Car accident question

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sometimes it is cheaper to pay out of pocket that the cost increase in premiums over a year or 2.

Yes if you are at fault. The OP wasn't at fault.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Why is it people pay all this money for insurance and then when they need it they never want to use it? Boggles my mind.

Because it's a requirement if you want to drive your car on the road.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Julio

I guess in a similar vein to the parking lot question:

Had a kid back up into me. No question it was his fault, we were waiting in line to get into a parking lot, and I have a witness (the lady taking the money for the lot).

I had to get a hold of the guy in order to get all his info (I didn't get the kid's drivers license, and he was driving his parents SUV, and I had to file a police report). I got a hold of the dad, and he immediately went into 'I don't want insurance involved' mode.

(The father is a new Canadian, if that makes a difference) He wants to see the estimate I got from the body shop, saying 'it seemed high'.

I would also go through insurance. You will need to report the claim to the police.

If one party reports the incident and the other party does not and if the damage is over $1,000 its a hit and run. (i.e. there is a risk not reporting)

[Fozzie_DeBear]

There is NO upside for you to outside insurance...so why do it?

[Hevishot]

Damages over 2000.00 are required to be reported to the police. Unless it happens on private property they might not give you a damage sticker but they will give you a fancy form. A vehicle with damages over 2000 cannot be worked on without the damage sticker if caught they can and will shut the shop down.