Updated. Hit and run - insurance question

[dullard]

I had an minor accident 2 months ago which I truely don't think was entirely my fault (hit in right rear), but unfortunately the insurance company didn't agree. But that was another post. The car was in the shop (dealer) for six long weeks while they replaced the back bumper. I was furious since it was our only car and we had to keep borrowing from friends and family (and eventually the dealer loaned us a car).

Anyways I've had the car now for just over a week. I went to drive to work today and see my car was hit while in the apartment parking lot. There are deep scratches over the bumper about the size of a piece of paper. The scratches are horizontal - meaning it was scraped while another car was parking/reversing. They are not indented like would happen if I backed into something. So the insurance company has proof that it was parked at the time and not my fault.

The bumper needs to be replaced again. Do you think my insurance will soar if I report this?

Edit: see update below.

 

[StageLeft]

Um, it depends how much it's for. WHat is your deductible and how much will repairs cost? if repairs are $500 and deductible is $250 I'd just pay it yourself. If deductible is $100 and repairs are $1200 obviously use insurance

 

[dullard]

Deductable is $100. Repairs will likely be $500-$600.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: dullard
Deductable is $100. Repairs will likely be $500-$600.

Couldn't you just call them and ask how much it would be if you claimed it or is it too late if you even bring it up to them at that point?

 

[dullard]

or is it too late if you even bring it up to them at that point?

That's what I'm here asking. Should I call them and let them know, or will that harm me in some way in their eyes? I know very little about insurance.

 

[SaintGRW]

do you have progressive?

 

[vi edit]

You said the scratches were only on the bumper right? Most bumpers nowadays are just a piece of plastic wrapped around a piece of metal with some styrofoam in between them. If the scratches are just in the plastic bumper cover, can you just leave it be and live with it?

If it's nothing more than cosmetic, you could just not claim it.

 

[dullard]

The insurance is from State Farm. I've never dealt with Progressive. I assume you really had a bad experience since this is your second post today with that same question and it is in your signature.

If it's nothing more than cosmetic, you could just not claim it.

If the insurance won't go up for this since it obviously isn't my fault, then I might as well claim it. But if it will go up a lot from two claims in two months then I won't claim it. The thing is that its a 2002 car. If it was a 1992, I'd probably deal with it. The key is my wife - she treats it like a baby. I'm not sure I could convice her to leave it all scratched up. I guess if I could find two bumper stickers that didn't clash with the car and talked about saving kittens, then she might let me leave it.

 

[Fausto]

What about just purchasing a bumper and replacing it yourself? Can't be all that hard assuming there isn't some kind of structural damage underneath the ding (which it doesn't sound like there is). Would likely not be too much more than the deductable and no hassles with insurance.

 

[dman]

If you have any other hits on your record (ticket / etc) in the last 3yrs and you claim this the odds of you getting dropped at the next renewal period are HIGH. Then, when you try and get new insurance (with someone else) you'll be paying a premium because of all the claims on your record. I'd say it's probably in your interest to either live with the damage or pay to repair it yourself.

IMO, I'd live with it, unfortunately, and hope that someone else with insurance hits you and you can get it fixed then. Or wait a few years when you are getting ready to trade it in and get that and all the other scratches and dings fixed at the same time to save some money.

 

[alm99]

insurance goes up regardless if you are at fault or not.

 

[ggavinmoss]

In response to your title, I've heard that you can only claim "hit and run" if somebody witnesses the collision and watches the other party drive away. Of course I've heard a lot of things that aren't true, so that might be bunk.

-geoff

 

[crystal]

Just claims it. That's why you paid insurance. Just look at it this way, if you are going to sell the car today, how much that scratch are going to cost you.

 

[dullard]

I called in and asked their policy. They let one accident slide every 3 years (regardless of fault). Thus my one accident from 2 months ago will not change the rates one bit. However if I report this second accident then they will count the second accident against me. Thus
1) I will lose my accident free discount which I think is like $5 per month. I need to go home and look the exact amount up.
2) I will likely be charged a monthly surcharge. Since the second accident isn't my fault the surcharge will be small, but they wouldn't tell me how much until I had an estimate. Lets assume it is another $5 per month.

I'm being charged $80 per month as it is - so this will bump me up to $90 per month. These charges will last for 3 years. Thus $10 per month for 3 years is $360 plus my $100 deductable and the total cost to me is $460 (which is about what it will cost to replace the whole thing myself). Is it possible to paint over deep gouges in a plastic bumper? If so, how much do you think that will cost? It will take me a week to have time for a real estimate.

 

[ucdnam]

Atleast you're not a bad driver like me. I was at fault, totalled my car (2000 Accord) and the other car was a little bit dented in front. It was 35 mph, so it wasn't too awful, but now I pay $380/month for insurance and have learned my lesson. I'm counting down the day till 3 years passes

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: dullard
I called in and asked their policy. They let one accident slide every 3 years (regardless of fault). Thus my one accident from 2 months ago will not change the rates one bit. However if I report this second accident then they will count the second accident against me. Thus
1) I will lose my accident free discount which I think is like $5 per month. I need to go home and look the exact amount up.
2) I will likely be charged a monthly surcharge. Since the second accident isn't my fault the surcharge will be small, but they wouldn't tell me how much until I had an estimate. Lets assume it is another $5 per month.

I'm being charged $80 per month as it is - so this will bump me up to $90 per month. These charges will last for 3 years. Thus $10 per month for 3 years is $360 plus my $100 deductable and the total cost to me is $460 (which is about what it will cost to replace the whole thing myself). Is it possible to paint over deep gouges in a plastic bumper? If so, how much do you think that will cost? It will take me a week to have time for a real estimate.

I'd do it yourself then. You can paint over the gouges but it will look not all that great, so it depends how important it is to you. If you plan on keeping the car a long time I'd just go to the dealer and get the same color paint and just do it yourself. Sure it won't look great but it saves a lot of money. If you're gonna sell it soon (few years), then it may come back at you so you may want to consider doing it right.

 

[dullard]

Arg. I'll pay the whole thing myself. But $500 is two weeks salary for a college student. I'll be able to afford it, but I'm such a cheapo that this really hurts, especially considering it isn't my fault.

If I can find the car who hit me (it likely is another person living in the apartment complex did it, or at least one of their frequent visitors), do you think I can somehow get money out of them? Or is it impossible without a witness?

 

[dullard]

Ok, I'm a bit happier today. Last night we had rain, freezing rain, snow, and sleet. When I cleared all this off, I got a better look at the damage (all the dirt, mud from the other car, chiped paint, etc was removed). Basically I'm left with many small nearly invisible scratches, 3 visible scratches and 2 dime-sized places without paint. I'll paint these up when the weather dries up, and I think it will be acceptable. I guess it looked worse than it actually was with all that dirt around. Anyways, it'll still not be the same. Why are people so rude as to leave the scene just to save themselves some insurance money? Are they just too chicken to face the consequences?