Fender bender & teen driver

[wdwmom0f3]

My daughter ran into a tree stump by a cabin last night. It dented the front of her right bumper pretty darn bad. It knocked out the fog light, made something under neath loose. It's going to be expensive to fix. We just moved to Nationwide insurance to save money and now this.

Does anyone have any advise for me with this?

 

[Marionnette]

My daughter ran into a tree stump by a cabin last night. It dented the front of her right bumper pretty darn bad. It knocked out the fog light, made something under neath loose. It's going to be expensive to fix. We just moved to Nationwide insurance to save money and now this.

Does anyone have any advise for me with this?

Give her a hug. Tell her that these things happen sometimes, that's why they're called "accidents". Be thankful it wasn't more serious and that she is safe. If she has a job, have her pay half of your deductible.

As for the insurance, don't be surprised at how much your rate will go up because of this unless you got a policy with Nationwide's "Accident Forgiveness". If not, she will probably lose any "good student" or "drivers' ed." discounts that she got.

 

[Southernmiss]

Pay out of pocket for the repairs and don't contact the insurance company.
And be grateful no one was hurt.

Ds grazed a deer. It broke out his headlight. Being the typical boy, he and his buddies duct taped it in place. Ds will save the $$ to have it repaired. No hurry, no worries.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I called the insurance company already this morning not to file but to ask about how much it would go up if I did file and they couldn't really say. As for the accident forgiveness, it's after 3 years. She said to get estimates and then decide if I want to file a claim or pay out of pocket. It's going to be a good $2000 or better.

 

[Southernmiss]

Same DS hit a big Toyota SUV's trailer hitch with his Ford Taurus. The trailer hitch went through the whole engine, radiator, etc. of the Taurus.

The repairs to the Taurus easily cost much more than the $2000 he paid for the Taurus. We scrapped the car and he saved for another.

There was a police report and it was filed on our insurance because the driver of the SUV had no visible damage to her auto and none reported, but she did need to get checked out for whiplash.

Our insurance did go up, but thankfully it was minimal and no one was seriously injured in the accident.

We definitely weigh what's important to file versus what's a blip on the big picture radar.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not have called the insurance company and asked about filing the claim. This might be of interest:

http://insurance.lawyers.com/auto-insurance/when-to-make-an-automobile-insurance-claim.html

 

[tvguy]

I would not have called the insurance company and asked about filing the claim. This might be of interest:

http://insurance.lawyers.com/auto-insurance/when-to-make-an-automobile-insurance-claim.html

You would NOT have called....or WOULD have called? Your link suggests in most cases you have to notify your insurance company of incident, even if you do not turn in a claim

 

[njmom47]

Grrr...dd#2 (in a Dodge Neon) hit a Range Rover that was parked in a driveway. Neon was totalled. RR had a scratch on the bumper (dd took a pic). RR's owner filed a claim. Now, of course, DD#s's insurance is the most expensive of all 5 of us.

I was so po'd. It was her friend's sister.

No advice, OP. I just share your frustration!

Interesting article, lost*in*cyberspace.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You would NOT have called....or WOULD have called? Your link suggests in most cases you have to notify your insurance company of incident, even if you do not turn in a claim

I would not have called just to ask about what would happen if I filed a claim.

 

[usd2bmd]

I called the insurance company already this morning not to file but to ask about how much it would go up if I did file and they couldn't really say. As for the accident forgiveness, it's after 3 years. She said to get estimates and then decide if I want to file a claim or pay out of pocket. It's going to be a good $2000 or better.

First I would get an estimate. Actually get a couple of them. But as someone who works for an insurance company in claims, yes it is difficult to tell whether your insurance will go up at next renewal and if it does how much it will go up.

I would not have called the insurance company and asked about filing the claim. This might be of interest:

http://insurance.lawyers.com/auto-insurance/when-to-make-an-automobile-insurance-claim.html

Please do not let this article scare you. It is more aimed at the people who are involved in an accident with another vehicle or person. Your daughters accident involved nobody else. if you choose to fix it on your own you will be fine. If you choose not to fix it, and you have another accident, this damage can not be claimed with that damage.

 

[supersnoop]

I called the insurance company already this morning not to file but to ask about how much it would go up if I did file and they couldn't really say. As for the accident forgiveness, it's after 3 years. She said to get estimates and then decide if I want to file a claim or pay out of pocket. It's going to be a good $2000 or better.

What kind of car was the teen driving? I just replaced the bumper on my wife's one-year-old Lexus and it was less than $1000.

 

[O2H O2H]

My dd hit another car pulling into a parking garage for her very first job interview. The cost is $900. I worked it out with the woman to pay OOP bc dd was having a complete panic attack, but otherwise dd is going to pay for it fully. yes, it was an accident. I was not mad at her for having the accident. But it COULD have been avoided (as it sounds like yours could), and part of being an adult is paying for our sucky mistakes. That is one of the things that hopefully helps us to be more careful and not make BIGGER sucky mistakes.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Pay out of pocket for the repairs and don't contact the insurance company.
And be grateful no one was hurt.

Ds grazed a deer. It broke out his headlight. Being the typical boy, he and his buddies duct taped it in place. Ds will save the $$ to have it repaired. No hurry, no worries.

This! Years ago....When DH and I got married he was only 22. The first couple of fender benders it was cheaper to pay for the minor repairs OOP than to file claims and have his insurance go up.

 

[DebbieB]

It does go on record even if you call and don't file a claim. When I bought my townhouse 2 years ago, my company picked up on 2 information claims by the seller. One was a roof leak and one was her TV getting struck by lightning. She had another company but the companies share information. I had to get details on the claims and what was done to repair. The seller was kind of ticked because she said they were not claims.

 

[ORDisneyfans]

We have Nationwide too. DD's boyfriend wrecked her car and they forgave the accident according to our policy and our rates did not go up. BTW the damage was over $6000. They also paid for a rental car, reduced our deductible by $100 and were excellent about paying the claim. Read your policy carefully. I am very pleases with Nationwide. We had just switched to them 3 months prior!

 

[bdoyledimou]

i had a kid put his basketball through my windshield -- took my car into the dealership to get it replaced under my comprehensive insurance plan -- but because i didnt report it the second it happend it was denied as a comp claim.
I paid out of pocket -- and then got the letter from my insurance company that it was being trested as a single car at fault collision, and my insurance went from $98 a month to $225 a month -- for 7 years.

SO i paid $1200 out of pocket -- then another$10,000 for a claim they didn't pay for that should have been covered by my comprehensive.

 

[sookie]

I'm shocked at what ends up NOT meeting our deductible and what does. Our brand new car was hit in a parking lot - hit and run. It was thankfully confined to one panel. The insurance company wanted it repaired rather than replaced, despite my being a squeaking wheel about it. The repair looks just like it was brand new! It was done at my repair shop of choice.

Having it repaired, not replaced... a bill I thought would be at least $1200 was actually more like $600-ish. So insurance paid out $200. I would have rather gone and had it repaired without involving the insurance. There was nothing more for me to do - no one saw it, even though I did file a police report.

Fixing it would have probably been better overall for our insurance rates.

Get an estimate at a repair shop you trust before going to the insurance company. Multiple panels usually mean more involvement. A single bumper might just need replacement and paint.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Please keep us posted. I have such mixed feelings on reporting to insurance when no-one else is involved - meaning it is often better not to.

My Dad called USAA - a great insurance. - to ask - NOT file a claim about backing up into a post in a parking lot. Small scratch, decided not to file, and not to fix at all. No money crossed anywhere.

When he decided to finally change insurance companies, the new one contacted USAA and was told my Dad had a moving collision on the date in question. It upped the rate he was seeking on the new insurance. Not filing a claim doesn't mean it didn't happen/not "on file" to some insurance companies.

 

[MillauFr]

I chose a $5,000 deductible on our policies because I only intend to file a claim when the car is totaled. If I get into a fender bender I'll just pay for it out of my pocket. I don't trust the insurance company and believe they will jack up my rates if I file.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

So sorry I have not been back on here today. I am taking the car for an estimate tomorrow. Someone asked and it's a 2013 Elantra. The damage is pretty bad. It knocked the fog light into the bumper and put a deep dent in the bottom fender and tore it a little. There is also a crack in the under panel protective cover. It's not going to be cheap. My husband said to just file it but I'm going to see how much it will be first. Our deductible is only $250.

Tomorrow is a new day. I pray it's better.