Coming home from Austin I got into a fender bender (i rear ended some on during the stop and go period of heavy traffic, maybe i followed too close and couldn't stop in the time) on the way home. I took pictures of the damage (though there wasn't too much on his car). In honesty, his damage wasn't even noticeable and I wanted to settle without the insurance company but he's gun ho on getting an insurance estimate. We exchanged information and since it was a minor accident, my mom said the cops typically come even if you called them and I left. Just a few questions about what I need to watch out for in case he's trying to screw me. Because honestly, the damage wasn't even noticeable on his car, he even said something along the lines "yeah it's probably not gonna be expensive to fix, but maybe it'd be a lot after insurance company looks at it". I think he's trying to milk me for money so I was just wondering what I should do in this situation.
Dude you are stone cold ****ed. You should have clubbed him over the head and high tailed it while you had the chance.
LOL, it was I - 10 traffic right infront where the 3 lanes becomes one lane (katy area). I don't think it's possible for me to run and his whole family was in the car. What pisses me off is that there's no way his damage is going to be more than the 500 deductible so it'd make so much more sense to settle with the insurance comapnies (especially since the little bump he's gonna get in his insurance might actually be more than what I'll end up paying in damages). I took pictures so I guess it's ok, but man I'd be pissed if he tries to pull a fast one.
It is good to get it checked out. Sometimes there is more damage than just to the body of the car. Just hope that he and his entire family don't take you to court all wearing neckbraces.
Well considering I rear ended him and he's driving a truck, I think it's highly unlikely that his car could be having major problems. My front is little messed up so I'm gonna take it to a mechanic tommorow. The frevolous lawsuits are what will worry me, but I'd love to see him try and sue me for medical damage for an < 2 mph accident. Gladly counter sue him for court cost and time expenses. Hopefully he'd be rational and realize settling with out insurance company is the best route but you never know.
Digital pictures might not be admissible in court. Whenever you're taking pics for legal purposes, a Polaroid is the most reliable.
Not saying that it happened to him or anyone in that car but, it is possible to get a whiplash injury by being hit from behind at a very low speed, even as low as you mentioned. Of course, chances are much greater at higher speeds.
Let me tell you what happend to me once. I did the same thing you did a while back (minor bump to someone's rear bumper) Did not want insurance to get involved and did not call the cops. They came back and told my stupid insurance company someone was hurt in the accident and charged who knows how much for medical trements. The driver was a woman and the patient was a man!! My stupid insurance company didn't even bother to check with me and paid out the money and raised my rates big time. From then on, I always call the cops no matter what.
If it were up to me, I'd rather work with the person's insurance company than an individual 100% of the time.
I rear ended someone like that where you know the damage isn't bad to his car or, in my case, truck. I hit a truck with a Volkswagen van and it crumpled the front of my van like tin foil and no visible signs of damage were apparent to his bumper. My Dad took the same approach as your trying to take...get an estimate and leave the insurance out of it. This guy that was hit was even a friend of my brother's. So, he went out and got the most expensive estimate he could claiming there was a hairline fracture in the steel bumper(cough...bullcowpie). But, we still settled it without insurance and, luckily, the cops didn't show up. It was pretty funny driving the crumpled van home though. The headlights were pointed at a 45 degree angle down. We ended up pushing out the front end with a jack. Those Volkswagen vans are tin foil crap.
I had 2 claims in 1 year and my insurance rates sky-rocketed. Just be careful for the next 3 years or so. He probably will try and milk your insurance company. This is Texas.
Actually I am going to be a biomedical engineer. (biomechanics) I guess, later on I can go on to be a PI lawyer.
Yeah, I think he might try that crap with the insurance company. I took like 5 pictures of the bumper with my phone, even though I don't know how much legal weight it has, it should still pull some weight in case i get into a pissing match with his insurance company. If he did try to get some medical bills out of this then it'd still sucks, but I'll just have to live with the higher insurance rate (as well he) and let my insurance do the battles for me. Pirc, the reason I didn't wait for the cops is because they just don't show up to these minor accidents anymore, I think 2 people I know were in that situation, called, waited and the cops never came.
I ask because I didnt think your insurance went up if it was the other persons fault.. If my insurance wouldn't go up, I'd rather deal with the insurance company too instead of the individual. A lot less of a hassle then trying to collect from the individual sometimes I'd thik
It goes up. In the insurance's mind, you could've avoided the wreck. Pretty stupid reasoning, but it will go up.
Not neccessarily true. I've been rear-ended twice and have never had my rates affected by either of them
