Opinions wanted - Car insurance/accident question

[mailin 0]

This morning I was in an accident. After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, a woman in a buick slid into me at approx. 10-15 mph.

It was a loud sound, and propelled me into the intersection (which was thankfully empty). The front of her car will need some serious work - new grill, fender and one headlight/turn signal.

My car - NO visible damage. I was surprised my KIA bumpers held up so well. We did not call the police, instead handled it ourselves - exchanged insurance info and phone numbers. As it turns out this woman works at one of the campus' at the school I attend, and she called this evening to help me re-register for some classes that have been dropped while I await reimbursement for last semester.

Anyway, I knew, as I finsihed driving to work (this occured around the corner form my office) the car was sluggish. Upon driving home tonight the muffler and rear brakes were making horrendous noises, and I don't feel confident to drive the car tomorrow. Nothing was resolved with her insurance company when I called them this afternoon, but promises to shortly.

I called my dad, becuase he's supposed to know all , and his answer was to fake whiplash... *note to self, don't ask for dads opinion again* I have higher morals than that, and don't want to abuse an already 'beaten-like-a-dead-horse' legal system.

I spoke with the woman tonight and she said to take the car to a mechanic and get a quote on the work, becuase she may offer to pay for it without going through the insurance as it will probably be minor.

Its been suggested that I push for a rental car (even though my husband is perfectly capable and does drive me to work), and file a police report etc. but I don't want to go through the hassle if its unnecessary.

I'm not lying when I tell you I've never been in an accident before, so I don't know how to do this stuff... I'm worried becuase there is no visual damage to the car that her insurance company won't cover it. I just go the car back from a huge tune up, and it ran like a dream until this morning.

From those of you who have been through this before - is there something I'm missing, something I should do?

Jennifer

Arianna Frances

[slug 1]

Hi

File the police report. Get estimates, beware of any signs of physical discomfort, you body may be like your car, injuries may take some time to show up.

Rental car? do you need it? If so get one after finding out cost to fix car, & duration. It's also a incentive for the insurance company to get the insurance co to act on your claim since their paying for the rental car.

Check your auto insurance policy. Since the lady that hit you isn't a mechanic how does she know the cost of repairs will be minor, or how long they are going to take.? Beware

R.I.P.

[JoeyRamone 0]

Great that you are being nice and all, I don't think the lady will not pay you but you might want to call your insurance company and see what they say....

[jkm2500 0]

I have been in 2 wrecks, one was my fault....ok they were both my fault. But that is beside the point. The police showed up to both, but I only got ticketed one time. The other time they did an exchange of info on official paperwork. That way the ins companies cant try to weasel out of paying. Most insurance companies will honor the policies with out a big hassle if there was minor damage. Another thing that you can do is contact your insurance company and let them know that you were in an accident. They will use thier legal experience to go to bat for you, saving you time and money.

I know that not a lot of cars could suffer a 10-15 mph bump. Federal safety requirements are 5mph bumpers, most do not exceed that. So take the car to a mechanic and a body shop. The mechanic will tell you what is wrong, and the body shop will be able to find the smallest damage. If you have more questions PM me.

josh

The primary purpose of the Armed Forces is to prepare for and to prevail in combat should the need arise.

[DeNReN 0]

File a police report and get your car checked out properly......although I havent seen the car it sounds like at the very least the exhaust was bent/kinked....if so...do not let it be replaced with a aftermarket exhaust...insist on a factory replacement....origional equipment exhaust is a stainless alloy that usually last for years and years..where the aftermarket replacement exhaust will only last for a fraction of stainless ones.

let us know what is found...PM if you need specific advise once the car has been checked out.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Glad you're Ok, Jennifer...

I was an insrance agent in a previous lifetime and honestly, I don't envy you in this position...

If you don't file an accident report with the police, and you have genuine whiplash challenges later, you will have no recourse against her insurance company...also, you will have no one to fight for you should your car have problems in the future due to poor faulty repair, should that happen.

On the other hand, you may have a very difficult time proving any physical injury caused by this car accident should it crop up later...being a skydiver (if you jump? I'm not sure by your profile regularly...

I'm a bit doped up right now, so apologies if this isn't coming out very clearly...I'm not meaning to give advice, just give you more info so you can make an informed decision.

AND P.S.: Thank you VERY MUCH from an American Consumer for NOT falsifying insurance claims...all insured people pay for it in the rate when false claims are submitted, and taking a stand to put your ethics before your own personal financial gain is very admirable.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[baa75 0]

I've been in 2 car accidents this year. The most recent one was VERY similar to yours. At first sight there were only a few scratches on my bumper and the man asked to pay me for it and keep it out of the insurance company's hands. I'm way too cautious (partly because its my new car) and I went ahead and called the police anyway just to have a report.

Anyway, after taking my car in to be looked at a lot more was damaged inside & underneath than I realized. About $4000 in damage! Not to mention the neck & back pain that set in a little AFTER the accident.

When you're first hit you tense up and don't really feel the pain much. Its when you start to relax that you get all the muscle spasms and pinched nerves. Not fun! I got hit in Sept and I STILL get pain from it.

I agree with the people above. Get the police report ASAP and let your ins co know what happened. The sooner the better. I wouldn't do much more without talking to your ins first though. They have their own ways of doing things and have preferred repair shops to go through. Call them first thing in the morning or now if they're 24hrs! Good Luck!

BettyAnn

Getting married? Check out my website!

[ChileRelleno 0]

Yeah what they said.
Your getting some good advice here, take it

ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414
Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868

[Gawain 0]

Great advice overall from everyone. My two cents for the next accident: Always, always, always file a police report, on the site of the event.

This is not just your protection, but for the other parties involved. Some insurance companies will not open a claim without a police report, and you are not required to file a claim or charge with a police report.

A 10-15 mph "bump" is a really good "bump". Good thing you're relatively unhurt.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[freefallfreak 0]

Ok, I've had my share of "bumps"...file a police report. If you don't, I promise, you will have trouble later on down the line. Do you realize that without a police report, you may wind up paying for the damage yourself? Most insurance companies won't pay on a damage claim that isn't reported. You've gotten some really good advice from everyone here - use it...

FFF

"Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up."

[mailin 0]

Thanks everybody! Its currently -12 F here, and neither of our cars will start, but when they do I'll go to the police station and file a report (I have 3 days to do so).

Thankfully - no pain this morning! woo hoo!

Thanks again!

Jennifer

Arianna Frances

[mr2mk1g 10]

Quote

I'm worried becuase there is no visual damage to the car that her insurance company won't cover it. I just go the car back from a huge tune up, and it ran like a dream until this morning.

Don't worry about this. If your mechanic says its from impact damage they have to cover it. They have to put the car back into the position it was in before the impact so if you need another tune up - they pay for it.

Call your insurance co. Over here (UK) we are legally required to do so even where its the other party's fault. I expect its the same in the US. But make sure they know the facts, that its her fault and that she is admitted liability (assuming she did).

Watch for whiplash symptoms such as low back pain, tingling in the hands, neck pain, headaches, trouble sleeping. These may take up to a couple of days to come on. If they do go see your doctor straight away. Don't claim if you don't have it - people like that piss me off and screw it up for genuinely injured people. I'm happy you appear to agree.

If she doesn’t want to pay up or her insurance co doesn’t want to pay up (a) they're mad cos they're so obviously liable and (b) call your insurance co, they will pay out to you for your repairs (assuming you have comprehensive cover) and then they will chase her for the money. This should not count as a claim as its not your fault but US insurance co's may vary so check first. The repairs will still cost you your excess.

Check with your insurance co if you have legal expenses cover. If you do they will pay for you to sue her for your uninsured losses (like your excess or any whiplash if you turn out to have it). Again this should be an open and shut case as no insurance co is gonna argue a straight forward rear end shunt like this.

Hope it all turns out all right. Bare in mind I am UK based so some of the advice I have given may be inaccurate.

[MikeJD 0]

Think it's all been said now, and I just want to back up the general sentiment - being nice about the accident doesn't mean you shouldn't protect your interests.

I was involved in a car bump a while ago with an elderly lady. Because I was more worried about her welfare at the scene than anything else, and because I thought it was so obviously her fault, I didn't bother to get witnesses etc - which meant that she was later able to claim that I'd been in the wrong.

It sounds like you have a really admirable attitude, but remember that just as your dad is telling you to fake whiplash, the other party's friends will often encourage them to lie. And they may not have the same moral standards as you!

Good luck getting everything sorted out.