So I got into an accident today...

Topic: So I got into an accident today... (Read 806 times) previous topic - next topic

So I got into an accident today...

March 06, 2006, 06:28:31 AM

Yup, it happened... I was driving along with foggy windows (stupid heater core issues). As I was approaching a stop sign, I was checking my left side for traffic before I actually stopped, assuming the guy in front of me was taking off (he was in motion when I checked initially) Had my side windows been clear, I wouldn't have spent as much time trying to see traffic and wouldn't have hit the guy in front of me... 20/20 hindsight.

It was pretty slow, maybe 5 mph tops. I hit his trailer hitch, dented my plate, scratched off some red striping on the front bumper trim, that's it. Not even much of an impact, but the guy's wife FREAKED. "OMG I HAVE A MONTH OLD BABY!!! ARE YOU DRUNK!?!?!" Given it was my fault, she still really made me angry with her excessive panic and immediate assumption that I'd been drinking at 3 IN THE AFTERNOON. The only damage to their vehicle was some red marks from my bumper trim, otherwise fine. I'm usually a great driver, but i was running on less than 4 hours sleep and wrapping up a long drive.

So how should i handle things with insurance and stuff? I'm going to have to pay a deductable, the damage won't even exceed that, so should I just pony up the cash and pay for the buff job, avoid a claim? Do insurance rates increase if the claim is less than the deductable?

So I got into an accident today...

Reply #1 – March 06, 2006, 08:25:45 AM

Get out your checkbook.

Man's whiplash, wife's whiplash, wife's emotional distress, baby's loss of future earning potential and career opportunities...

Shouldn't cost more than 3 or 4 million, tops (plus lawyer's fees).

So I got into an accident today...

Reply #2 – March 06, 2006, 08:52:26 AM

With a baby in the other car I'd go through insurance...........

So I got into an accident today...

Reply #3 – March 06, 2006, 12:44:59 PM

I would see if you can do it under the table, but dont give them a phone number if you can help it. I tapped a subaru with my truck when I was first learning to drive, just pulled alittle bit of plastic off of the bumper, and they are still calling me saying I hurt there neck and stuff.

The car was empty.

So I got into an accident today...

Reply #4 – March 06, 2006, 01:37:36 PM

Quote from: Haystack

I would see if you can do it under the table, but dont give them a phone number if you can help it. I tapped a subaru with my truck when I was first learning to drive, just pulled alittle bit of plastic off of the bumper, and they are still calling me saying I hurt there neck and stuff.

The car was empty.

Thats why you go thru the insurance company so they dont call you............:2c:

So I got into an accident today...

Reply #5 – March 06, 2006, 01:40:25 PM

yeah that was what I was getting at.

So I got into an accident today...

Reply #6 – March 06, 2006, 08:14:29 PM

Sorry to hear about it. I almost rearended someone in a similar fashion. They were making a left and I was watching traffic when they just stopped. I came close but didn't touch them. Scared myself that I didn't pay attention that one second.

I'm assuming you don't have a police report with this. Hopefully the people you hit will be resonable and were just caught up in the moment at the time. I think you should atleast report it to your insurance just incase the people you hit report it to theirs.

I was driving my dad's truck when I got rearended and I freaked out at the time. Luckily it was by a girl in a Celica and the trailor hitch put a nice big hole in her front bumper. Haha, thats what she gets for talking on her cell phone and not paying attention to where shes driving. Anyway, since it was her fault and I had a police report, everything was going to go through her insurance. Well, after contacting her insurance, I found that she never reported it. After a little bit of a battle with them, they claimed responsibility and fixed the truck. So you should definitely report it to cover your butt.