Mine or Theirs?

[TheeGoatPig]

I got into an auto collision on my drive home the other night. When slowing down for the traffic in front of me, I got rear-ended by another driver. The bumper isn't structural anymore, there is a dent in the side panel, and something underneath in the drive train is making more noise than before.

Today I stopped off at my insurance agent to file a claim, and I was given the option of filing through my insurance or theirs. I have no idea what the pros and cons of either choice are, and was wondering why I would file through one company or the other? Which one do you think is the better way to go?

 

[epiphany65]

as far as I know, if someone hits you from behind it's always their fault (unless you're backing up) so their insurance should pay. Don't file through yours 'cause your payments will go up -- all for something that wasn't your fault. Good luck.

 

[cloudy]

Ask your agent. That would seem like the wise thing to do.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Ask your agent. That would seem like the wise thing to do.

I did. She wasn't helpful with that question...

 

[Saucy_Sage]

I did. She wasn't helpful with that question...

If she won't answer a simple question like, "what will be the likely effect on my premiums of filing a claim with my own insurance company?" you need another agent. An agent is supposed to be working for you.

 

[tickledkitty]

I did. She wasn't helpful with that question...

I think I might reconsider using that agent in the future. Any agent I've ever dealt with was very helpful in that regard. I even had one stay on the phone with me and sort of coach me once when I was in a fender bender with a neighbor. He was afraid I was being bullied into admitting guilt.

 

[jomar]

Really. Ask your agent to find out or put you through to someone else for an answer. I think epiphany has it right - it's their fault, their insurance should pay. You might even have whiplash and emotional suffering to boot!

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Really. Ask your agent to find out or put you through to someone else for an answer. I think epiphany has it right - it's their fault, their insurance should pay. You might even have whiplash and emotional suffering to boot!

I'm not going to start inflating injuries to get a higher payout. It's just not in me.

 

[R. Richard]

I did. She wasn't helpful with that question...

If you want help, just call the main office of your insurance company. They'll get you help.

By the way, what was posted about the outher guy being responsible in a rear end collision is true. In fact, in the 'chain reaction' collisions where a car slams into the rear car of a line and everyone is pushed into the car ahead, each driver has to sue the guy behind them, not the guy who caused the problem.

 

[CharleyH]

I got into an auto collision on my drive home the other night. When slowing down for the traffic in front of me, I got rear-ended by another driver. The bumper isn't structural anymore, there is a dent in the side panel, and something underneath in the drive train is making more noise than before.

Today I stopped off at my insurance agent to file a claim, and I was given the option of filing through my insurance or theirs. I have no idea what the pros and cons of either choice are, and was wondering why I would file through one company or the other? Which one do you think is the better way to go?

A little bump in the ass and you're worried?

 

[jomar]

I'm not going to start inflating injuries to get a higher payout. It's just not in me.

That's good to know, but I was just kidding anyway.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

That's good to know, but I was just kidding anyway.

You should have seen the unedited reply where I didn't take that into account

(and smilies help internet jokes ten-fold )

 

[Zeb_Carter]

If you have already talked to you insurer and want them to handle the claim, it's called subrogation (sp?), they will handle everything and get you the money for the damage from the person at fault insurance company.

I was once in a situation where the other driver claimed I was at fault even though he hit me. I talked to my insurance company and they handled everything and I had a check from the other insurance company in a matter of days.

So YES you want to file against the other company.

 

[jomar]

You should have seen the unedited reply where I didn't take that into account

(and smilies help internet jokes ten-fold )

Ha! I wondered if the '!' would suffice.

 

[3113]

By the way, what was posted about the outher guy being responsible in a rear end collision is true. In fact, in the 'chain reaction' collisions where a car slams into the rear car of a line and everyone is pushed into the car ahead, each driver has to sue the guy behind them, not the guy who caused the problem.

Um, not in all cases. A reckless driver hit a parked car that hit my parked car and mine hit another parked car (no one in any of the parked cars, they were all parked at a curb for the night). Everyone filed a claim with the reckless driver's insurance, not with the insurance of the cars parked behind them.

And we had our insurance pay for the damages and go after recouping the money from the reckless drivers insurance rather than waiting for reckless driver's insurance to pay up--which they did.

 

[SweetWitch]

I did. She wasn't helpful with that question...

Your agent is worthless. Find another.

I got into an auto collision on my drive home the other night. When slowing down for the traffic in front of me, I got rear-ended by another driver. The bumper isn't structural anymore, there is a dent in the side panel, and something underneath in the drive train is making more noise than before.

Today I stopped off at my insurance agent to file a claim, and I was given the option of filing through my insurance or theirs. I have no idea what the pros and cons of either choice are, and was wondering why I would file through one company or the other? Which one do you think is the better way to go?

If you file the claim with your company, they will do all the work of chasing down the other party. They work for you, take care of all the extra work and leave your hands free to live your life.

If you file with their company, it leaves yours out of the mix and no reports are on your own insurance.

Check with your company to see if it will raise your rates. If you have a good record, it shouldn't effect your rates at all. If you do, and it does, it's not a very good company.

Find a reputable body shop that will back their work 100% for as long as you own the car. Talk to people, get feedback. Word of mouth is always the best way to go.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Your agent is worthless. Find another.



If you file the claim with your company, they will do all the work of chasing down the other party. They work for you, take care of all the extra work and leave your hands free to live your life.

If you file with their company, it leaves yours out of the mix and no reports are on your own insurance.

Check with your company to see if it will raise your rates. If you have a good record, it shouldn't effect your rates at all. If you do, and it does, it's not a very good company.

Find a reputable body shop that will back their work 100% for as long as you own the car. Talk to people, get feedback. Word of mouth is always the best way to go.

Best of luck to you.

Amy just told me that even if you go with the other company they share info among each other. So if your company is going to raise your rates, they will have the info and can do it regardless. She also said that many insurance policies REQIRE notifcation if there is an accident and you could be subject to cancellation if you don't notify them.

 

[SweetWitch]

Amy just told me that even if you go with the other company they share info among each other. So if your company is going to raise your rates, they will have the info and can do it regardless. She also said that many insurance policies REQIRE notifcation if there is an accident and you could be subject to cancellation if you don't notify them.

I think the requirement rule has more to do with state regulation. One would have to find out about the laws of the state one lives in.

Reports are always shared, but only if one's company goes looking for the information. This is usually only done when one makes changes to the policy. It's not necessarily a given. Owing to rules of liability, it should not raise Thee's rates, unless he is high-risk. Even then, they would have to show due cause. He is not at fault. The person behind him that failed to control his/her vehicle is the one at fault. For that reason alone, his rates should not be endangered.