Accident Advice

[nod218]

So my friend got into a minor accident last night, someone was following him to close and rear ended his car. Minor damages, a busted tail-light, a few dents on the bumper. The guy who rear ended him didn't want to file a police report and report the accident to his insurance company because he owns a car repair shop and offered to fix the damages. My friend agrees to this situation because he knows the parents of the person who rear ends him. My question is now, that after everything is agreed upon, if the deal goes sour and he doesn't fix the car is there anything my friend can do? He has the person's contact info, license plate number of the his car, but no insurance information from him. Can he still file a police report after 12 hours and an insurnace claim if they guy decides not to fix it.

BTW the guy took my friend to his autoshop after the accident to show that he indeeds owns the bodyshop and has the necessary knowledge and equipment to fix the damage.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[QED]

I would still report the accident to police for documentation purposes, and still get the other person's insurance information.

That way, if the deal goes sour all your friend has to do is call up the other guy's insurance company and say "Your customer hit my car... I want it fixed... here is the police report..."


So, YES, YES, YES... make sure he files a police report (which doesn't obligate anyone to report it to the insurance company), and make sure he gets his insurance information just in case. If the other guy doesn't want to offer it, it's probably because he doesn't have any or is thinking of squelching on his end of the deal eventually... don't let him do it!

 

[rudder]

Ha the guy that hit your friend probably went to his own shop and cleaned up all the evidence off of his car.

 

[GeneValgene]

you should have had the police file a citation against the other driver for failing to maintain safe clearing distance

because you didn't, if hte other driver changes his story, you're screwed

 

[nod218]

So he still can file a police even though the accident happened last night? So wouldn't it now be my friends word against the word of the guy who hit him, since the cop can't actually evaluate the damage at the scene of the accident?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

in many states, if you rear end someone you will automatically be cited for following too closely or a similar offense. That's probably why he didn't want to involve the police.

 

[DougK62]

I rear ended a friend's can once...

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DougK62
I rear ended a friend's can once...

um....okay. Hope he didn't mind.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I do believe your friend will be SOL if the deal goes sour. That police report is the key to proving anything.

Also, just curious, what are the chances that the person who hit your friends car is someone he knew? Or was that person and your friend traveling somewhere together and he just got to close?

 

[GrammatonJP]

I hope he doesn't come back and say your friend took the car in for repair and refuse to pay for the work and they're keeping the car

 

[nod218]

Never thought about that, that would suck if that happens.

Thanks for the advice everyone.