A fender bender can leave you annoyed at its inconvenience, but ultimately uninjured. If you accidentally rear-ended someone with just a little tap, or you had a collision that left one or both vehicles with only a small dent or scrape, is it really worth it to go through your insurance company, or is it easier to settle the claim on your own?
You sometimes can settle a car accident without insurance. But should you?
The answer isn’t always clear.
In this article, we explore the nuances of settling a car accident privately. We'll weigh the advantages and drawbacks, offer insights on managing accidents without involving insurance, and address scenarios where the at-fault party prefers out-of-pocket payments.
When to consider settling without insurance
Only consider a private settlement if the accident is minor. Unfortunately, sometimes what appears to be “minor” is actually more serious than you think. What looks like a ding in a bumper could involve damages underneath that are only visible once the mechanic performs an examination.
Probably the most important part of dealing with a car accident privately is that both parties need to be in agreement. If the other driver is more comfortable making a claim to insurance, you need to make sure you’re reporting it to your insurance company, too. The other driver is entitled to handle it that way if that’s their preference — but if it really is something small like a broken taillight, maybe you can convince them that a direct payment will be easier for everyone.
You can make a report to your insurance company that the collision happened without filing a claim. Some insurance companies require it. If you don’t report it and the other driver does eventually file a claim, it could become more complicated for you.
This factor is important, though:
Some insurance companies keep records of inquiries and reports, and it could affect your insurance premium rate even if you never file a claim.
How to settle a car accident without involving your insurance company
If you’re intent on settling without insurance, here are 5 steps you must take in order to protect yourself in the process:
- Always exchange contact information with the other drivers. Don’t exchange cash or personal checks at the scene of the accident. Instead, get the person’s name, phone number, address, driver’s license number, and license plate number. Also, take note of the make, model, and color of the car involved. You want to get the other driver’s insurance information as well — just in case.
- Get a record of the damage. Take photos of the damage to both cars. Take pictures of all angles and any signs, signals, or road conditions that might have been a factor in the crash. If you’re unable to take pictures, write down notes that detail the damage — where it is on the cars (for example, front passenger door, rear bumper, etc.) and what it looks like.
- Obtain a police report. Some states require a police report if there’s any property damage. Other states only require one if the property damage exceeds a certain amount of money or if there are physical injuries. If your state doesn’t require a police report, it’s still a good idea to get one if you can. It might not be possible, because the police might not respond for a very minor accident with no injuries. If they don’t, that’s out of your control, but it’s helpful if they do and worth the phone call.
- Get quotes from more than one mechanic for damages. Whether the damage is to your car or the other driver’s, insist upon at least 2 or 3 estimates from mechanics as to the cost for repairs. You might learn that it’s more expensive than you anticipated, and it could affect your decision about whether or not to go through insurance.
- Keep a paper trail. It’s important to maintain a record of all correspondence with the other driver, whether it’s receipt or payment of money, or conversations. If you send any documents or money, be sure to transfer it so there’s proof it was received. Send checks by return receipt in the mail, or maintain an electronic record if you’re doing a bank-to-bank transfer. If you’re negotiating costs, it’s best to have conversations over email so you have a record of what was said. Phone calls don’t keep records of the content—only the fact that the call happened. The more you can document and prove, the better.
- Draft a legally binding agreement when you settle. There are 3 basic elements to contract law:
a. Offer
b. Acceptance
c. Consideration (i.e. money)
Auto Accident Settlement and Release Agreement Template
How should you protect yourself when settling a car accident without involving insurance?
Download in PDF format
Here’s the gamble you take when you agree to settle without insurance:
Your insurance company likely requires a report of an accident to be made within a short period of time. Those time periods vary by company, but it could be as little as a day or two. Remember, making a report is not the same as filing a claim.
You could decide to settle without insurance and not report the collision, but then if your negotiations for a settlement fail, you’ve lost the ability to go through insurance. If that happens, the only option left is a lawsuit and that could leave you in a worse position than you’d have been in if a claim was made against your insurance.
A minor cannot sign a legally binding agreement. If one of the parties involved in the accident is under 18 years old, their parent or legal guardian would need to sign any legal document.
Handling disagreements following a private car accident settlement agreement
When you’ve chosen to enter into a private settlement agreement for a car accident, you should be prepared for disagreements or additional claims that may arise after the settlement has been finalized. Here are some tips for navigating these difficult situations:
- Review the original motor vehicle settlement agreement: Start by revisiting the terms of the initial settlement agreement. A crucial aspect of this agreement should be a waiver of future claims related to the auto accident. If your agreement included this waiver, it significantly strengthens your position in addressing new claims. However, if such a waiver was omitted, resolving disputes could become more challenging.
- Open communication: Contact the other party to discuss any new claims or disagreements. Do your best to be respectful, open, and understanding. Effective communication can often resolve misunderstandings and prevent the need for further legal involvement.
- Collect and present evidence: If the other party brings additional damage claims, ask for supporting evidence, like updated mechanic assessments or medical reports. On your end, gather any evidence that may counter these new claims.
- Seek legal advice: In light of new disputes, especially without a waiver of future claims, consulting with an attorney may be your best option. Most initial consultations are free. Be sure to bring a copy of the car accident settlement agreement and any other relevant information to your appointment.
- Explore alternative options: If hiring an attorney is not cost-effective, consider free or reduced-cost options, such as small claims court, legal clinics, and your state bar association.
- Maintain detailed records: Be sure to document all interactions with the other party after the private car accident settlement. Emails, texts, call logs, and notes from meetings can all be used as evidence. Additionally, it’s best to avoid talking about the accident or dispute on social media.
- Prepare for potential legal proceedings: Be ready for the possibility of legal action, especially if the other party’s new claims are significant. The details of the original settlement will be crucial in such cases.
- Understand the statute of limitations: Every state has a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit following a car accident. Figure out the applicable statute of limitations so you can determine whether it’s a potential defense.
- Reassess involving insurance: Reevaluate whether involving your insurance company might be wise, particularly if the new claims are substantial. Choosing to involve your insurance company following an accident could impact your premiums but may offer a more secure, stress-free resolution.
Should I handle my accident without insurance?
There are a lot of considerations when figuring out how you’re going to handle a car accident. But you do have some time to think it through.
If you can avoid the insurance company, you don’t have to worry about your premium rate increasing if you were at fault for the accident. That’s usually what most people who settle privately are aiming to avoid — each time you’re at fault for an accident, your insurance goes up a higher percentage. And, if it happens too often, you could become uninsurable. An accident claim could result in a rate increase of 20 to 40 percent.
An insurance carrier often uses a driving violation as justification for raising your premium rate. If you’ve had several claims, traffic tickets, or accidents in the past 3 years, you’re likely to see an increase in your insurance rate.
If you and the other driver agree to settle without insurance and then the damages are more money than you thought, it could be too late to file an insurance claim if the accident wasn’t reported. What appears to be a small amount of damage could amount to thousands of dollars that you’d then need to pay out of pocket.
Using insurance rather than dealing with a car accident privately can save you a lot of headaches. You never know what the other driver is going to do once you leave the scene. They might go home, speak with a spouse or friend, and then decide that they want more money than you think is fair.
If it’s a single-car accident and involves only damage to your own car, get an estimate from a collision shop. If the cost to repair is less than your deductible, it makes sense to pay out of pocket.
Always follow the law when considering whether to settle an auto accident privately
Almost every state requires you to report the accident if there’s any personal injury. Although the accident might seem minor, if the occupant of any involved vehicle suddenly feels a twinge in their neck or a cramp in their back, the accident must be reported.
Remember, you don’t want to get into legal trouble because you decided to save a little money on insurance. Yes, insurance coverage can be costly, but so can the legal consequences of not following the law. If you have any doubt, go through the insurance company in order to protect yourself.
If you file a claim, your insurance company is legally obligated to provide you a defense to liability or a lawsuit. They must pay the claim, even if you’re at fault. Likewise, if the other driver files a lawsuit against you, the insurance company is expected to defend you and cover the judgment, if that’s part of your policy. But if you decide to cover the damages privately and something goes wrong, you’re on your own — you could end up paying for a legal defense and judgment.
Again, if the accident involves only your car or if it truly is minor, it might make sense to pay for damages out of pocket. But as soon as there are questions of liability, personal injuries, extensive damage, or an uncooperative other driver involved, you’re probably best working through your insurance company.
Savannah says
a friend of mine came to my house while we were asleep, and he was dui of anxiety medication and ended up hitting my truck that I had dropped the insurance on bc we had just got it back running a few days beforehand, but it was still not 100% fixed. We had more to do to have it road ready and with everything going on right now with missed work due to the Corona virus outbreak we were waiting to put insurance back on it once we were sure it was properly fixed. What are our options to get the person who’s 100% responsible to make sure it gets fixed? He left without even letting us know that he’d hit the truck, and he is doing everything to avoid us. I have witnesses that saw him go back to our house and leave out, as well as, friends who saw him right afterwards and he told them he’d hit the ditch. I’m not sure if that happened as well that day too or if he just told them this so we wouldn’t find out. Any guidance and advice is greatly appreciated. I don’t want to lose a friend over this, but it’s starting to look like that might be what happens.
Ian Pisarcik says
Savannah,
You would file an insurance claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. In other words, the fact that your truck doesn’t have insurance coverage is irrelevant. You should get your friend’s insurance information and file a claim with his insurer. His insurer will then conduct an investigation and either accept or deny your claim. If the insurer denies your claim, you always have the option to sue your friend for the cost of repairs.
Jenny Sanchez says
I want to do a settlement without involving the insurance company. Can the person collecting the money later call insurance company or even demand more money after we have signed documents to settle without an insurance company.
Ian Pisarcik says
Jenny,
If you reach a settlement without involving the insurance company, it’s important to insist that the other party sign a “release” as part of the settlement agreement. In the release, the other party agrees to give up their right to any further claims against the insured in exchange for a specified sum of money. A good release agreement contains language to protect you and the members of your family. A lawyer can certainly help ensure the release is valid and that it offers sufficient protection.
Le says
My neighbor hit my parked car. The damage isn’t big but it’s noticeable. We exchanged contact information and the OP told us to give a quote and OP will pay for it. We did not call police or contact insurance. The body shop quote was around $1600. I was wondering if I can offer OP $500 and I will do it myself.
Melissa Gold says
Hello. It sounds like your question is whether you can take payment from your neighbor to pay for the repair even though your intention is to do it yourself, which wouldn’t cost the $500 you’re asking for. That’s up to you. The risk is that if you make an agreement and then you’re not able to do it yourself, you won’t have any additional recourse (you can’t exactly then go back and ask for more money). This would be a private contract. If your neighbor agrees to pay $500 for you to fix your car (which they know they damaged) and you agree that this is a fair exchange, it’s important to have all of that in writing. In the future, it’s always a good idea to get a police report (in some states, it’s required if there’s any property damage), even if you intend to privately exchange payment.
Monique says
Hello I was recently hit from the back. I did not call the police or insurance company. I do have the number and name of the person at fault and also the license plates. I told the person they have three weeks to give me my money for the damage and they agreed. I don’t have my money what can I do??
Ian Pisarcik says
Monique,
Thanks for the comment and question.
I would recommend filing a claim against their insurance company. If you don’t have their insurance information, you can contact YOUR insurance company and provide them with the information that you have (license plate and name), and your insurance company will file the claim for you.
If you don’t have insurance, your only option is to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Chloe Davies says
Made a minor dent in a car while parking in a supermarket car park.
I was in a work hire van (while on work duties) I initially said I would sort it as it was my fault and everyone thought it would be between £300-£500. I didn’t even know I had a choice of insurance!
Initially we spoke and said they would get quotes and get back to me. That was 10months ago and I haven’t heard from him. He has got in touch a few days ago wants £1200 to replace the whole door. As he says filler will de value his car.
My work say I need to claim on my own insurance (I wasn’t driving my car & am now with a different insurance company)
Where do I stand? Everyone is telling me it should have gone through the works hire insurance and never should have even been an option for me to pay.
I don’t know what to do?
Melissa Gold says
Hi, Chloe. First, it sounds like you might be outside the U.S. and I’m not familiar with the laws in other countries. However, if this accident happened in the U.S., it should be handled through the insurance company of the vehicle owner (it sounds like that would be your employer). If your employer isn’t cooperative in working with its insurance company, you should contact a lawyer who can help advocate for you. Best of luck!
Gary says
I had a minor fender bender , which was my fault. I have offered to pay. Want 3 quotes , she don’t want to get three. Quote she got was for $900. I don’t think the car is worth that much. I sure she will pocket the money and not get the car repaired. Can I tell her to get it fixed and I will pay the body shop r do I have to pay her ?
Ian Pisarcik says
Gary,
You can certainly dispute the accuracy of the estimate she received (through your insurer or small claims court). You only owe her the reasonable cost of repairs. However, you can’t force her to make the repairs. She’s free to do whatever she wants with the money.
Melissa Gold says
Hi, Gary. This is one reason why it can be helpful to go through insurance after a collision. Your insurance company can require the other driver to get a quote from a service center that they approve. She can take the car anywhere she wants for the actual service, but your insurance company would pay the agreed-upon amount supplied by the service center — what the driver does after that is up to her. If you still prefer not to use insurance, you are still responsible for compensating the driver for the costs of the damage you caused. If she decides not to get her car fixed right now, that’s her choice, but you can’t tell her how to spend the money. Certainly, you can offer to pay the body shop directly and if she agrees to it, that works (and get the agreement in writing). But she’s under no obligation to agree to that.
The other reason to consider going through insurance is that she could sue you for damages if you can’t agree on the amount.
Finally, check on the reporting requirements in your state: https://www.enjuris.com/car-accident/accident-reporting-requirements.html. In some states, you’re required to report an accident to the DMV if there’s damage of a certain amount of money.
You didn’t mention when this collision happened, but you might wish to consider making a report to your insurance company. A report isn’t the same as a claim. But sometimes the insurance company will no longer cover a claim if too much time has passed, so if you are even considering going that route, it would be a good idea to file a report as soon as possible. Best of luck!
Yolanda says
I was hit from behind in a parking lot. The driver has a provisional license and minor in the car. The mother asked to settle outside insurance. The quote is $2000.
The mother agree to pay it but wants to use credit card and I want cash check. Also if this is settled outside insurance, can you give me a sample letter of what the letter should say when she gives payment?
Sadie Smith says
I hit my Uncle’s car pulling into my driveway. I spoke to him and let him know I would like to pay for this out of pocket. He filed a claim with his insurance to get a call back. None of my personal details have been shared. Can we still pay out of pocket for these damages since his insurance knows?
Ian Pisarcik says
The insurer will let you cancel a claim once you’ve filed it. However, the insurer might keep the claim on your record, which could raise your premiums (though this is unlikely since there will be no pay out for the claim).
Tip Douglas says
If I am the offending party, and the other driver was driving a borrowed car, i.e. not registered to them, and they agree to settle without insurance (fender bender), can the driver sign the release of liability agreement, or must the registered owner of the vehicle sign the release?
Ryan says
Hi,
A young driver had hit me from the back and offered to deal with it privately no matter the cost. If she’s paid in small amounts over a period of a few weeks so I can purcahse the parts, but she then pulls out at the last minute when it comes to mechanic labour costs, can I still claim through insurance?
Ryan (UK)
Veronica Lodge says
I rear ended rear ended someone. Their car was drivable and damage was minor and cosmetic.
I provided my DL Picture and phone number but no insurance info was exchanged.
No police report was filed.
I paid a large sum of money on the spot after asking what they thought would be a fair price for the damages.Am I at all liable for any further payment or legal issues?
Ian Pisarcik says
Generally speaking, oral settlement agreements are not enforceable in Texas. What’s more, this “oral settlement agreement” likely didn’t include any release of claims language. All of that is to say, the other driver could decide to sue you at a later date if he decides the money paid was not sufficient.
William Jackson says
Hello-
I reside in the Atlanta, Georgia suburbs. A guest was visiting me at my home and accidentally backed up out my drive away and hit my neighbors vistors car the was parked in the street. In the city I live in, it’s illegal to park in the street. However, there is an exception for non-residents to park temp on the street when there is no other parking availble. There was other parking available. Yet, the vistor still parked there.
It was minimal damage to my neighbors car. My guest does not want to assume responsibilty because she feels like the streets are narrow and caused an unreasonable inconvenience for blocking the drieway.
In good faith, I would like to pay for the damages. The other party got an estimated of the damages and the costs are reasonable. When the other party provided me with a quote she mentioned the price and said it coud be more once they start the repair. However, I only want to pay the set estimate.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
William
Jon says
I hit a parked car and am looking to settle without insurance. The original quote I was given by the affected party came back at around $1,500 to cover the damages to the car that include a new door and painting the door.
The person then went and got another quote for $2,500 to cover the cost of painting the rest of the car, which was not affected or damaged in any way by the accident, to match the paint that is going to be applied on the new door.
Am I required by California law to pay for the paint to match the new door?
Jane Doe says
My friend was recently in a 3 car hit and run he was vehicle #2 and hit vehicle# 1 because of vehicle #3 which fled, but he was not in his car when the accident happened his car was parked off the roadway in the grass. 1 is he still liable for their damages ? and 2 if he is liable and they give him a few quotes and they agree on one but they refuse to sign a release that he put together what should he do? Also, if there is no driver listed on their driver exchange report for his vehicle (vehicle #2) just the owners name and ins. Co., whose liable for vehicle # 1’s damage even though the at fault was vehicle #3 that hit and ran?
Erick Tovar says
I was involved in a car accident and I had no insurance so I was going to do a settlement with the person involved so I wanted to make sure he had insurance so I called and made the report but never filed the claim, and we agreed to it does that cause any trouble ?
Jaime says
My daughter backed into a vehicle as she was leaving a parking lot. I asked her to have the person get a repair estimate, which they did. It came back @ $400. My insurance deductible is $750 so obviously it is more reasonable to pay out of pocket. Is it expected to offer more than the repair estimate for their time, trouble and being without a vehicle while it is being repaired? Am I expected to pay for a rental? Sorry for all of the questions, this would be my 1st ever accident.
Angel says
I ended up bumping into a coworkers car, the accident was very minor, (the paint was scratched and a small dent) at the time of the accident I didn’t have insurance so I asked for an estimate and I said I would pay out of pocket, its been 1 week since. No estimate but they did file a police report against me. What should I do?
Ian Pisarcik says
If you don’t have insurance, the co-worker has the right to file an insurance claim under their uninsured motorist policy (if they have one) or file a lawsuit against you.
If your co-worker provides you with a reasonable estimate, you can certainly settle the matter with them without involving the courts or the insurance companies. If you go this route, I would recommend having your co-worker sign a release that states they are releasing all claims against you with respect to the car accident in exchange for the agreed upon amount.
Jayden says
Hi,
Just recently, a fuel truck hit and crushed our fence while attempting to deliver fuel to our property. The guy knocked on our door, and after apologizing to my wife he told her to contact his employer about the incident. We didn’t call the police or file an insurance claim, because my wife doesn’t want to deal with the all the nonsense involved (i.e. reports, delays, premiums, etc.). She prefers to settle directly with the company, because she wants this issue to be resolved as soon as possible. Thanks in advance for your advice!
*Btw, we have been a costumer of this company for many years, which is probably why my wife wants to settle this asap.
Ian Pisarcik says
There’s nothing wrong with settling with the company directly. I would get two or three estimates for the fence and then make a settlement offer based on the estimates. The trucking company will most likely want you to sign a release (i.e., a release of all future claims concerning the fence in exchange for the agreed-upon amount), so be sure that you’re accounting for all the damages, as you won’t be able to file an insurance claim (or lawsuit) later if you suddenly realize the truck caused more damage than you originally thought.
Jonny says
My daughter was in a minor accident (her fault) The other driver mentioned that he was hurt and did not want to call the law. They exchanged numbers and 24hrs later he asked for $800 in damages. That’s fine she will pay the $800 but what if he comes back claiming bodily injury or wants more money. What should she do it has only been 24hrs. I have a feeling he was under the influence and that’s why he did not want to involve local South Carolina LEO. What’s the best step?
Ian Pisarcik says
The injured driver can always file an insurance claim or lawsuit alleging additional injuries at a later date unless you have him sign a “settlement and release agreement” (releasing his right to all future claims in exchange for the $800). You might consider going through the small claims court to have a judge sign off on the agreement, or involving your insurance company, particularly if you suspect he may not honor the agreement.
Jody says
my son was parked behind a car with hazard lights on however, blocking a parking space. The other driver pulled up and asks to park in spot since my son was not utilizing the parking space. Since there was a car infront my son put his car in reverse to clear the car infront . At the same time the other guy reverses into the parking spot connecting the rear passenger door with my sons rear driver bumper and tail light. The other driver wants my son to pay for damages to their car. The damages were estimated less than a 1000 however it does not appear the other driver wants to visit the insurance aspect. At first my son agreed however thought about it and felt he was not in the wrong as he was clearing the spot. Any advice?
George butzin says
I got stuck in someones driveway due to icy conditions and they offered to pull me out. In doing so they hit a tree with the side of their truck and damaged their own vehicle. Mine was not damaged-and I called a tow truck and was eventually winched out of the driveway. Who is responsible for the damage to the truck?
Cdubb says
A FedEx truck sideswiped me & dented the driver side of my 2004 Mercury mountaineer knocked the cover of wheel top cover loss cracked back signal got the information from driver so his supervisor contacted me gave me the insurance company info contact me I sent pictures with estimate from repair shop & haven’t heard nothing now the only problem is I have no insurance it’s not a major accident it’s the principal & the so called insurance company they have is giving me the run around my state requires it so I don’t know what to do other than small claims court I have a police report of the accident & I have license so that’s 2 out of 3 any advice
Jayden says
First of all, thanks for taking the time to respond to my concerns. I just wanted to give you a heads up since the last email. At first, the manager seemed to be ok to provide restitution to the damages. But the owner of the company responded and said that he was not paying for the damages because my wife had told the driver to “not worry about it; the fence was clipped by another driver.” My wife told me that she said that to the driver because she felt bad that he was an elderly guy, and also because he was honest about it. She never intended it to be a free pass. Also, the difference in damages between the first accident and the second one is heaven to earth. In the first accident the fence was slightly bent, but in the second accident the fence was completely crushed (I sent pictures to them for reference). Another thing here is that they sent us a fake estimate from the same company that had previously given us an outrageous quote to fix the fence. The owner is attempting to say that the contractor had sent us a quote for $600 – when the original estimate we had from them was $11k (ridiculous right?). What I see here is a guy (the owner) who doesn’t want to take responsibility for the damages created by one of his drivers, and blame it on the other company. We did reached out to the other company, and they are willing to pay for the fence damages. What bothers me here is letting the other company get away with it. I really don’t know what to do anymore. One part of me wants to take them to court, but I don’t know if my wife’s comment to the driver will be a problem. I also want to show them the original invoice to see how they would react. I’m also wondering if I should involve the insurance company. I’m beginning to lose sleep over this because I don’t know what’s the best course of action in a situation like this. One thing is clear: two companies involved in an accident with the same fence, but only wants to pay for it.
Jann says
Hi,
I’m a new driver and I got into an accident. Minor dent on first look. The car hasn’t gone in for estimate yet. I don’t know how to adult, just need validation in what to do.
I wasn’t at fault, The person at fault is willing to pay for damages outside of insurance. He gave me some suggestions of his body shops for estimates. I was worried about them being small places that will chop my car for parts, but googling them and they seem legit.
We exchanged ID, plate, insurance and phone numbers. Filed a police report.
Based off the article, I should report to my auto insurance that there was an accident and I don’t have to file any claim.
That way once I get an estimate and if guy suddenly doesn’t want to pay, I have a report and am able to file a claim instead?
Sunset says
Someone ran a stop sign and hit me. The total cost is very expensive. We made a claim through our insurance and got an estimate on how much the repairs would be. Right before we were about to get the car fixed the other party contacted us about a settlement offer because they had a lapse in insurance. What should I do now regarding the claim,?
Ian Pisarcik says
I would recommend filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. That way, you can work with the insurance company directly rather than the at fault driver. Working with the insurance company directly will help you avoid any serious issues, such as the guy deciding he suddenly doesn’t want to pay.
Gustavo Reyes says
If I called the police and they have a report is there any way of getting around the insurance being involved? I know I shouldn’t have called the police if that was the case but forgetting that is it too late?
Ian Pisarcik says
Gustavo,
You don’t have to file an insurance claim if you don’t want to. You can attempt to work out the accident privately with the other party involved. However, the other party has a right to file an insurance claim if they choose to do so.
Ella Starr says
How interesting that you talk about how if you don’t use insurance in an accident the cost to repair might be different than you thought. My son was just in a car accident, and we are helping him get his car fixed. We will find a great accident repair company in our area.
Ian Pisarcik says
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad the article helped!
Nicole Motley says
Hi I was recently involved in an accident where the police officer coerced me into taking fault for an accident I’m not sure I caused. The accident happened at an intersection where both (me and the other party) parties don’t know if they ran the red light. I am pretty confident that my light was green but I wasn’t 100% sure. As the police officer was speaking with the other party I over heard him say “it would be a different story if she said she was sure her light was green” although prior I informed the officer I was in a state of shock and not sure but i believe I had the light. He offered two options one get a citation and do a crash report where I would be at fault more than likely, or no citation and no crash report I would just exchange info and be done with it “as long as I admit I was at fault” as a way to “help me out”. I took option two the crash wasn’t that bad and we both were insured and no one was hurt so I told the officer “sure” just to be done. He takes our info and gives us our instructions and leaves. 5 mins later he calls me to tell me he can’t honor option 2 and he’s going to do a citation and a crash report and that he has me on tape saying I did it!! I mean is that even legal?! It gets worse my insurance as I thought was still active turns out it was not because it’s under review until I obtain information I have no access to. Not only did I pay all my payments while in review I paid off my premium thinking it would auto renew. Apparently they can’t do anything about it and the policy hasn’t been active since May 22nd the accident happened June 1st. They also didn’t give me any proper notice about this review or that my policy was ended and I had just spoken to them month ago about this information they needed and thought it was all situated since I’ve as still making my payments. I’m am at a huge lose here so any beneficial information would be helpful.
T says
i rear ended this lady at an exit. the damages were very minor (no dents on either of our bumpers and barely a scratch). we decided to settle it privately because i wanted to avoid filing an insurance claim because it would make my premium go over $600. the cost to fix the car is $382.81 which i’m more than willing to pay for but the lady wants an extra $117.19 for pain and suffering and is threatening to file with insurance. she doesn’t want me to accompany her to the shop to pay for the damages and wants me to just pay the $500 through cashapp or venmo. i’m planning on leaving the money at the shop along with a private settlement form stating that 1) i’m paying ___ for the damages, 2) there are no personal injuries or deaths involved, 3) neither of us will make a police report, and 4) neither of us will file an insurance claim. what if she doesn’t sign or what should i do from here on out if not that?
Karma says
Single car accident -car ran off road into easement and hit a small landscape rock. police took info quickly. and I drove away . Minor damage to car and appeared there was no property damage where car drove.. No police report filed under the number given by police- tried website for weeks.Figured the accident was not reported so chose to fix the car without reporting to insurance a month later. Turns out properly owner filed landscape damage claim right after I got repaired car back. Called police department again to find accident report and turns out it was filed under the wrong number. Report states “damage to landscape rock”. Insurance company wants to speak to me about the details of accident. Would have never fixed the car if I had known there was property damage. Afraid to speak to Insurance company. I know I must be truthful but afraid this looks bad already! How do I handle this?
Marie says
I was involved in a fender bender with a neighbor. He went back and forth about not wanting to use his insurance( he was at fault), then wanting to go thru insurance, back to not wanting to go thru the insurance. I agreed to just settle out of pocket, but now I’m not sure. I’m so confused. I feel like we should go thru the insurance. Do I have to stick to NOT going thru insurance or can I change my mind?? No money or payment has been exchanged. Thank you in advance for your advice!!
Ian Pisarcik says
Thank you for the question.
You can certainly still change your mind.
It’s almost always a good idea to go through insurance so there is a record of payment. Otherwise, the individual could avoid paying you and claim that he did. I would recommend contacting the at-fault driver’s insurance company and filing a claim. Or, if you’re more comfortable, you can contact your own insurance company and have them file a claim on your behalf.
Pippatis says
Hello, thank you for your tips, and apologies in advance if I’m too wordy – I’d like to ask a question. A little explanation: a week ago today, I accidentally scratched my boss’s car bumper but due to circumstances beyond my control I had to leave. As soon as I got home I sent my boss a text admitting what I did and offered to pay since I didn’t want to involve insurance. By Tuesday, they got back to me with an estimate and it was nearly a thousand dollars. I still had no reservations about paying, but I feel as if the timing was too soon – and they’d already scheduled the work for next Tuesday, the 20th. My boss expected me to pay by then.
What I wanted to know was, am I legally expected to pay them as soon as they get the repair? Do I get any kind of grace period or am I expected to find a way to get that money to them in time for the work? Is it reasonable to work out a deal where I pay incrementally?
Ian Pisarcik says
You don’t have any “legal grace period” to pay for the damages. However, you certainly have the right to try to workout a payment plan with your boss. Alternatively, you can file an insurance claim and simply pay the deductible.
Maine says
Hello! I need an advice. A lady hits our car but just a minor damage. She talked to us and asked if she could just pay instead of using her insurance. She gave all her details like full name,address,license number, insurance company and contact number. We also got her plate number and pictures of the damage. But it took a month to scheduled the repair because they still need to order the parts needed. until yesterday we let her know that it was finally scheduled but didn’t get any response from her and today the repair was done so messaged her again and sent all the receipts about the cost but still we didn’t get any response. Now i’m so worried that she’s ignoring us and doesn’t want to pay us anymore. What should we do? I would really appreciate any advice I can get on this. Thank you!
NewGrad1 says
Hi,
I hit the grill front bumper guard of a parked truck in a parking lot when exiting a parking lot backwards. (The lot is compacted, no room to make a u-turn). The guard is massive (Ranch Hand Grill Guard) & his truck is bigger than the average truck, so his car goes past the typical parking spot and into the road everytime . His car is 100% fine, & so is the grill guard, not a scratch or a dent. Took photos of his car a few days after just in case. But my Camry has a quarter panel had a large dent w/ paint scratch. I found the owner (and I could find him again), and we verbally agreed not to exchange insurances. (He mentioned that his insurance probably won’t cover anything, though I think he would have; this is my first accident/car and afraid of insurance hike).
The quote to fix my car was larger than expected: $2500-$3000, as quarter panel wouldn’t need to be replaced & it may take a week. Would like to get insurance to pay as I had full coverage with $1500 deductible, but I’m afraid they’ll ask what happened or pursue the truck driver. Is there anyway I can file a claim and say I hit a mailbox or something? It’s been 2 weeks since the incident.
nkhedr1 says
A lady hit my car when she was backing up in a car lot. She dented my door. My car is brand new. She offered cash but i refused and got her insurance information and filed a claim. They said i am not at fault and they are sending me to a repair shop. Now i don’t know if they will replace or repair the door. Is it better to replace a door for a new vehicle? and do i have any say in this?
Jrussell says
I was in an accident today with extensive damage to my vehicle. I just paid it off last week. The at fault driver was insistent upon not involving police or insurance because she was driving a company vehicle and could lose her job if it was reported. I had already called the police and they came out to get an accident report. She offered to pay for all of the repairs as long as I didn’t file a claim against her company’s insurance. Should I take her word for it or just go ahead and file a claim with her insurance? I already notified my insurance company about the accident and they said if we settle without insurance, then any future issues that could arise from this incident, would not be covered. I feel bad for the lady but I also don’t want to have to deal with the headache of having to sort all of this out. I’m not sure what to do.
Ian Pisarcik says
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this situation.
It’s in your best interest to file an insurance claim. Doing so will help ensure that you’ll actually receive compensation. If you don’t file a claim, the at-fault driver can refuse to pay your damages or even claim that the accident never happened. What’s more, there is always the possibility that the woman simply won’t have enough money to pay for the damages even if she wants to.
Ian Pisarcik says
There is always the risk that the at-fault party won’t pay your damages when you make a “handshake” agreement like this one. If you’re concerned, I would recommend going ahead and filing an insurance claim against her insurance company.
Zabrina says
A driver caused a dent on my bumper two days ago. He didn’t want to give me his insurance abd preferred I get an estimate cost and pay me.
I already advised my insurance. Driver owns a big local business and lives in a high end neighborhood. I am getting two estimates first one I got is $1200. It’s obvious he has money and prefers to settle directly. If I settle directly can my insurance increase my premium just because I filed a claim with them or not?
Thank you
Amy says
Hi, I went to a dr appointment recently and I usually park my vehicle in reverse in any parking lot. I haven’t gone out, I am a pregnant woman during covid times, I make sure to only go out when necessary, I work from home as well, so not really driving anywhere. Anyway, I drove off home from dr appointment and noticed my front bumper was lose the next day and when I took a closer look, my front bumper was broken in as if a toe hitch hit the front of my car. I realized that a truck hit me in a parking lot and didn’t leave me any note. I’m furious! I haven’t reported it to insurance or made a police report because it’s been a few days since my dr appointment. I had plans to trade in my vehicle and gives me less hope as to the depreciation! What should I do? It’s just the bumper. I wasn’t in my vehicle, no one was hurt.
Ian Pisarcik says
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to sue the at-fault party (or file a claim against their auto insurance company) unless you can identify them. It may be worth asking around the doctor’s office to find out if any employees saw the accident or to find out if the office has security footage from the parking lot. In addition, it’s worth filing a police report in case someone called in the accident.
If you aren’t able to identify the driver, you may still be able to file a claim with your own insurance company if you have uninsured motorist coverage. Contact your insurance company to find out if coverage is available.
Steve says
My son was just in an accident (minor- scratches to both cars) pulling into a parking space. The other car was driven by a relative of the owner (they were dropping of son at college, they and owner live hundreds of miles away). We filed a police report, but the driver said the car’s owner would get an estimate and call me and I could pay, so insurance would not get involved (their suggestion). I am hesitant of going without insurance, and wonder if i should just call my insurance company to report it, even before I get their estimate.
Rodes says
From California
Hello,
Thank you for this informative article.
A friend of mine decided to pay out of pocket for damages of few thousands. No police report or insurance company involved. Other party is quite cooperative and ready to do without involving anyone. I have heard their is law to report accident to DMV (within 10 days) for such amount of damages.
My question is in such out of pocket cases is it obvious that such report is not shared with DMV? Can it create problem later if DMV came to know through any means like auto body shops?
Thank you
Andrew Ramos says
Hi, I was involved in a minor fender bender leaving minor scratches to the car in front or me, while I took the bigger blow to my car. I offered to not get the insurance involved and they are considering it, but they want medical bills covered. Am i supposed to get medical stuff involved? I thought it was supposed to be only for car, and how am I supposed to know that it ie legit? It barely felt like anything so I kinda feel like they are making it up, but what should I do?
Jacob says
Hi I recently got into a car accident where I said I had a green light and the other guy was saying he had a green light. We called the police and they got both of our insurance info and a report on the accident. She told me to call the police and give them the accident number and the insurance companies would deal with it. Do I still have to contact my insurance if I don’t plan on making a no-fault claim?
Jen says
From Los Angeles
Hello, I recently was rear ended on the freeway while going to work. The person who hit me is not insured so he wanted a verbal agreement to pay out of pocket. I went ahead and got a few quotes from body shops and informed the other party of the options but now he doesn’t want to be hold accountable sense he is financially struggling. I tried going thru my insurance to file a claim but unfortunately I was told I was not insured the moment of the accident as my payment had not gone thru for my coverage. I was told I can report his drivers license to the DMV to make him accountable and pay for the damages. What options do I have.? Or what can I do next.? Only one day has gone by from the accident.
Advice Seeker says
A teenager backed into my SUV and did what is probably several thousand dollars worth of damage. He said he would pay for it out of pocket, but I did get his ID and Insurance information. (He is a friend of a nephew). I asked several times for the at-fault driver’s father to call me so we could discuss this. The father did not call-so I went this morning to my Insurance agent’s office and explained what had occurred. The at-fault driver’s insurance is with the same provider. A claim has thus been filed. Now the father calls; I am not certain they contacted him yet. I am still willing to have the father pay for the damages and a rental car. I know I can cancel the claim, but I want to make certain I am covered. I take the SUV in tomorrow for an estimate, but the work will not commence for several weeks. Is the recommendation that I get a signed document acknowledging their responsibility, and that they will pay each invoice from the Collision center and car rental company? Would I expect them to immediately pay me the amount on the initial estimate? How do I have assurances they will pay me all of the costs that will be incurred for this incident? Is it typical to expect they pay me ahead of actually having the Center do the work? My only interest is having my SUV repaired and transportation available,
Summer says
Thanks for the article! 4 days ago my husband rear ended someone. There wasn’t any damages to their vehicle or ours that we could see. We exchanged information and they file a report with their insurance company. They took their car in for an estimate and the cost is $902. Our deductible and theirs is $500. They’re willing to settle without involving insurance but I’m not sure what to do. Would our insurance premium increase if we go through insurance? Is there an example of a release statement for us to follow if we were to settle without insurance?
Wam says
My wife backed into some one. It was a tiny bump so we settled with the lady s. Lady s went and got a quote for damages we paid her the quote lady s. Signed a paper acknowledging we came to an agreement. She took our money and proceeded try make a claim with her insurance which has caused my wife lose her license. And lady s insurance wants more money. I hate people
Mike nnam says
I was doing uber when accident happened and it was my fault. I have full coverage insurance, but my insurance wouldn’t work my car because they said I didn’t have commercial insurance. Do You think my insurance are supposed to work my car? And would they work the other party’s car?
Melissa Gold says
Hi, Mike. It sounds like you’re saying you’re an Uber driver. Usually, a personal insurance policy does have an exclusion for business or commercial use of your vehicle. However, Uber provides its drivers with up to $1 million insurance coverage under certain situations. Here’s some more information about insurance for Uber drivers: https://www.enjuris.com/car-accident/rideshare-car-accidents.html.
Larry says
I was in a little fender bender. Someone hit me from behind and they left a little mark on my bumper. The police decided it wasn’t worth writing a report. I got their insurance information but they said they would rather pay me directly if I got a quote. What should I do in this case? I have no intention of fixing it and was wondering if I can just pocket the money if they pay me directly. If not, will I still be able to file with insurance?
Teena says
My son borrowed his car to a girl that said she put insurance on it so when she’s driving delivering pizza’s it would be covered,so he didn’t put insurance on it, so her first day on leaving for work she got t-boned in my son’s car which now is totaled, and the lady that caused the accident didn’t have a license or insurance, so to find out the girl that was driving my son’s car tryed putting insurance on it right after the accident, but they would not do it! So now my son wants to know what he can do so one or both and repay him for the value of his car to get another one?
Adrienne says
I rear-ended one of our work interns ole beat up car in my work parking lot. It has minor paint scuffs and the kid said he could “buff them out”. Over a month later He just showed up with a $580 Estimate for the repairs. Do we pay after the work is done? or before? I really hate the idea of forking up $600 for this kid to just pocket it and not do anything to the car.
Melissa Gold says
Hi, Adrienne. If you are the at-fault driver, you’re responsible for paying for damages (depending on what state you’re in). If the value of the repairs is $580, then you would be responsible for that cost regardless of who actually performs the work. You can turn the matter over to your insurance company and let them settle with him or his insurance company if you’d rather handle it that way.