i'm back... anyone miss me? ok fine... how about a question about car insurance...

[spanky]

hey ppl, how ya doin'? been gone for a bit and haven't really checked in on these forums... now i'm back and full of neffin' energy!!! but first... a serious query.

i was recently involved in a car accident, in which someone rear ended me. i quickly eyeballed the car (mistake number one) and it didn't look like anything was damaged. being i thought there was no damage, i chose not to get a police report (mistake number two). i figured it was just gonna be a waste of time. for u readers out there... ALWAYS GET A POLICE REPORT!!!

later i find out that there is damage to my car... $2000 worth of damage (frame/structural damage). now for my questions. first... if the other guy chooses to go through insurance, does he have to pay a deductable? for some reason, i thought a deductable only applies when insurance fixes ur own car. second question... does anyone have any idea of how much the other guys insurance would go up? let's assume he was a relatively safe driver with a clean record previous to this accident. would his insurance skyrocket for this accident?

so that's all i have for now. just some things that were boucing around in my head. please feel free to share ur own testimonials, comments, and thoughts. thanx!

 

[bleeb]

You have to report that damage to the DMV and I believe if its not your fault, the other guy will pay damages, assuming the bastard has insurance. If not, then you're shiet out of luck and will have to pay a deductible to fix your car. Most insurance has either a $1000, $500 or $100 dollar deductible (Those are usual numbers). Good luck!

 

[spanky]

that guy does have insurance (i have his info, but without a police report, i am indeed sh!t outta luck). why do i have to report the accident to dmv? if anything, i would this it's his insurance i would report to, to file a claim (and that's assuming he files a claim with his insurance too). so it's true that if he does go thru insurance, he will be responsible for the deductable?

 

[Regs]

You each pay your own deductible chosen when you signed your insurance policies. Basically the higher the deductible chosen gave you a lower monthly bill.

He is not responsible for your deductible since you did not have a claim with his insurance company claiming he is liable for your car damages. Even if you did make a claim and he confessed to being liable, his insurance company will still only give you a percentage of that 2000 dollars since there is no police report, ticket, or witness's. And thats if he confess's which is a cold day in hell. So in the end, you pay your own deductible which is stated on that 30 page document sent to you after every policy renewal.

Same with the other guy.

 

[spanky]

i have liability, so in this situation, i don't believe i will have to pay a deductable. without a police report, i know he is not obligated to do squat... he could simply tell me to go fork myself if he wanted to. i'm hoping he's the type that will do the right thing (a rare breed these days).

recently, my cousin was rear ended and he didn't get a police report. but luckily for him, the other guy was honest, and called his insurance company. the insurance company sent out an adjuster, and in two weeks, my cousin go a check.

i can only hope my ordeal will be as nice and smooth as my cousin's. now back to the question at hand. let's say the guy who rear ended me has full coverage and a $500 deductable. whether if i hit him, he hit me, or he hit a tree... if he files a claim with insurance... then he'll have to cough up $500 for the deductable, correct?

now what about the insurance hike? can anyone comment on that?

 

[Crucial]

You don't HAVE to have a police report. You also don't have to wait for him to contact his insurance compnay. If you have his info you can just contact his insurance company and explain what happened. They will more than likely send you a form to fill out describing what happened. They will contact him and get his side of the story. They will then determine how much they feel was his fault and pay you that amount. You will need to provide them with estimates and what not. I wouldn't even contact your insurance company unless his won't pay at all. He is at fault so his should pay. A police report would help your case with his ins company but in a rear ending accident it is almost always the fault of the rear ender.

As for deductibles, you only pay a deductible if you are making a claim against your own ins policy. He will not have to pay a deductible because the claim will be for your car. He will pay a deductible if he files a claim to fix his own car.

This information is in no way implied as fact but only taken from my own experience with accidents and insurance companies.

 

[spanky]

thanx for the input csaddict

any other takers?

 

[Crucial]

Here is a couple of links about insurance that may give some insight. You may live in a no-fault state. That would change things

"In no-fault insurance states, each automobile driver (and his or her insurance company) must pay for their own costs in a car accident, regardless of who was responsible for the crash. In most no-fault states, a person?s ability to file a lawsuit after an accident is strictly limited."

 

[Crucial]

On a related note I reduced my premium from $650 every 6 months to $360. Needless to say I was pretty happy about that. Thats for 2 drivers and 2 cars. One of them being a 1995 Trans Am.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: csaddict
On a related note I reduced my premium from $650 every 6 months to $360. Needless to say I was pretty happy about that. Thats for 2 drivers and 2 cars. One of them being a 1995 Trans Am.

jeebuz, how did u manage that???

 

[Crucial]

Just changed companies. Went from progressive to Am Fam. I'm sure the fact that I am 28, married with 2 kids and haven't had a ticket or accident in the last 3 years helped alot. I was paying $170 a month before the change. Now I'm down to $60.

 

[spanky]

man, i wish i would have read that msn article about two weeks ago. if i did, i'd be all up on his insurance and probably have the check already :brokenheart:

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: csaddict
You don't HAVE to have a police report. You also don't have to wait for him to contact his insurance compnay. If you have his info you can just contact his insurance company and explain what happened. They will more than likely send you a form to fill out describing what happened. They will contact him and get his side of the story. They will then determine how much they feel was his fault and pay you that amount. You will need to provide them with estimates and what not. I wouldn't even contact your insurance company unless his won't pay at all. He is at fault so his should pay. A police report would help your case with his ins company but in a rear ending accident it is almost always the fault of the rear ender.

As for deductibles, you only pay a deductible if you are making a claim against your own ins policy. He will not have to pay a deductible because the claim will be for your car. He will pay a deductible if he files a claim to fix his own car.

This information is in no way implied as fact but only taken from my own experience with accidents and insurance companies.

I work for an auto ins company, and this is the most correct information.

1. A police report is not required. It helps in some cases, others, it doesn't matter. Really depends on the accident. Rear-enders, liability is a no-brainer.
2. He will pay a deductible to have his veh repaired. His liability coverage will cover the damage to you car, since he is at fault.
3. IF he has full coverage, he will pay the deductible of his Collision coverage if he chooses to have his veh fixed.
4. You CAN file a claim with your insurance (actually, I recommend it). What will happen is your ins will pay out based on your Collision coverage, and pay you less your deductible. Your insurance co will then subrogate the claim with the other parties ins, in hopes of reimbursement. If/when they are reimbursed, you will, in turn, get reimbursed for your deductible.

SO, I would recommend doing 2 things:

1. File a claim with the other guys insurance
2. File a claim with your insurance

And tell em you woke up the next morning with a sore neck and stiff back

 

[spanky]

thanx codeyf

here's a hypothetical question: what if i file a claim with and when contacted by insurance... the other guy deny's being involved in an accident. wouldn't i be really forked then?

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: spanky
thanx codeyf

here's a hypothetical question: what if i file a claim with and when contacted by insurance... the other guy deny's being involved in an accident. wouldn't i be really forked then?

In all insurance contracts, it is stated that cooperation in the event of a claim is REQUIRED. We send all kinds of nasty letters to our insureds if their is a claim against them and they fail to cooperate. Eventually, if no cooperation comes from our insured, they'll automatically end up at-fault for it.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: csaddict
Just changed companies. Went from progressive to Am Fam. I'm sure the fact that I am 28, married with 2 kids and haven't had a ticket or accident in the last 3 years helped alot. I was paying $170 a month before the change. Now I'm down to $60.

I love AmFam, some of the best rates out there.

Then again being male, 28, married with a clean driving record probably helps also.

I also have renters insurance through AmFam ($10/mo for $16k coverage) which drops my car insurance by 20%.

Ask your local AmFam agent about preferred discount pricing, they check your credit report and if it's decent you'll get even more discounts.