WWYD Car accident

[Hikergirl]

I just find it strange they want won;t give us any info or want a police report. If it was me I would.

If they are just looking to make some money from you then no it isn't strange at all.

 

[Hikergirl]

I would give them the $500 instead of filing a claim with my insurance that will in turn raise my rates. I've seen it done before. Little fender benders. I live in NJ where insurance rates are sky high. I prefer to handle it without insurance.

Normally I would agree with this but these people seem shady. If they aren't willing to give OP any of their info that just seems odd. If the Op just hands them cash there really is no proof of that if these people decide to file their own police report and then go after OP's insurance co.

 

[hereyago]

Most police around here won't show up. I've tried and was told they wouldn't if there were no injuries - even though it was clear the damage was over the statutory minimum to require a collision report.

That is crazy.Are they understaffed or just crappy?

 

[HelloTheDrakes]

We are dumb. I guess.

You're not dumb. This is a very different type of accident and you haven't dealt with this before. The neighbors are being shady and you're stuck in the situation. Don't feel dumb, a number of other people would be asking the same question.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That is crazy.Are they understaffed or just crappy?

No, just too many people driving crazy causing "little" fender benders. Most police departments around here won't automatically assume you want them to come out, unless you report injuries, or blocking traffic issues.

 

[bcla]

That is crazy.Are they understaffed or just crappy?

Big city police departments. They deal with major crimes including gangs. The one with the online report form has gotten help from the CHP when they were understaffed.

I've had a crash (not my fault) in a smaller city with low crime and fast police response whenever there's been something like a car burglary. But for a fender blender, when I called I was told to just exchange info unless someone was injured.

The law in California is that if there's $750 of damage to all vehicles, the collision must be reported to the DMV within 10 days, although it may be reported by an insurance company. I did that.

 

[hereyago]

Interesting and kind of scary to see how other places handle things.

 

[North of Mouse]

Sounds like they are trying to bully you into giving them untraceable cash! I would say they 'aren't' going to go to court because they don't want their names involved.

Plus, what would they go to court for??? You are cooperating. The law doesn't say you have to hand over cash!! Notify your insurance, then just wait. I imagine they will not be heard from again. They will have to admit that they 'would not' exchange info like you are supposed to - in our state for fender benders anyway.

To some pp's - it is fairly common to not involve the police with just fender benders - no report needed - just exchange info - and notify your ins. I would also take pics, if possible, though not required.

 

[North of Mouse]

I would give them the $500 instead of filing a claim with my insurance that will in turn raise my rates. I've seen it done before. Little fender benders. I live in NJ where insurance rates are sky high. I prefer to handle it without insurance.

No way! Not with us anyway.

 

[Mizzoufan]

The insurance company said let them take us to court. They said it sounds like a huge scam to them.. If it goes to court , the insurance company has noted the account that we called and notified them.e shall see how it plays out

 

[Gracie09]

Not in NJ. I'm in a no fault state. I don't know if the OP is also.

I'm in nj as well. No fault isn't for accidents like this it's for when a deer ran into the side of my car at a stop light or I get hit and they don't have insurance or enough insurance. Op is 100% at fault. The other car was parked. No fault doesn't come into play. Whether her rates would go up or not is another issue that has many variables

 

[Feralpeg]

A couple of years ago, a lady sideswiped my daughter. They called the police. No tickets were given. They did exchange insurance info. My daughter was concerned because the lady kept saying it was Kendall's fault even thought the woman pulled into Kendall's lane and sideswiped her. Kendall contacted our insurance and sent pictures she took of the damage to her car.

Kendall ended up losing her good driving discount because she was involved in an accident, even though it was not her fault and she got no ticket. We never heard if the woman filed a claim against our insurance. Later, talking with our agent, he said we should have kept quite in case the woman did not pursue it. No good deed goes unpunished!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This might be long. Please bear with me.

Okay, the weekend of Halloween my husband backed into someone parked directly behind him. He just didn't see them. It was a guest of one of our neighbors. So he went over to tell them. He told them he was going to call the police get an accident report. They took off before he made it back home. So fast forward to last Friday. They came knocking saying they would turn it in to their insurance but they wanted 500 to pay there deductible. Once, again okay lets get a police report lets exchange info. They don't want the police involved and don't want us to have their info name or number nothing. They said if we don't have the 500 they would take a predated check. That a heck NO. So they came back yesterday same song and dance. They want their deductible paid, I told them I want some estimates or something showing there is damage. I mentioned lets call the police lets get a police report and I will call my car insurance while they are there and we can be done with it. Once again the they turn to leave saying see you in court. Should I call the police and file an report on my side of the accident? Should I call my insurance tell them what's going on. Go talk to neighbors and see if I can get there info to contact them? Or just wait and to see if they take us to court. I know I'm not giving them a postdated check and I'm not going to give them cash for a deductible. I'd rather go through my insurance. Thanks in advance.

Red flags all up in here:
1) Asks for deductible just like that
2) Won't readily agree to getting the police involved or to get the supposed damage looked at by a shop and show you proof
3) Says "I'll see you in court"
4) Comes back multiple times
5) Makes me wonder if they even have current insurance on the car especially when they won't give you any basic information such as their name and number. It also makes me wonder if there is more to their story in not wanting to get the police involved....

Honestly sounds like the person is just looking to get $$. Now there really might be some damage there but it sounds like the person doesn't care about any damage and instead is looking for some quick cash.

How in the world does this person think it's going to go in court? The judge is going to want estimates of the damage and probably prefers that the police were involved or insurance companies were involved. It wouldn't look favorably on the person if you tell your side and say they came back repeatedly asking for money for a deductible and with no proof that's what it is or what the damage was (if there was any) and refused to give insurance companies involved or a police report. And that they said "see you in court"..makes them look like a person who is just "one of those" types when it comes to threatening legal action.

I don't know if a police report is needed in this case but really I would be discussing it with your insurance company. If you guys were victims of hit and run where they backed into your car but left before you could talk with them I would say yes absolutely to a police report.

I would contact your insurance company to be on the safe side. Personally speaking I wouldn't go talk to the neighbors unless your insurance company advises to do so. Your neighbor may give you the honest truth or they may spin it to protect that guest of theirs. It's a different story if the police ask the neighbor or if your insurance company investigates (if it got to that point) and talks to the neighbor.

ETA: Apologies but I didn't read all replies prior to responding so I apologize if there is duplicate information/advice provided.

 

[Mizzoufan]

A couple of years ago, a lady sideswiped my daughter. They called the police. No tickets were given. They did exchange insurance info. My daughter was concerned because the lady kept saying it was Kendall's fault even thought the woman pulled into Kendall's lane and sideswiped her. Kendall contacted our insurance and sent pictures she took of the damage to her car.

Kendall ended up losing her good driving discount because she was involved in an accident, even though it was not her fault and she got no ticket. We never heard if the woman filed a claim against our insurance. Later, talking with our agent, he said we should have kept quite in case the woman did not pursue it. No good deed goes unpunished!

That makes me sick for your daughter

 

[Marchand63]

This might be long. Please bear with me.

Okay, the weekend of Halloween my husband backed into someone parked directly behind him. He just didn't see them. It was a guest of one of our neighbors. So he went over to tell them. He told them he was going to call the police get an accident report. They took off before he made it back home. So fast forward to last Friday. They came knocking saying they would turn it in to their insurance but they wanted 500 to pay there deductible. Once, again okay lets get a police report lets exchange info. They don't want the police involved and don't want us to have their info name or number nothing. They said if we don't have the 500 they would take a predated check. That a heck NO. So they came back yesterday same song and dance. They want their deductible paid, I told them I want some estimates or something showing there is damage. I mentioned lets call the police lets get a police report and I will call my car insurance while they are there and we can be done with it. Once again the they turn to leave saying see you in court. Should I call the police and file an report on my side of the accident? Should I call my insurance tell them what's going on. Go talk to neighbors and see if I can get there info to contact them? Or just wait and to see if they take us to court. I know I'm not giving them a postdated check and I'm not going to give them cash for a deductible. I'd rather go through my insurance. Thanks in advance.

They way there adamant about no police, my bet no insurance, no license, suspended or all the above. Call insurance with their plate & name they will find out

 

[Marchand63]

Oh and police reports are worthless. Last I heard, unless someone has been injured or killed, the police don't even want you calling them for fender benders.

They'll come but most people want the cops after fact & cars are moved to determine fault. Sometimes with witnesses or obvious damage they can but more often than not they just assistant in information exchange.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

A couple of years ago, a lady sideswiped my daughter. They called the police. No tickets were given. They did exchange insurance info. My daughter was concerned because the lady kept saying it was Kendall's fault even thought the woman pulled into Kendall's lane and sideswiped her. Kendall contacted our insurance and sent pictures she took of the damage to her car.

Kendall ended up losing her good driving discount because she was involved in an accident, even though it was not her fault and she got no ticket. We never heard if the woman filed a claim against our insurance. Later, talking with our agent, he said we should have kept quite in case the woman did not pursue it. No good deed goes unpunished!

I can understand the hesitation to contacting the insurance company..but in my honest opinion..coming from an insurance background..agents will attempt to protect their clients. It's a good thing but sometimes it does more harm than good. The agent is also taking a risk because if they knew of something and failed to notify the company that could adversely affect you and you in turn could go after your agent if they failed to tell you something. Agents have "errors and omissions" insurance policies on themselves for these cases. But like most of us they don't want to actually have to use those policies just like a doctor doesn't want to use malpractice insurance.

Obviously things slide through the cracks and I'm not advocating for telling every little darn detail just providing a perspective.

In the police report did it have a diagram of what happened? Was the good driver discount dependent on being at-fault for the accident or just being in an accident period?

The ramifications for filing with an insurance company will depend on state laws, how the insurance company is filed with the state's DOI (Department of Insurance) and what product you are under.

 

[smokeyblue]

They don't want to get anyone involved. They probably don't have a license/insurance/have a warrant or not the owner of the vehicle. I'd throw them a bone to get them out of your hair. I would offer a check for $200 with statement written on the check stating that endorsement constitutes acceptance of payment of damages in full and the endorsee waives all rights to further legal action.

 

[Klayfish]

I'm in nj as well. No fault isn't for accidents like this it's for when a deer ran into the side of my car at a stop light or I get hit and they don't have insurance or enough insurance.

No, that isn't correct. A deer hit is covered under comprehensive and someone without any insurance or enough insurance is covered under uninsured or underinsured motorist, respectively. Most people misunderstand "no fault". No fault refers to coverage for your medical bills if you're injured in the accident. In a no fault state, you go to your own insurance carrier for medical bills regardless of who's at fault for the accident. In many of the no fault states, the insurance carrier cannot recover those medical bills paid even if their driver isn't at fault. Even in a state that's not "no fault", the at fault insurance company still won't pay your medical bills up front. You handle them through your own carrier, your private insurance, work comp, whatever. When you're done treating, the at fault will gather all medical bills and records and settle the claim then.

Every state has liability laws. They vary state to state. In some states, you recover the exact amount the other party is at fault. So if you are 15% at fault, you recover 85% of your damages from the other company, the other person can collect 15% of their from your carrier. Other states bar you from recovery if you are 50 or 51% at fault. Some states bar you from any recovery if you are 1% at fault. By the way, the police don't make that liability determination, the insurance company does. Michigan is the only state that varies from these. For the most part, you go to your own insurance company regardless of who is at fault or how much. It's complicated, but that's the upshot.

 

[ols386]

It they were parked and OP hit them, then they have zero fault and their rates won't do up. More likely they don't have current insurance or even registration.

Exactly. They don't have insurance or registration.

Something's definitely off.