Is this safe to commute in?

[dentalprodigy]

http://imgur.com/QinLG1j,MNdm1y4,fFl...aQisUr,Cbp73I3



Hey FT86,
I got into an accident today. I got rear ended. I need to commute ~80 miles highway in the FRS tomorrow. Is this car safe to commute that distance?

DAMAGE:

From what I can tell, I'll need a new rear bumper, rear diffuser, possible new LEFT exhaust piping (or rebent into shape). The rear bumper is flush on the right side but a gap has formed on the LEFT(see pics). I looked underneath the car and saw that the exhaust piping is OFF the 'hangers' (?). It is ~2-3 inches from the road. I drove the car post-accident ~1 mile and apart from noises (of the bumper I'm assuming being OFF hinges?), there was no scraping.

SITUATION:

This is a 2014 lease and my deductible is $500. The damage happened at speeds of <10mph. Any tips as how you would handle this situation?

I believe I have the option of going through her insurance and avoid the $500 deductible payment. But that is a longer process.
OR
There is also an option to go through my insurance (21st century), pay the $500. Wait for police report and for insurance to determine who is at fault and THEN apply for reimbursement of damages. Any tips would be appreciate on how you would handle this situation.

I didn't exchange insurance information b/c other lady driver was yelling at me. So I avoided any contact and just waiting for the police. I'll pick up the police report next Wednesday which should have her information on it.


Any tips would be appreciate on how you would handle this situation.

----------
Question:

- From the pictures, does this car look ok to commute ~80 miles highway?
- File claim through MY insurance or HER's?

Thanks for looking. Looking forward to any feedback. Have a better day than I'm having.

[Pickleahoy]

If the police report places fault on the person that hit you then your insurance will waive the deductible and fix your car. If you cant wait for the police report, your insurance will begin repairs and the deductible will be due when you pick up the car AFTER repairs. At least that's how it was with Progressive in my case. That means that if they take longer to fix the car than the police report to come out and you are not at fault, even if you ask them to fix it now you don't pay the deductible.

Also, in my case I notified my insurance, Progressive, of the other party hitting me; however, since they had Allstate I chose to go with theirs and had a hassle free repair at one of their preferred locations and they paid for my rental without me giving a dime.

[dentalprodigy]

Thanks for replying. I think I might just go ahead and go through my own insurance and fork over the deductible when I pick it up. Its summer, I just got done w/ finals today & I was planning on some driver seat time in the FRS.

[Tcoat]

My exhaust is only about 2 and a bit inches off the road all the time and I have very few issues. Doesn't sound like you have any structural damage so just secure the exhaust so it cant fall right off and drive carefully. Still get it in and fixed ASAP of course.

[ModinJapan]

The car is definitely drivable as long as nothing is scraping on the ground or super loose. In terms of the insurance situation, if you can financially support paying the $500, go for it! Get the car fixed asap, get on the road, and have the other insurance company reimburse you.

[Scenic Driver]

You should contact your insurance company before driving the car again.

[dentalprodigy]

Originally Posted by Scenic Driver

You should contact your insurance company before driving the car again.

Hey Scenic Driver. All my insurance asked me on the phone was "is the car drive able?" and I answered "yes". They didn't explicitly instruct me to not drive it. I hope it doesn't become a big deal.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Pickleahoy

If the police report places fault on the person that hit you then your insurance will waive the deductible and fix your car.

That's not exactly how it normally works.

Suppose you have a scenario where you both have insurance, but you file a claim under your own comprehensive insurance rather than the other driver's liability coverage. Your insurer will pay out your claim, then file its own claim with the other insurer to get the money back from them. Your insurer's subrogation department will usually also file a claim on your behalf with the other company to get any expenses you incur that aren't covered by your comprehensive coverage. That includes your deductible.

So you're on the hook for the deductible until the other company honors your claim. If the other company denies your claim, your insurance company will make you pay the deductible. Most of the time the other insurer will pay the deductible if it's clear their client was at fault. They pay it directly to your insurer, so you may never have to actually shell out any money. Some insurers will make you pay it, but then reimburse you when the other insurer reimburses them.

To the OP's question, if it were me, I would make the claim with the other driver's insurer, because you have a little more leverage when dealing with the other insurer rather than your own. If you do decide to file the claim with your own company, and they make you pay the deductible rather than filing a claim on your behalf, be sure to file a second claim with the other insurer to get that back. There's no reason why you should be out $500 because some stupid cow can't drive.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by dentalprodigy

I didn't exchange insurance information b/c other lady driver was yelling at me. So I avoided any contact and just waiting for the police. I'll pick up the police report next Wednesday which should have her information on it.

Always, ALWAYS exchange insurance information in any accident where you are thinking of doing insurance claim.. You are prolonging this situation unnecessarily because this info wasn't exchanged.

If for some reason the police report was missing her info, you're SOL'd out of your deductible.

-alex

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Always, ALWAYS exchange insurance information in any accident where you are thinking of doing insurance claim.. You are prolonging this situation unnecessarily because this info wasn't exchanged.

If for some reason the police report was missing her info, you're SOL'd out of your deductible.

-alex

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

There's no reason why you should be out $500 because some stupid cow can't drive.

But there is, because OP didn't exchange insurance info and is relying on the police to provide this...

-alex

[dentalprodigy]

I agree w/ every one exchanging insurance information. I feel stupid (rightfully so) for not doing it. I tried to ask the officer on scene for her insurance & he said that "it will be in the police report" and refused to show it to me. In the heat of the moment, w/ her yelling at me "what did youuuu doooo" "youuu sweurved in front of meeee" "i'm nottt payyyn for disss", banging on my window and just being belligerent I guess I got egoistic & locked myself in the car. At one point she even tried to open my car door. This is Newark & all and truthfully I was scared. She even called for "backup" or her "baii" ~20 mins into us being parked on the side of street. Then her tatted out "baii" parked his black chrome'd out GMC Envoy right behind my car. After that, I didn't feel safe engaging them in a civilized conversation. She dropped the tough guy act and put on quite a performance (waterworks & all) when the cops showed up. Honestly, the responding officer even seemed to side w/ her version of the story. I offered to show him my dashcam footage but said it's not needed. He kept saying "the damage coincides w/ her version of events" (that I swerved into her lane). The damage is on the left of my bumper b/c I'm guessing she turned the wheel while braking. idk I hope I don't f'd w/ the deductible.

Here's a rough edit of a rather tame part of the whole ordeal. I've got my last final tomorrow so I gotta cram. Maybe I'll update w/ a more complete vid later & update a resolution.

Lesson Learned is: GET INSURANCE

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by dentalprodigy

I agree w/ every one exchanging insurance information. I feel stupid (rightfully so) for not doing it. I tried to ask the officer on scene for her insurance & he said that "it will be in the police report" and refused to show it to me. In the heat of the moment, w/ her yelling at me "what did youuuu doooo" "youuu sweurved in front of meeee" "i'm nottt payyyn for disss", banging on my window and just being belligerent I guess I got egoistic & locked myself in the car. At one point she even tried to open my car door. This is Newark & all and truthfully I was scared. She even called for "backup" or her "baii" ~20 mins into us being parked on the side of street. Then her tatted out "baii" parked his black chrome'd out GMC Envoy right behind my car. After that, I didn't feel safe engaging them in a civilized conversation. She dropped the tough guy act and put on quite a performance (waterworks & all) when the cops showed up. Honestly, the responding officer even seemed to side w/ her version of the story. I offered to show him my dashcam footage but said it's not needed. He kept saying "the damage coincides w/ her version of events" (that I swerved into her lane). The damage is on the left of my bumper b/c I'm guessing she turned the wheel while braking. idk I hope I don't f'd w/ the deductible.

Here's a rough edit of a rather tame part of the whole ordeal. I've got my last final tomorrow so I gotta cram. Maybe I'll update w/ a more complete vid later & update a resolution.

Lesson Learned is: GET INSURANCE

That is not cool if they sided with her and made you at fault. It may not matter at all what her insurance is.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by dentalprodigy

I feel stupid (rightfully so) for not doing it.

Don't feel stupid, at least you have her plates.

This is an overview of what is needed for NJ:
http://www.all-about-car-accidents.c...ew-jersey.html

Long story short, make sure you proactively report this to your insurance and provide as much evidence as you can (if you are not at fault), or as little info as you are legally obligated to give (if you are at fault).

-alex

Edit: here's a good checklist of things to go over when in an accident. The key is to not discuss the details w/ the other party. http://imgur.com/F4X1TeW