My minor, minor, minor, accident.

Sitting at a stop light last week when I got tapped from behind by another driver.

I filed with my claim with my insurance and used their automated system to do the appraisal. Their estimate came back at $62.00. I laughed because you can't walk into a body shop for that little amount of money.

The bumper was out of alignment and I didn't figure it would be expensive, but I knew it would be more than that. So, I requested a human come out and do a real appraisal.

That happened today and the appraiser said it's more than just a bumper alignment. He's going to write it for replacement of the bumper face bars and all brackets.

I'm waiting for the appraisal to come in the mail and then I'll start looking at body shops. The appraiser, who is an independent for several insurance companies said that my company, which I won't name, is very good as they will not use aftermarket parts. The other guy's insurance company does, even on almost new cars.

I'll leave it to the insurance companies to fight out.

 

A “tap” did that much damage?
Are the bumper mounts made of sheet metal?

 

Don't know. I just know what I see, which is an uneven gap from side to side and what the appraiser told me.

 

Brilliant. Your insurance will go up and you have a claim against you.

If you got hit, there is zero reason to call your insurance company unless the other persons coverage isn't enough to cover the damage/injuries. Your insurance company is not your friend.

 

I'll think about posting a picture or two later. If I get enough ambition that is.

 

Pix?

 

So, I'm sitting at a stop light, a guy hits me from behind, and MY insurance will go up? How does that work? Maybe that's how it works in FL, but not where I am.

I have never in over 50 years of driving dealt directly with the other drivers insurance company. That's what I pay insurance for.

 

Yeah I'm also confused. If the other person was at fault and the bumper is that misaligned then I'd be going through their insurance and not my own, even though I do have comprehensive on my Taco.

 

My insurance company, and likely yours, has an entire department that deals with subrogation. That's part of what you pay for. If you deal directly with the other insurance company, they are going to bend you over because they do this day in and day out and you don't.

 

Plastic.

 

That only applies if you use your own coverage to make repairs and someone else is at fault.

If you want to use your own coverage instead of someone else who is definitively at fault then I certainly will not stop you.

 

So, how is the other driver hitting my vehicle stopped at a traffic light NOT his fault? Your first and second sentences contradict each other.

 

It is his fault.

It should be processed as a claim through their insurance, not your own. But you are still correct to let your insurance company know it happened.

I have been at fault in an accident in the past. Ask me how I know.

 

I've been driving since 1970, this isn't my first rodeo. I can tell you that insurance regulations vary from state to state. I've never once had occasion to talk to the other guys insurance company directly. If that's how it works in CO, then that's how it works in CO.

 

I disagree, and here is why.
If someone else hits you, it is in your best interest to make a police report and report the accident to your insurance immediately. To begin with, the first person to act is often the one whose version becomes the driving factor. When you report it to your insurance company and have them pay for the repair and recover costs via subrogation, you will have some control over the repairs and your rental. If you try to go through the other guy's insurance, their interest is in reducing the payout to the extent possible. I have had three experiences with this over the past 10 years and it has always worked best to go through my own insurer. I have never had any issue with my own company repairing my vehicle in the best possible manner, and processing the whole thing quickly and without hassle.
In February, my Tacoma was hit (minor damage) in the parking lot at work. As it turns out, it was another employee who was driving a school district vehicle. I park in the same end spot every day and next to it is a no parking zone. I think this employee has been parking in that no parking zone for some time. I walked out to find a district vehicle parked three inches from my driver's side door, had to track this idiot down, and have him move. So, my boss came by my classroom in the afternoon, and tells me, "Hey, a parent just told the office manager a district vehicle hit your truck and left. She got the plate number". The district Risk Management people called and said they were reviewing the security footage and sent me some insurance forms from their carrier to fill out so they could come and estimate the damage. They could not tell me who the employee was.

No worries. I called the PD with the name of the parent, the tag #, and reported it as a hit and run. Called my insurance company and did the same. My agent told me immediately, my rates would not be raised for a not-at-fault accident. Awesome. I took my truck to the shop of my choice, I got a Gladiator as a rental, and they repaired the Tacoma really well. There was a tiny crease by the L/R tail light which was taken out via paintless process (which is what I wanted), the L/R tail light was broken and both were replaced because they are aftermarket and only sold in pairs, the L/R bumper cap was replaced and color matched, the sensors on that side replaced, the plastic bumper tread piece on top replaced, and the safety system recalibrated. Everything was repaired properly, no hassles, and I got my $250 deductible back pretty quickly

Your insurance company may not be your friend, but the other guy's company is even less so.

As a side note, the guy who hit me probably was terminated because of the hit and run and because he was supposed to be drug tested in the event of an accident which had been avoided by not reporting it. It sucks to lose a job over some minor damage, but he made those choices.

 

I'll just mention that it seems counterintuitive for someone to post that insurance companies to which he pays premiums will screw him over, while the other guy's company to which he doesn't pay premiums and from which is demanding money, will treat him better!

I just got off the phone with my insurance company. The appraiser wrote for a complete bumper replacement for about $1,700 parts and labor. Being Texas, I have to pay the deductible up front and once the other guy's insurance admits liability I'll get that back.

The adjuster is going to call his insurance company today and try to get them to admit fault. They sometimes drag their feet, but since it's pretty clear cut they may not.

I think I mentioned that my insurer uses only OEM parts, while his is well know for trying to use aftermarket parts even on new vehicles.

 

Some people just like to talk out of their ass