Minor scratch on my car should I pay the deductible to fix it?

[Dazzling]

My husband was in a tiny fender bender about a week ago. He was backing out in front of a driveway as someone was turning in. The car behind him an older Jetta laid on their horn and my husband stopped but not in enough time. There was a tiny scuff ( no dent) to her car. Our car had the same damage (SUV). We agreed to fix our own cars but her tune has changed and now is claiming that her front bummer must be replaced and there is damage to the front bottom of her car. The estimate is approx.$700.00. She sound fishy so I decided to contact our insurance company and filed a claim. We told our insurance there is no need to repair our car since it was just a scuff. My insurance company stated if they don't fix my bummer and if I want it repaired in the future there will be a BETTERMENT CHARGE applied. Basically it's a percentage of the cost to repair my bummer if this type of accident happens in the future or if I'm hit from behind from an uninsured motorist. The only time I would NOT have to pay a percentage is if I'm hit from behind and the person who hit me is covered. It's then that their insurance company would cover the repair 100%.

Should I just fix my bummer and pay my deductable??

[clutchy]

no.


don't sweat the small things. If it bugs you fix it yourself. You only want to get insurance involved in things that are above your means, or would put a significant strain on you financially.


personally i think that other person is going to probably try and stick it to you. There's no police report, and you had a verbal agreement to take care of your own vehicles. Obviously this person doesn't want to do that anymore b/c the cost is more than they predicted. Either your insurance will consider it less of a headache to pay it or they won't and this person will go away. If they do pay out your rates will probably go up.

If you haven't already, call them and explain the verbal agreement and lack of a report b/c of this agreement.


you should be alright.

[mechmike0034]

I learned a couple of things after my Christmas Eve experience (http://www.gotapex.com/automotive-and-transportation/147445-my-formerly-pristine-ride.html)...

Always, always either call the cops or do whatever is necessary to get a police report filed immediately. I realize that many major municipalities won't send the police out for minor fender-benders, but documentation is everything...

If the other driver is at fault, get their insurance company on your cell phone right then and there, if possible. A valid-appearing insurance card can be in fact invalid.

Own a camera phone, or keep a throwaway film camera in your car. Take lots of pictures. Remember the old Arlo Guthrie "the approach, the getaway, the northwest corner, the southwest corner..."

Zabasearch is your friend - so are county and municipal tax records (which are public record and are internet-searchable in some instances).

I woudn't sweat your own bumper, personally. What are the chances of lightning striking the same place twice?

[Markel]

A while back my wife was visiting our daughter (helping her get moved into their new home). A kid across the street was playing around in his dad's car, took it out of park, and it rolled down and hit the driver's side door of our van. The dad was trying to sell the car (not driving it) and didn't have it on his insurance. He plead with my wife to just let him pay us for the repair rather than file an insurance claim. When my wife called me about all this, I told her to write up a statement for him to sign, claiming all responsibility for the accident (with all the vehicle details described) and agreeing to pay for the repairs. (She also took pictures.) I also told her to have two witnesses sign the statement (along with the guy). It ended up taking him a while (he was having some financial difficulties), but eventually he paid up the $1500 so we could get the van repaired (we were able to drive the van with the damage - it only interfered with the window not going all the way down).

[Napoleon54]

no.


don't sweat the small things. If it bugs you fix it yourself. You only want to get insurance involved in things that are above your means, or would put a significant strain on you financially.


personally i think that other person is going to probably try and stick it to you. There's no police report, and you had a verbal agreement to take care of your own vehicles. Obviously this person doesn't want to do that anymore b/c the cost is more than they predicted. Either your insurance will consider it less of a headache to pay it or they won't and this person will go away. If they do pay out your rates will probably go up.

If you haven't already, call them and explain the verbal agreement and lack of a report b/c of this agreement.


you should be alright.

I was in a very similar situation a couple years ago. A scratch on both vehicles, no police involvement, and we agreed it wasn't worth getting insurance involved either. Didn't even exchange info, just parted ways. Couple weeks later my insurance company calls up, says the other driver wrote down my license plate number and filed a claim against me. They paid ~$600 to have the guy's scratch fixed without any kind of investigation or proof that I was at fault. Just were calling to let me know what had happened after the fact. I was a bit pissed but didn't do anything about it because only claims >$1000 count against me. Didn't show up on my record, didn't affect my rate (at least not me personally/ directly- certainly a bunch of little stuff like that will add up over time and have an affect on all of their policy holders). Company was Progressive, btw.

[Dazzling]

Thanks everyone for your input. I greatly appreciate it!!
I have learned alot :)

[Sirrich3]

nope, don't get the insurance involved