Had a fender bender. Not saying who is at fault... but needless to say I'm looking for an alternate way of handling it, outside insurance costs.

I was expecting to see carnage. Couldn't find a single thing even touched on my vehicle initially. Then saw the rubber tail hitch cap was cut through. No damage otherwise.

The other vehicle... a gouge the shape of my hitch socket in his front fender. Cracked through.

His vehicle wasn't the newest or most amazing vehicle ever, but not super old, etc.

We took pics of each other's insurance cards, but forgot to exchange contact info!


With all the rat racing of the eclipse at ground zero... we parted ways and continued on. Then I got to thinking... Wish I had offered cash for it instead! And now no contact info to call him up.


I don't know for sure he'll even do a claim for sure... but probably will.



Any ideas on searching him up and getting contact info? Tried the obvious, like FB and some googling. Nothing yet.

Is it even a good idea to do this? I think he's also mil from a couple indicators, but I don't know him. If I gave him cash, what are the odds he'd still claim it for double win?

Is it even a good idea to attempt the cash method for this?

This seems like a bad idea. 

From a legal standpoint, this sounds like a bad idea, unless you DOCUMENT and get some kind of signed contract saying that he accepts payment for the incident and will not seek further payment AND a receipt.

Even then it sounds like a horrible idea.

I was in a fender bender a while back, girl pulled out in front of me and it beat up the bumper on my beater Escort, I never filed a claim. Her insurance company actually called me and asked me why I hadn't lol.

I know, but I'd rather not have my rates go up.

This method often works well for both parties, if they'd rather have cash rather than an expensive as hell repair on an older vehicle and to deal with an insurance company.

Unless you have several recent claims, it shouldn't raise your claims OP..I would let the insurance cover it..not worth the risk of them taking money from you and then turning around and filling a claim anyways......

I understand why. That still doesn't make it a good idea to give a stranger cash like that. 

It does suck. I had to file a $1700 claim with a $500 deductible last winter. My rate went up $250/year

Ugh. Is that $250 extra every 6 months? Year?

And is it every 6mo/1yr?

I don't know if it counts directly, but one other claim in quite a while. Deer ran into the side of my Jeep, on like the fourth day I had it... Wasn't cheap to fix. So they might be mad about that still...

Year. 

Are you young? thats the only time I have seen rates raised for one or two claims in a few years time period...of course I am not an agent either....Regardless, I would still let the insurance handle it..thats the whole reason for having it in the first place...

hang on.  You said you wont say who is at fault.  You have damage on your hitch cover, and he has damage on his fender.  So.... You backed into him?

Do you have an insurance broker? I have one that deals with all my different policies. She's the person I'd call for that type of question without having to ask the insurance company, like a bit of a buffer. 

Obviously 

Its going to be cheaper to pay the increased insurance rate than give fair value on a repair.

Body work and paint match isn't cheap.

Let insurance deal with it.

Doesn't matter now. I was hoping he wouldn't claim it. Small hope. Got a call from his insurance today though.

I gave my basic info, but figured giving the requested statement for them to record was a bad idea. I'll talk to my company when they call.


As far as not admitting fault on here... but it was really windy that day! Anything could have happened.

Ya, had no idea his little car snuck in right up behind me. Didn't even sue the backup camera. I guess the lesson is, besides not assuming and being cautious, is don't drive for 14 hours, then sleep for 2 hours, then drive again rushing, among a ton of others rushing.