question about claiming $$ from auto insurance

[TranceNation]

i have a friend who was in an auto accident recently. She was making a left turn( there are 2 left turn lanes) and she was on the outter lane. The car on the inner lane hit her car while turning left (it wasn't staying on it's left turn lane). The damage is about $2k. So my question is, does she deal directly with the other car's insurance or does she go through her insurance to make the claim?

 

[Crazymofo]

depends on the state but I would try going to the other ins. first in an attempt to not raise my own rates...

 

[Lvis]

In my state you would deal with the other persons insurance, if it was their fault. Your insurance company should be told about it, though. If it turns out the other party forgot to pay the bill, was underinsured etc, they will need to know

If it wasn't your friends fault, her insurance shouldn't go up.

Be careful dealing with the bastards though, they will try to get out of it as cheap as they can. Often times they will send you a check for much less than what's needed to repair the car, in the hope you will cash it. The fine print on the back states that you release them from further liability.