OT - I backed into my neighbor's car

[Miz Diz]

I used to be a claims adjuster and handled auto claims.

You don't have to file a police report.

When you hit a parked car - it's your fault. Even if the car was parked illegally. Your insurance company might try to put some negligence on the owner of the parked car, but very doubtful since you hit an object that was not moving.

Whether or not your insurance goes up depends on the laws of your state. So it doesn't matter what people here say - it may not apply to you. For instance, SC has a threshold. If the damages are over a certain amount, your insurance goes up. If it is below that amount, your insurance doesn't go up. Other states may have a law that makes the insurance go up due to 1 accident that is paid out. Call your insurance company and ask.

You can call your insurance company and ask questions without filing a claim. Tell them you want the info before deciding to file your claim.

Your deductible applies to damage to your vehicle. The other vehicle gets paid under your property damage liability.

Repairs cost a lot more than people think. A little scratch could end up being a lot more than what you think. If you pay out of pocket, I would ask her to get 2-3 estimates and pay the lowest.

Since you gave her your insurance info, she CAN call your insurance company and file the claim herself. They will not pay her until confirming the situation with you.

She can also file the claim under her own insurance and then her insurance will collect from you or your insurance. It's called subrogation.

 

[KAMLEM]

I haven't read all of these posts so excuse me if this has already been said, but if she intentionally parked in the road then you shouldn't be liable at all! Fill out a police report and let your insurance know how she parked.

That's not true. Even if they were parked illegally, the OP is responsible if she hit their car. The person parked illegally may receive a ticket, but the OP is still responsible.

 

[surfergirl602]

Thanks everyone for all the info!!! She ended up calling me last night while my kids were still at dance. She's a college student that lives at home with her mom. She's going to get a few estimates and we'll try to deal with it without going through insurance - I have a feeling she just wants the money - but anyway, I told her that if it's too expensive then I'll have to go through my insurance because we really don't have all that much money to pay out of pocket. She's going to call me when she gets the quotes. I'm so glad that I didn't have to go over there and face her daddy.

 

[ZachnElli]

Also, while you mention you work in an insurance office, it sounds like it may be an independant office. Since USAA is a national company with only one way to contact them via the 800 number, every call you make is logged and noted. A question about an accident and deductible doesn't just "disappear" but becomes part of your permanent record.

Nope, not an independent. I work for State Farm, my husband is the agent. We most certainly do not log every phone call. Our policyholders can call at anytime or come in and discuss their coverages and "what if's" and it certainly does not count against them or get "logged". Even if they call after hours and get the "800" number, the only notes that are put in the computer are sent to their agent so if they need a follow up call we know what they had questions about. We don't have anywhere in our system to add simple questions about coverages. BTW, State Farm is the largest property and casualty company. I guess this is where a good agent comes in handy!

 

[famofsix]

As someone who lives on an incredibly narrow street, with a constant number of cars parked directely across from my driveay:

Parking across the street from a driveway isn't the same as blocking it. Blocking it means that access to the driveway is blocked. Parking across the street may mean you've got to be incredibly careful.

This has become a real problem on my block as well. I wish people would just use their driveways!!!

The law in our town is that cars cannot be parked parallel in front of the driveway on the opposite side of the street. Of course it is illegal to block a driveway on the side of the street where the driveway is as well. They don't care how big the street is...

They consider it blocked even if you can get out.

I hit an illegally parked car in a parking lot. My insurance covered me and her insurance covered her. But it is not the same on a public street. If you have the same law you can at least use the law to get her to stop parking there.

 

[branv]

OP -- that would be great if she is willing to settle for a little cash in pocket vs. filing against your insurance. I hope it works out for you.

But I do have a question for all the people who settled outside of insurance -- how do you make sure that this is a true settlement? I mean, couldn't the person easily take your cash and then still file against your insurance, denying that any money they received was a final settlement? Wouldn't you need some kind of signed contract, and even then be prepared to defend it in some way?

It just seems people would need to proceed very officially and carefully in a matter like this?