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interesting … I have been told police reports are automatically forwared to insurance companies … not sure if that is true here … and even if it is that may not automatically initiate a claim.</p>
<p>Post #10:
The police won’t assign fault for an accident on private property because they are unable to issue citations for traffic violations on private property. So, absent any other witnessed or otherwise verifiable criminal transgression on private property, no blame will be assigned by a police officer via citation.</p>
<p>Update: I did get a hold of the woman this morning. She appeared friendly enough and repeated that she fully acknowledged was at fault, she would pay for it, please choose the shop of our choice, and send her the bill. But she was pretty adamant that she didn’t want the ins co involved (which makes me wonder if she was uninsured, driving on an expired license, or something of that nature).</p>
<p>I called my ins agent and he felt that it was OK to go ahead and treat it as in good faith, get an estimate and give it to her, and ask her at the point, “Do you want to still do this out of pocket or do you want the ins co involved.” He didn’t feel a police report was necessary since it was on private property, and this jurisdiction requires both people to be on hand to file the report anyway. He also said that the company (State Farm) could go after her if in a week or two it’s evident she’s not acting in good faith.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for your advice! I am typically a googling champ, but I’m not turning up anything on the business on the business card or in reverse phone lookups.</p>
<p>3togo - we may be discussing two different things. I am talking about a police report, not an accident report. The accident report would involve both parties and would be done at the scene of the accident. A police report can be done by one party at the police station and can be done any time after the accident. The insurance company typically wants it within a very short time of the accident, however. The police report is needed for a claim to be made if there is a phantom driver or hit and run. Then you’re just getting the facts down and signing the report. The insurance company assumes you are more likely to be honest if you give the facts to the police in a report and sign it.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily consider someone who doesn’t want to get her insurance company involved a person with insurance problems or otherwise a deadbeat. People are so worried that their insurance premiums will go up, even for the littlest fender bender (which nowadays can cost $500 to fix), that they fix a lot of minor problems themselves. </p>
<p>I save insurance for the BIG things.</p>
<p>One thing that my insurance company provided–a “What to do in case of an accident” form to keep in my glove compartment. The form asks you to fill out pertinent data–names, license numbers, insurance info, who else was there in the cars, witness information, etc. It’s a great thing to have when your mind is so jumbled because you’ve been in an accident.</p>
<p>I agree that not wanting to go through insurance doesn’t necessarily mean anything negative. Of course, as your son now knows, you still get the insurance information even if the person says they don’t plan to go through the company.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl,
When my sons became drivers I put an index card in the glove compartment of the car explaining what to do in case of an accident. What info to get, etc. Now, in the panic of an accident will they use it? Who knows. :D</p>
<p>Great that you were able to get in touch with the woman and I hope that she pays up without a fuss since it doesn’t sound like there was too much damage.</p>
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<p>All of these points vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and even from municipality to municipality. In some towns around here, for example, police will indicate on a report who they believe is at fault even if it’s on private property so they can’t issue a citation.</p>
<p>Check your own locale if you want to know how different things may be handled.</p>
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<p>My ins agent actually offered to meet with my kids (once this whole thing is settled) and talk to them about what to do, why, etc. I think that might impress them even more than boring ol’ mom and dad.</p>
<p>Great that we read the woman has now been contacted and seems willing to pay. This may very well be a lucky break for S.
I’d still recommend you get a confirmation in writing, though. Perhaps send her an email, thanking her for agreeing it was her fault, and her offer to pay once you have it fixed. You can do it in a nice way, make it sound like a “thank you” and that you are keeping her up-to-date. Always a good idea to get things in writing. I have seen cases where once somebody got the bill, then they said “No way!”.</p>
<p>Document document document.</p>
<p>That’s good news. I agree that her desire to pay it without insurance involvement is not a negative thing. Lots of people do this. It’s simply a matter of weighing where you stand with your claims history v. the cost of paying for the repair.</p>
<p>In our area the police will come and take a report. Often they find that one of the drivers doesn’t have a license at all. Years ago my son called me and told me his friend was in a similar fender bender and the other party didn’t want to call the police. Son was standing in a parking lot with his friend. Couldn’t get the friend’s mom on the phone. I instructed them under no uncertain terms to call the police immediately. Insurance companies around here want a record of the incident and a write up.</p>
<p>pizzagirl:</p>
<p>While many of those at-fault in the fender-bender say they want to take care of it outside of insurance, they frequently balk big time once they see what the cost is going to be which is invariably much higher than they had in mind. They sometimes follow this up with trying to talk you into going to their brother-in-law’s garage who’ll fix it cheap. Beyond that they might come up with the idea of giving you monthly payments to pay for it of which you’d be lucky to receive more than the first payment, if that.</p>
<p>Just bear the above in mind and immediately revert to your insurance company if the person tries to pull any of it assuming you decide to give her a shot at paying for it. It truly is surprising how expensive even the seemingly most minor damage costs.</p>
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I agree … I know of two family members that have done this … the cost of paying for the repair directly was cheaper than the deductable and years of increased premiums for insurance</p>
<p>I work for a State Farm agent and take claims all day long. Always call the police, even if the other party seems nice, trustworthy and apologetic. Many times their stories change once they get home and face the anger of parent or spouse. Also, any claim on your record affects your rates. Every customer has a computer-generated rating index that takes into account many things, and I can tell you from personal experience that even an uninsured motorist claim can make your rates go up.</p>
<p>Thanx for repeating, UCLA_Dad,(post 33) glad you agree.</p>