy said he would buy the part and fix it himself - um, no... DH is giving him the bill today, and if he doesn't pay it now, will submit it to the insurance company, along with the police report.

 

[Kathi OD]

DH and I were in an accident earlier this year. We were stopped at a red light and were rear-ended. We traded insurance info and I called our insurance company to let them know. They said they would note that we were in an accident, but to see how their company (in your case, the woman) handled it. If we were satisfied, then call back and they would take care of everything. Fortunately for us, everything worked out fine.

ETA: We did get a police report. ALWAYS get a police report, even if it means someone ends up w/ a ticket.