Got into a car accident.. By myself... Should I use insurance to fix it?

[slackerinabox]

So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

 

[bunker]

Get any estimates?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Find out what's wrong with it and how much it's going to cost you first.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

 

[LordMorpheus]

does your insurance even cover it? If you just carry liability you are SOL.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

The parking lot I use (owned by my dad) is like a battle field - pitch black at night and 4 other cars there. I tried to jiggle into a spot and accelerated hard and the left side smacked into a tree, hard, destroying the left side of the bumper, the fender and I think somethign in the wheel well.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: bunker
Get any estimates?

Not an official estimate but my car geek friend said $1,500-2,000. At least the front bumper and fender need to be replaced, plus whatever's damaged in the wheel well. I'd have to get it towed to get a real estimate and I don't want to blow the cash since, honestly, cash is a little tight. Enough to pay insurance but I can't justify paying for repairs right now.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

The parking lot I use (owned by my dad) is like a battle field - pitch black at night and 4 other cars there. I tried to jiggle into a spot and accelerated hard and the left side smacked into a tree, hard, destroying the left side of the bumper, the fender and I think somethign in the wheel well.

Oh wow, bad news. Sorry to hear that.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

The parking lot I use (owned by my dad) is like a battle field - pitch black at night and 4 other cars there. I tried to jiggle into a spot and accelerated hard and the left side smacked into a tree, hard, destroying the left side of the bumper, the fender and I think somethign in the wheel well.

Next time, buy a car with headlights... 😀

What kind of grinding sound is it? Maybe just the tire on the plastic fender lining?

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

The parking lot I use (owned by my dad) is like a battle field - pitch black at night and 4 other cars there. I tried to jiggle into a spot and accelerated hard and the left side smacked into a tree, hard, destroying the left side of the bumper, the fender and I think somethign in the wheel well.

Next time, buy a car with headlights... 😀

I had my headlights on but was .. ok.. too confident when I shouldn't have been!

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

The parking lot I use (owned by my dad) is like a battle field - pitch black at night and 4 other cars there. I tried to jiggle into a spot and accelerated hard and the left side smacked into a tree, hard, destroying the left side of the bumper, the fender and I think somethign in the wheel well.

Next time, buy a car with headlights... 😀

What kind of grinding sound is it? Maybe just the tire on the plastic fender lining?

Possibly, what's scary though is that that left side is so banged up that I can't open my left door. Dad said that the frame of the car is slightly bent and that driving it isn't a good idea.

also, the grinding is sporatic and shakes the car, which makes me thing something more serious than superficial damage occured

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
does your insurance even cover it? If you just carry liability you are SOL.

I have full coverage, relatively new car (2005) so I got the best coverage allstate offers.

 

[josh0099]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: bunker
Get any estimates?

Not an official estimate but my car geek friend said $1,500-2,000. At least the front bumper and fender need to be replaced, plus whatever's damaged in the wheel well. I'd have to get it towed to get a real estimate and I don't want to blow the cash since, honestly, cash is a little tight. Enough to pay insurance but I can't justify paying for repairs right now.

What is your deductible? If it's $500 I would almost say pay for it yourself, as claiming might raise your insurance etc...

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: josh0099

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: bunker
Get any estimates?

Not an official estimate but my car geek friend said $1,500-2,000. At least the front bumper and fender need to be replaced, plus whatever's damaged in the wheel well. I'd have to get it towed to get a real estimate and I don't want to blow the cash since, honestly, cash is a little tight. Enough to pay insurance but I can't justify paying for repairs right now.

What is your deductible? If it's $500 I would almost say pay for it yourself, as claiming might raise your insurance etc...

Yep, it's $500.

I do wonder, how easy is it to suspend insurance and then reinstate it after I have the cash to repair the car? I could technically suspend it, put aside that money and afford the repairs sooner.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

talk to PAB.

if you have comprehensive, you could say:
"car was parked in walmart parking lot. when i got back, there was a big dent..."

 

[imported_Baloo]

OP was drunk, or showing off, and doesn't want to be flamed for bad driving.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

The parking lot I use (owned by my dad) is like a battle field - pitch black at night and 4 other cars there. I tried to jiggle into a spot and accelerated hard and the left side smacked into a tree, hard, destroying the left side of the bumper, the fender and I think somethign in the wheel well.

not to be mean, but are you new to driving ?

how did you accelerate hard ....

 

[Number1]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: stev

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

How did it happen? Did you say the quote in your sig around the time you were driving?

The parking lot I use (owned by my dad) is like a battle field - pitch black at night and 4 other cars there. I tried to jiggle into a spot and accelerated hard and the left side smacked into a tree, hard, destroying the left side of the bumper, the fender and I think somethign in the wheel well.

Next time, buy a car with headlights... 😀

I had my headlights on but was .. ok.. too confident when I shouldn't have been!

You mean drunk?

 

[Grminalac]

You can use insurance when it is your fault. Here in PA it would be a collision claim, you would pay a deductable and it may/may not raise your insurance... Usually there is a limit and if your repair cost is under that it would not affect nyour insurance rates. Talk to your agent. I have Erie, i think their limit is 1200.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

shens....no parking lot accident is going to bend your frame and cause that much damage. you're not telling the whole story.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
does your insurance even cover it? If you just carry liability you are SOL.

I have full coverage, relatively new car (2005) so I got the best coverage allstate offers.

Well then, go ahead and file a claim. If you have full coverage you'll just have to pay the deductable, which should be less than the cost of repairs.

 

[jimmyjam]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: josh0099

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: bunker
Get any estimates?

Not an official estimate but my car geek friend said $1,500-2,000. At least the front bumper and fender need to be replaced, plus whatever's damaged in the wheel well. I'd have to get it towed to get a real estimate and I don't want to blow the cash since, honestly, cash is a little tight. Enough to pay insurance but I can't justify paying for repairs right now.

What is your deductible? If it's $500 I would almost say pay for it yourself, as claiming might raise your insurance etc...

Yep, it's $500.

I do wonder, how easy is it to suspend insurance and then reinstate it after I have the cash to repair the car? I could technically suspend it, put aside that money and afford the repairs sooner.

In our office we'll suspend coverage with a quick phone call and re-instate coverage with the same. I can't speak for Allstate though.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
So I was a tool and smacked into a tree months ago - the car is pretty much inoperable since I hear a grinding sound while driving and it doesn't feel safe. I've been paying my insurance for these past 3 months but haven't ever gotten around to fixing it - should I call this into insurance and get this repaired even though it's all my fault or should I wait it out, until I get a stable gig and can afford the repairs?

talk to PAB.

if you have comprehensive, you could say:
"car was parked in walmart parking lot. when i got back, there was a big dent..."

btw- what happened to PAB? i havent seen him for ~6months?!