I was involved in fender bender auto accident, other driver wants me to pay out of pocket for repairs, but also wants money for car rental?

Question

Should I pay for her repairs and car rental or just go through my insurance? There is no cost to me to go through insurance, I have no deductible and first accident forgivesness. The only thing is my rates will go up if I have a second accident if I file a claim. I've been with my insurer for several years.

Answer 1

Contact your insurance company and only give details to them, no one else! That's what you pay them for.

Answer 2

Tell the other driver to contact your insurance, not you. Tell them that if and only if the involved insurance companies find you at fault which is not determined will anything be settled, and it will up to them. You do not intend to pay out of pocket.

Answer 3

Danger Will Robinson. Any time someone does NOT want you to call the cops and does NOT want you to inform the insurance company it is most likely because they are doing something illegal. The car is stolen, they do not have insurance, they have a suspended license, their license is revoked. Etc. You ask for a copy of their license, registration and insurance (use your phone to take pictures, picture of them, picture of the damages, pictures of the weather, etc.) If they refuse to supply their drivers license, registration or insurance call the cops right away. Tell them you were in an accident and the other person is refusing to provide required info and you are worried they might be driving a stolen car. If you are beyond this and have the information I would still file a police report and use my insurance.

Answer 4

Just a fender bender will cost $ 1000.00, probably more. Rentals aren't cheap either. Use your insurance.

Answer 5

Use your insurance.

Answer 6

I don't see a downside to you going to YOUR insurance. Perhaps you should ask why the other party is trying to avoid making an official record of this accident.

Answer 7

There is something very suspicious for a driver to even request that YOU use your cash instead of making an insurance claim. Very suspicious.



Have you proof that the other driver had a driver's license and was driving a car that had a current registration? Because sometimes insurance companies will not pay out if a driver does not have a valid driver's license or is not current on their registration. In which case, that person is screwed and not entitled to get any type of reimbursement because they were driving illegally. Please find that out, please. Ask for a copy of their license and a copy of their registration.



Do not pay out of pocket. After confirming that the other driver has current and valid paperwork, then file a claim.



What is the point of having first accident forgiveness if you are not going to use it?



When something sounds odd, there is a reason. I believe that other driver is up to no good in one way or another. For anyone to suggest you deal with this accident under the table is a red flag.

Answer 8

I agree with the others, definitely report it to your insurers and let them deal with it all. That's what you pay them for. Pass any communications from her or her insurers direct to yours.

Answer 9

Drive your car into a flooded quarry, claim it was stolen and the thief hit the other car.

Answer 10

Rule number one when involved in a road accident; Never admit fault, Inform your insurance.

Already the other driver wants you to pay for repairs and car rental. What are you going to do when they come back next week with medical bills?

You buy insurance to deal with incidents like this, don't worry about an increase in rates that will be far less than this accident could potentially cost you. The first thing your insurance company will do is decide fault. Then they will deal with the demands of the other driver should you be adjudged to be at fault.

Call your insurance and sit back, any communication from the other driver pass to your insurance that's what you pay them for.

Answer 11

I'd report the accident to your insurance company. These kinds of side deals turn out ugly a lot of the time. If the other driver all of a sudden has medical issues and you didn't report promptly, it can cause problems. Do yourself a favor, report the accident to your insurance company.

Answer 12

One Idiot rear ended me, said: " How about some money"?



I said :"Bye!"

Answer 13

The other party has a right to demand whatever they wish to settle out of court. If their demands are too high you have the legal system (which your insurance company will employ) to ensure a fair settlement.

Answer 14

Pass it to your insurance company.

Answer 15

Wait, what? You have no problem going through insurance, but the other idiot wants you to pay out of pocket? Something is very not-right here, very not-right indeed.



Compensation for a rental vehicle is normally part of any auto damage claim, nothing unusual there. When insurance companies cover vehicle damage, they always cover the cost of transportation replacement (rental) until either the repairs are done or a total loss settlement is offered. That part is totally normal, but the part about wanting to avoid insurance is completely insane.



I have no idea what their reason is for not wanting to involve the insurance companies in this accident, but I know something is extremely fishy. They're either wanted by the law at some level, or they're an 'undocumented' resident, or something. Whatever it is, it probably gives you an edge in the negotiating process. Give this a try and see if it works...



Forget the amount (including rental costs) the other idiot wants, make up whatever amount you want and offer them that. Offer to pay them in cash-money, but make sure they know that you're not a fool. In exchange for your cash, they sign a legally binding agreement that says your payment of $XXX.xx (whatever amount you decide) constitutes full and final settlement for all loss or damage arising from the collision between your vehicles that occurred on the __th of ____, 2018, and no further claims for compensation for said collision will be presented in the future. Make sure you use those exact words, full and final settlement for all loss or damage.



If they don't agree to that, you're letting your insurance company handle this because a) they're experts in this stuff and you're not, and b) that's what you pay them so god dammed much for.

Answer 16

Why didn't you BOTHER to mention whos fault it was.....

Answer 17

Don't be fooled or suckered into what the other motorist wants you to do.



You have insurance on your vehicle, correct? If so, use it!



Your insurer will represent your needs and make sure the other motorist and their insurer don't take advantage of you.

Answer 18

Don't pay yourself out of pocket unless you can get a legally binding document drawn up that the other driver releases all damage and injury claims. In many States you can't really even create a binding document to do that, they have like 3 years to make an injury claim. So even after you pay him she could till come after you for more money if she thinks she can get you to pay.



And in the State I live in if she is driving without required insurance or with an invalid license then she is considered at fault. It's pretty hard for you to determine that, but may be reason she doesn't want an insurance company involved.



Turn it over to your insurance and let the lawyers you have paid for already handle it. If you don't get in another accident it won't cost you anything. If you do then you deserve to pay more for insurance.

Answer 19

Go thru your insurance. Too much could go wrong if you don’t. I’m suspicious to why the person wants to do out of pocket.

Answer 20

dont do it

Answer 21

Tell the other driver to pound sand.

Answer 22

Insurance .

He may not have insurance ?

Get a police report first .

Answer 23

Insurance wants you to think your insurance will increase . That's like saying carrots are good for your eyes. Imagine if they can get millions of folks to pay for insurance every year and never make a claim. Come on , you pay dearly for insurance , now use it !

Answer 24

There is NO deductible under liability coverage, in other words, (her car) and insurance pays 100% for her damages. And yes would be owed a rental car while the car is in the shop, thus your insurance would pay for that also.



But, how do you know if the amount (estimate) to fix is the right amount or not? Your insurance company has people who review the estimates to make sure not overcharged and will pay (only) the right amount. Also the rental car, that most insurance will only pay (X) amount, but if she gets one much higher, then you are on the hook. Plus, if the car is held up in the shop, then (your) insurance will deal with that, since many times a body shop may have too many vehicles to fix, thus they work on the ones that have to be fixed sooner, thus if not, then they go after the body shop to fix it and cut down the cost of the rental.



The question is, why does she want you to pay vs insurance? It is possible she wants the check, but does not fix it and that is ok also, but if she does not fix, then you don't owe for a rental car also. Or, if you file the claim, it is (possible) that your insurance finds that you are not at fault, or that they find that (both) of you are at fault, thus they pay less.



Signing a waiver still won't prevent her from coming back later for injuries, since any good lawyer will throw that out, thus you need your insurance to handle, just in case.



You have accident forgiveness and yes if a 2nd accident happens, then get "dinged" but you may not have that 2nd accident, thus file with your insurance company and let them handle it.

Answer 25

This is a "no brainer".

Why in the world would you even consider NOT using your insurance? Isn't this exactly why you bought insurance?

People who have insurance but won't use it have a screw lose.



If you pay out of pocket: What will you do when the other person says they found hidden damage on their car and want more of your money? What will you do when they decide that they were injured and want more of your money? What will you do when they sue you in small claims court to get more of your money?

Answer 26

Let your insurance handle ALL of it!!!

Answer 27

So, why exactly do you even have insurance?



Do you have $10,000+ ready to blow when you try to handle this yourself?



What happens when the repair totals keep adding up? What happens when a part is backordered and the car isn't fixed for a month? What about paint cure time? What about the neck that starts hurting once they realize you have fallen for their scam?



Unless you are a lawyer well versed in auto/personal injury, let the pros deal with it.

Answer 28

Hi so best advice let all claims be dealt with by insurance companies. as many other types end up either in court or you being ripped off by the other moron.

Answer 29

I would go through the insurance company because part of the settlement process is having the other party sign documents stating that once they get paid they give up all claims against you. She can't come back for round 2. If you pay out of pocket then she can come back at you for round 2 of squeezing you for more money. Even is she says she won't do that are you really going to believe her? I wouldn't, I wouldn't take anyone's word on that.



UPDATE: To settle this out of your own pocket is going to cost far - far more than if your insurance rates go up. Also keep in mind that she has a legal right to file a claim against your policy should she choose to. You not wanting to pay for a rental car is one good reason to do so because she doesn't want to be without a car and she shouldn't have to go without a car. I know I wouldn't go without a car if I didn't have to, and sympathy for your cause wouldn't weigh in on my decision. Car accidents happen. Take the advice of others and myself and let your insurance company handle this. It's one reason why you pay for insurance so that you don't have to. Seriously, in the long run you're better off in more ways than one if you let them handle it, the amount of money coming out of your pocket is only one of them.



And if this person is insistent on not wanting to file a claim through your insurance company then do nothing, don't settle out of pocket. Wait for them to file a suit against you in small claims court and when that happens then contact your insurance company and let them handle it.

Answer 30

This is what you pay that insurance company to do for you... let them do their thing.

Answer 31

Insurance always

Answer 32

the other driver can "milk" you for costs much more then insurance will pay; this is a type of fraud. i mean, that is, bigger fraud then insurance itself. you paid for insurance, let it do what you have paid for.

Answer 33

most answers so far have been right on the money. As an aside you might check out your local small claims court records and see if she has been taken in there in the past. To be so brazen to demand that she get a car rental also suggests she has had other dealings with people that went sour. INsurance transactions and investigations are legal evidence should you ever need it.

Answer 34

You go through your insurance. If the other guy wants you to pay out of pocket it's because he has something to hide. Wanting money for car rental? Tell him to get lost.