Fender Bender Advice...
 

I was coming home yesterday, stopped at a red left turn signal, and some woman in an early 90's GMC Pickup rear ended me. It was a very slight bump, and the damage is extremely minimal. I tried taking pictures, but the pictures can't even show the damage. Theres a very slight dent just left of the license plate, which can only be seen when you are really looking at it, and some of the plastic on the bumper is finally scratched.

My question, should I get a quote, and try to have her pay out of her pocket? Should I get my insurance involved (I'm 20, my insurance is pretty high as it is) or should I just let it go?

I'm pretty pissed off, but it actually isn't that bad. I think she should pay, but I am not sure it's worth my hassle. What do you guys think?

BTW it is a Velocity Red. I thought for sure I was safe! :nono:

I would go to a body shop that you trust and get an estimate and see if the other driver is willing to pay it. If she baulks at paying it, report a claim and have your insurance company pursue her. The damage might be minor but the styrofoam absorber under the outer cover might me damaged as well. Even a bumper scratch is going to run $500

Have her insurance pay. Does she have insurance? Dont let her pay outta pocket. She may not have it.

Sorry about your unfortunate run in. I had my 8 for only one day before I got hit by a flying metal hub cap that was run over by the car in front of me. The hub cap hit my front bumper, lower bumper facia and grill which caused $1,300 in damage.

My insurance company sent me a letter after the adjuster paid a visit to the house and approved the estimate I submitted.

As posted above, I too would pursue the indiviual who hit you and provide the estimate and if they balk, go file a claim.

When other drivers are negligent or careless, I do not see why I should do them any favours by letting them pay out of their own pocket. Their rates *SHOULD* go up and maybe they will learn and spare the next victim.

If the claim was $500 and they wanted to pay me $800 so they could avoid their rates going up, then that's a different story - I get to make $300 for all the aggravation.

your insurance will not go up, because it is not you fault and you can't stop people rear ended your car. just bring it to a body shop and get the estimate, and talk to her about the cost, if she don't want to pay, than deal it through you insurance.

actually your insurance can go up if you are hit (even if it is not your fault) - they check to see if you are just "prone" to getting in accidents - so if you are involved in 2 or 3 accidents that are not your fault - your rates will probably go up - they assume you are a bad driver and causing people to run into you -

take it through her insurance - and stay away from yours unless her insurance is giving you the run-around

First off this is not an "your fault" accident.
Does this person "that hit you" not have insurance?
You should go directly to this insurance company and demand satisfaction.
Dont forget inconvienence,your rental car while your car is being fixed,
and any and all pain and suffering from your injury's.
Dont let them talk you into signing any settlement without talking to a lawyer (free).
Now go get'em,, and take no prisoners!

She does have insurance, however it is Van Buerden Insurance (Which I've never heard of). I am honestly afraid of my insurance rates increasing or, not much worse, not decreasing. I was in an at fault accident exactly 3 years ago, my insurance renews in a month, and i figured it'd probably go down since i have not had any other at-fault accidents or tickets in 3 years.

Another problem is I don't know any body shops at all in the area. So should I just call her insurance first, or should I really just get an estimate first? Thanks for all the help everyone, you all are awesome!

We were just rearended tonight. We called our insurance company to report it and gave them the information for the other person that hit us. They told us to take it to a body shop to get it fixed. We are also pursuing a "diminished value" claim on it since it is only a month old. We just need to find out the extent of the damage first and what needs to be done to fix it.

About 10 years ago my mom and stepdad were rearended in a four-day-old vehicle. The damage didn't look too severe from the outside but the frame was twisted, so it was listed as totaled and they got a brand new replacement vehicle because of diminished value. The insurance company took possession of the damaged car, rebuilt it, and sold it at a reduced price.

I would go after the insurance and file a claim. Virtually all the time, you can't control who rearends you. It's not your fault, especially if you were stopped.