Car accident - other party didnt want to claim insurance (deductible, costs)

[nitynity]

My spouse had an accident this morning. At the traffic light, it just turned red from orange, but she didn't pay attention. She drove through instead of yielding, another car from the left side came and hit her from behind. Obviously it was her fault and both cars had scratched up bumpers. The other driver was a Spanish old lady with her adult son sitting nearby. He didn't want to claim insurance for whatever reason.(probably no insurance or who knows). He wants $75 and call it good. He said he don't want his premium go up.



Exchanged phone numbers but he hesitated to share insurance info and left the scene. Now, looking at the pics, my car has a small scratch on the driver side rear bumper. The other guys car has a very long scratch (which doesn't make any sense) on the whole front bumper. Probably it was already scratched up, at least a portion of it.



Obviously he didn't want insurance involved and I have $250 deductible. I drive an Audi and it cost lot more to get it fixed for sure. Since both parties left the scene, he can easily deny the accident if he chooses to.


Should I pay him or claim insurance or just ignore it? Though it was fault from my side, the other car hit mine from behind.


If he is uninsured, how will that turn up if I claim insurance?

[the_engineer]

The right thing to do is to submit all relevant information to your insurance company, including as much as you know about the other driver. Also, file a police report - it is the law since cumulative damage to both cars is over $1000. Yes, your premium may be affected, but things could get much worse if the other party decides to file a police report with a false witness and put you in a much more complicated legal situation. This happens left and right. The rule of thumb is to immediately file a police report. Given that most damages cost more than $1000 these days, it is the law. This way you will protect yourself legally. If the other driver is uninsured, he needs to be put through proper due process of paying fines and getting an insurance. Having uninsured drivers out there is one of the reasons insurance costs this much. They can put other people into financial peril just because they are not responsible.

[ChristieP]

Let this be a lesson to you: call the police immediately for ANY accident where there is damage to your car, and NEVER leave the scene of an accident without a police report number. If the other party leaves, then you need to stay there and wait for the police to arrive. You might be able to file a delayed police report claim later, but your insurance will probably not accept it, and you're going to end up paying to fix your own car.

[El Chingaso]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Let this be a lesson to you: call the police immediately for ANY accident where there is damage to your car, and NEVER leave the scene of an accident without a police report number. If the other party leaves, then you need to stay there and wait for the police to arrive. You might be able to file a delayed police report claim later, but your insurance will probably not accept it, and you're going to end up paying to fix your own car.

This is entirely wrong.

You exchange information with the other driver and clear the lanes and move on, particularly when there are no injuries involved.

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by the_engineer

The right thing to do is to submit all relevant information to your insurance company, including as much as you know about the other driver. Also, file a police report - it is the law since cumulative damage to both cars is over $1000. Yes, your premium may be affected, but things could get much worse if the other party decides to file a police report with a false witness and put you in a much more complicated legal situation. This happens left and right. The rule of thumb is to immediately file a police report. Given that most damages cost more than $1000 these days, it is the law. This way you will protect yourself legally. If the other driver is uninsured, he needs to be put through proper due process of paying fines and getting an insurance. Having uninsured drivers out there is one of the reasons insurance costs this much. They can put other people into financial peril just because they are not responsible.

Absolutely everything here and a +1 for this poster!

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Let this be a lesson to you: call the police immediately for ANY accident where there is damage to your car, and NEVER leave the scene of an accident without a police report number. If the other party leaves, then you need to stay there and wait for the police to arrive. You might be able to file a delayed police report claim later, but your insurance will probably not accept it, and you're going to end up paying to fix your own car.

There is so much value in this statement that those who believe otherwise can learn a lesson from it!! Add this to what the_engineer stated and the lesson is complete!!


+1

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by El Chingaso

This is entirely wrong.

You exchange information with the other driver and clear the lanes and move on, particularly when there are no injuries involved.

Nope. When the other party changes their story and tries to say you hit them, that police report is the only thing that will keep you from being held at fault. BTDT. Of course, you pull your cars out of the traffic lane if no one is injured and the vehicles are still driveabele.

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Nope. When the other party changes their story and tries to say you hit them, that police report is the only thing that will keep you from being held at fault. BTDT. Of course, you pull your cars out of the traffic lane if no one is injured and the vehicles are still driveabele.

The Wife has BTDT as well!! She was rear ended while stopped at a stop light and only pulled over to exchange information. Later after she filed a police report, at my insistence, the insurance company advised that the other driver tried to claim the Wife put it in reverse and hit her. Had the other driver been introduced to LEO on the scene I am 100% sure that would not have happened. The games people will play to avoid their responsibilities.


Hopefully others will take a lesson from yours and the_engineer's posts!

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Let this be a lesson to you: call the police immediately for ANY accident where there is damage to your car, and NEVER leave the scene of an accident without a police report number. If the other party leaves, then you need to stay there and wait for the police to arrive. You might be able to file a delayed police report claim later, but your insurance will probably not accept it, and you're going to end up paying to fix your own car.

In the bigger cities....most of the time PD isn't going to show for that kind of thing.

[Wild Flower]

Originally Posted by EDS_

In the bigger cities....most of the time PD isn't going to show for that kind of thing.

I came up to an intersection that had yellow lights flashing for the other driver. I saw the driver stop and I went through the intersection but she changed her mind and came through anyway. She wanted to leave because she had to get to work but I said no, wait for the police.

She was saying it was not her fault but when the police showed up, they convinced her that it was her fault. Her reasoning was the yellow meant that she was to stop and then continue. But the truth is that that yellow light meant she was to yield to me.

The police officer backed me up and she was responsible for the accident. I was glad she waited for the police!

P.S... As I recall, the police officer did not take a report because the value was low but it was worth getting the police officer's support.