Should I report an accident?

[Zora]

Hey all,

Not sure if this is the right place, but I couldn't find a better one. Quick facts: got into a small fender-bender in a parking lot, clearly the other driver's fault. Should I call my insurance company or try to see if his will cover the damages first? Will his company automatically try to contact mine? I got a dent in my door, but it's nothing major.
Thanks for any advice.

[flatlander757]

I just found out today that insurance doesn't typically cover any fender benders in a parkinglot because it is considered private property. I would just make sure the other guy knows it's his fault, and see if he wants to pay out of pocket, and emphasize that it will make his rates go up if he tries to go through insurance(even though they won't likely cover it), and get the money that way.

I just had something similar happen, the dude wasn't paying attention and crossed over onto my side of the road and raped my driver's front fender. He's paying out of pocket $975

And as a side note: DO NOT tell the insurance company something, and then decide to pay out of pocket... they will just raise your rates regaurdless... I think insurance is useless... even when they cover something, they just raise rates and take it back a year later... and continue making you bend over for more. I think next year I'm going to instead pay the $500 fee for no insurance(VA law) and then just set aside the $200 I would be giving the insurance company into the bank incase something does happen... I'll only have to pay for it once.

[MagicRat]

Generally, I agree with flatlander, but there are a couple of things I would like to add.

Originally Posted by flatlander757

I just found out today that insurance doesn't typically cover any fender benders in a parkinglot because it is considered private property.

If you have collision coverage, your car should be covered, regardless of where the incident happened. Private property accidents generally are covered by your policy, so long as you are operating the vehicle where traffic is supposed to be.
You cannot get traffic tickets on private property, though, so it may be more difficult to assign blame for the incident.

Originally Posted by flatlander757

I think insurance is useless... even when they cover something, they just raise rates and take it back a year later... and continue making you bend over for more.

Insurance is absolutely necessary. Sure, the odd fender bender might seem unfair, but an accident without coverage could cost you everything.

For example, say you hit and maim or kill someone who earns $150,000 each year. You have no insurance. That person or his estate could sue you for all the lost wages he would earn up to retirement age, of 65. If he's 30, this means that the wages would be (150,000 x 35)= $5,250,000.

Can you pay 5 million dollars in settlement? Likely not. If you had a house and car, you would lose those. If you have a job, they would garnish your wages.

Sure you can declare bankruptcy, but try getting a house or car or decent job for the next few years after that.

Insurance is abolutely necessary and only a fool would drive without it. If you can afford a car, you can afford insurance, or else you should not be driving.

[drdisque]

also, you CAN get a ticket on private property as long as it has unrestricted access to a road.

If you didn't file a police report, you will have to pay your deductible in order to get the repairs paid for by insurance. Look around though, many collision shops are willing to pay your deductible if you go to them for your insurance-covered repairs.

[CraigFL]

And of course the problem I've seen MANY times over the years is the person causing the accident admits fault to you and then turns around and sues you and says it's your fault. I recommend reporting EVERY accident to the police no matter what. Let them tell me it didn't need to be reported. At least they have a report/incident on file...

[jabby_jabby]

Originally Posted by CraigFL

And of course the problem I've seen MANY times over the years is the person causing the accident admits fault to you and then turns around and sues you and says it's your fault. I recommend reporting EVERY accident to the police no matter what. Let them tell me it didn't need to be reported. At least they have a report/incident on file...

Precisely. You don't necessarily have to claim it on insurance, but you should have a police record that is permanent, that says you said and did this and that. VERY important, no matter what.