At Fault Collision: Insurance Q

[klara]

Had a fenderbender last night, hit car in front.
This is my 1st at fault collision ever.
Deductible is $1000.

http://static.flickr.com/22/91165845_3eb2555991.jpg

Got 2 estimates $1900 and $2800, they involve different level of work.

1) Should I go thru insurance and make claim or pay the whole thing myself ?
2) If go thru insurance should I try to find the best estimate AS IF I'm paying it myself or go for the most complete work (e.g $2800 includes replacing the fender piece & more labor)

Very much a n00b at this...
I'm in USA
thanks
Acura TSX 2004

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

1) Should I go thru insurance and make claim or pay the whole thing myself ?

Pay it yourself. Insurance is for catastrophes that you can't pay, not for every niggling thing.

 

[SoCalMike]

Had a fenderbender last night, hit car in front.
This is my 1st at fault collision ever.
Deductible is $1000.

http://static.flickr.com/22/91165845_3eb2555991.jpg

Got 2 estimates $1900 and $2800, they involve different level of work.

1) Should I go thru insurance and make claim or pay the whole thing myself ?
2) If go thru insurance should I try to find the best estimate AS IF I'm paying it myself or go for the most complete work (e.g $2800 includes replacing the fender piece & more labor)

if it were ME, id slap a bumper skin on there and call it a day. the little crease in the fender isnt worth worrying about.

 

[Art]

Were both cars damaged? If both are relatively cheap fixes, pay for them yourself but you still have to inform your insurance company in case guy you hit suddenly feels severe pain.

 

[dimndsonmywndshld]

Had a fenderbender last night, hit car in front.

snip

If the car you hit will be filing a claim against your insurance, you may as well file a claim and have them pay to repair you car as well. Ask your insurance agent but I don't think your insurance company will treat you any differently if they have to pay out for repairs regardless of who they have to pay. If you pay to fix both cars your insurance company wouldn't know the accident occurred.

Some insurance companies will forgive the first accident if you are a long-time policy holder with no or few claims.

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

If both are relatively cheap fixes, pay for them
yourself but you still have to inform your insurance company in case guy you hit suddenly feels severe pain.

no, you don't have to inform your insurance company at all.

If he suddenly feels severe pain, *maybe* that's when you subrogate that claim to your insurance company.

But if you do it right, and simply pay out of pocket, you do it like the insurance company does--with a waiver. By accepting your payment, the other party signs off that the payment covers all damages for this accident, and he can't come back for anything else.

If he wants the money, he takes it. If he thinks something else is wrong, he doesn't. Maybe then you subrogate the other party's claim to your insurance company.

Y'all are making way, way too much of all this and what insurance is about. The insurance company need not be involved at all.

 

[pars]

I don't know about the other car, but judging from the amount of damage on your TSX, your repair quotes seems astronomical. In the case of my 98 Civic Hatch, it would cost me $250 to replace the front bumper including a matching coat of paint. My body shop guy is actually offering me $150 to replace my front bumper because he has a spare bumper lying around and is willing to give it to me for free. In Toronto, there seems to be several manufactors who are producing spare parts for older Civics, which means big savings at the body shop and small down time (assuming it's not an insurance job)

If the car that got hit is going through insurance, you're still going to get a claim against yourself. Also, insurance company don't like it when you don't report an accident, especially when third party is making a claim against you. Reason being, other party can esculate the claim and you didn't provide proof to disclaim. Also, some of insurance company here in Toronto/Canada will give you a grace on your first accident and not raise your premium.

Pars

 

[Art]

His insurance contract probably says that if they are not informed within a reasonable time they are not responsible for defending him or paying damages. Even if the other guy signs a waiver, he could still turn around and sue him and that is likely to cost $10k or more even if the court holds that the waiver is valid. Without the insurance company defending him he would have to pay out of pocket for his lawyer.

 

[Alex Rodriguez]

if it were ME, id slap a bumper skin on there and call it a day. the little crease in the fender isnt worth worrying about.

I'm with you, but I would also make sure the bumpter structure under the cover is still ok.

 

[jmattis]

Y'all are making way, way too much of all this and what insurance is

about. The insurance company need not be involved at all.

Umm.... Wouldn't take advice from someone misusing the word "subrogation."

My wife got tapped several months ago from behind. After chiropractic, pain, lost work, and $1,600 in repairs to her MDX, the total outlay from the other driver was about $8,000.

Got $8,000.00?? The sky is the limit on this type of claim. Soft tissue injury can result in endless treatment and claims.

 

[SoCalMike]

I'm with you, but I would also make sure the bumpter structure under the cover is still ok.

definately. might nead to buy a new piece of styrofoam, but the beam underneath all that should be unscathed. if it wasnt, the bags probably woulda popped.