Got rear-ended today!

[Tiger926]

So, my DH and I don't go out, at all, as we have 2 kids keeping us busy, plus I'm a highschool teacher and he's a banker. Busy! Today, he had the day off, so he came to pick me up at school, and we went out for lunch down the road.

As we were waiting for a long light, we got rear-ended! This university kid (driving his parent's Lincoln), who obviously wasn't paying attention, just hit our van. No damage at all, but DH and I have sore necks. We both have sinus colds though, so it could be that. I jumped out of car, and asked him how it happened, and he had no answer. He said he drifted, but a jolt, is not a drift!

We took his info, and then went to each lunch, and back to school and hubby went home!

We never go out - so what are the chances of something like this happening! Thank goodness none of us were hurt! The weather was fine, and no glare from sun, and I couldn't see a cell phone, so not sure what he was doing?

We didn't call police or insurance company as there is absolutely no damage to our car, but some of my colleagues said we should? Not sure about that...?

What a weird day! Tiger

 

[minkydog]

Oh, man. I have a near-perfect driving record, but I got rear-ended by a Budweiser truck 3 years ago. Boy, was that guy's supervisor mad! It tore up the back of my van, but I didn't suffer any harm. I'm sure they were holding their breaths on that. With that one I did call police because I knew we had at least $2500 damage.

On the other hand, about 2 weeks later a guy in a small pickup rear ended me when he gunned it too soon at a stop light. When I pulled off I could see that my car wasn't damaged at all, the trailer hitch got bent. You should have seen his truck--my hitch went into his radiator. I told him I wouldn't call insurance if he would agree to pay for the hitch(it was maybe $50). He was more than happy to do that. We exchanged info and he was good for his word.

I think as long as you're sure there is no damage to the frame or the gas tank you can handle it any way you want. How much you wanna bet he was texting?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I got tapped once in my Lincoln, he accidentally let off the brake a little on a decline and bumped me at less then maybe 2 MPH. It was an honest mistake and it didn't do any damage to either car, so I just let it go, didn't even bother exchanging information.

 

[AKL_Megs]

FWIW, pop your trunk and open and close each door!

I got rear ended before, and thought I had no damage. Luckily, I had gotten a police report, because when I tried to pop my trunk, it opened, but wouldn't close, and my drivers side back door wouldn't open! The car had been hit with enough force to bend it just enough to affect the doors!

 

[monkeyboy]

Not what I thought it was about but ...glad everyone is ok

 

[manning]

We didn't call police or insurance company as there is absolutely no damage to our car, but some of my colleagues said we should? Not sure about that...?

What a weird day! Tiger

I would contact your insurance company and file a police report. Why? Hdden damage.

I got rear ended and I drive a 1993 towncar. To look at it at the scene it looked like my car wasn't touched. The other guy's front end was folded like an accordian. He couldn't open his front doors. I had to have mine towed to the dealership only because my tailpipe was bent against the rear wheel and there is no way you are going to rebend a stainless steel tailpipe.

After all was repaired the total cost was over $2,000.00. The biggest cost item was the rear bumper, around $1500.00. When you looked at the old bumper it didn't even look like it was hit. What was behind it was destroyed.

More than likely the bumper is going to have to be replaced. They can only take a 5 MPH hit, some less.

As far as the police report, some, maybe all, states require a police report by law if the damages are going to be over a certain dollar amount.

Another way to look at it is his insurance is going to stand the cost so it would be wise to have the car checked out.

 

[Piecey]

Like someone else said, at least tell your agent and see what they want you to do.

You never know if this person is going to come back and claim something, never know if something might pop up later.. or if the sore neck isn't from the wreck!

I bumped someone in a parking lot (pulling into a spot, took the turn too wide) and gave her all my info and said I'd pay OOP for it (I scratched her paint, but didn't dent the car- wasn't going fast enough!) She ended up calling my agent because she didn't think I'd pay. Ugh, that was irritating, she didn't even call me!
Anyway, my agent said to ALWAYS call her and let her know what happens even if it's something tiny like that.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

She ended up calling my agent because she didn't think I'd pay. Ugh, that was irritating, she didn't even call me!

I would have called your insurance too...if you need to get repairs, leave it to the insurance companies. Although some may be willing to work something out and pay cash there are many more that will just delay and cause issues or only pay for this or that, not the real damages (or rental car).

 

[Kathi OD]

I would contact your insurance company and file a police report. Why? Hdden damage.

I got rear ended and I drive a 1993 towncar. To look at it at the scene it looked like my car wasn't touched. The other guy's front end was folded like an accordian. He couldn't open his front doors. I had to have mine towed to the dealership only because my tailpipe was bent against the rear wheel and there is no way you are going to rebend a stainless steel tailpipe.

After all was repaired the total cost was over $2,000.00. The biggest cost item was the rear bumper, around $1500.00. When you looked at the old bumper it didn't even look like it was hit. What was behind it was destroyed.

More than likely the bumper is going to have to be replaced. They can only take a 5 MPH hit, some less.

As far as the police report, some, maybe all, states require a police report by law if the damages are going to be over a certain dollar amount.

Another way to look at it is his insurance is going to stand the cost so it would be wise to have the car checked out.

What he said. We were rear-ended on New Year's Day. $1800 worth of damage to the "inside" of the bumper, where the "crash bars" are. Couldn't tell a thing by looking at it. If we hadn't gotten it fixed, and were ever rear-ended again...well, we might as well not have had the bumper at all.