Confused for Filing Claim for 2nd Accident

[bhushansethi]

Hi,
I bought my first car 1997 Camry in March 2012. I added my wife in insurance in July 2012. She did her first accident while changing lanes on instruction permit (she was on fault) I claimed to insurance and I know that next year my insurance will go up.

Now yesterday in hard raining, car ahead of me suddenly stopped, i tried to apply breaks, still got hit in front car. So technically I am at fault. My car's estimate is ~800$ His car's is 400$
So I am very confused here to file this to insurance or pay by myself. I've heared that insuarnce incearse a lot in 2nd accident claim. Will weather conditions at that time help me to not raise the claim ( if i file) or I should not filed at all..

I am very confused here please Help !!

 

[xrac]

Pay the other driver $400. Drive you car as is or patch it up. With two accidents in 6 months I would think your rates would go out the roof or you would be canceled. The way you described the accident you could have been ticketed for following too close to avoid and accident. You probably need to look at your tires. Slick tires or tires with thin tread (less than 4/32nds) will give you limited stopping ability on wet roads.

 

[djs]

It depends on the state, you should talk to your agent.

If you are in CA (the estimates are way to low, so I know your not), I would have the insurance company pay to fix his car and then go ahead and pay to fix my own car. Several reasons for this.

$400 is under the threshold in many states for it to be rated as an at-fault accident. Again though, this is state specific, can't answer this exactly. On your car, I assume either you have liability only, so your policy won't pay to fix your car, or, you have a $500 deductible, so it doesn't cover much.

Now, I'm assuming these are not body shop estimates so you might want to double check the numbers first.

Dan

 

[bhushansethi]

I am in WA.
Probably I'll have exact estimate for other party and mine tomorrow(Monday). But I think it would be more than thresh hold of 700$
There's one more thing that I clicked in my mind - Can I file this claim with my wife's name that she was driving and I am not. Most probably other party will be agree to report the same. And next year if I remove her from my insurance. Will that help me for not to increase the premium ?

 

[Norwayguy]

I am in WA.
Probably I'll have exact estimate for other party and mine tomorrow(Monday). But I think it would be more than thresh hold of 700$
There's one more thing that I clicked in my mind - Can I file this claim with my wife's name that she was driving and I am not. Most probably other party will be agree to report the same. And next year if I remove her from my insurance. Will that help me for not to increase the premium ?

So committing fraud is not a concern of yours?

 

[xrac]

So committing fraud is not a concern of yours?

Sounds like that ethics don't go very far in this situation.

 

[djs]

Not sure about WA, but in CA, you are better off reporting the accident as it happened. One accident per driver isn't terrible, 2 accidents on one driver is a rating nightmare.

Besides, honesty is always the best approach.

Dan

 

[bhushansethi]

Thanks for your responses I'll file claim by my name if I'll file.
Now I have more data - My car's estimate is 1200$ (I have 500$ deductible) I have mechanic friend who can patch up my car for 300$.
Other party's car's estimate is : 750$ to 1100$ They will get to know after opening bumper.
Now I am more confused To take claim or not. Please Help!!

Another thing he told me that I file claim only for his car and not for my car my insurance will not go up. Is this true ?

 

[FullAuto]

File the claim. Once the bumper cover is removed on the car you hit, the bill will likely increase. The same damage will cost more money if the shop knows an individual is paying for it instead of an insurance company. Most will charge higher labor rates and you'll almost without a doubt be charged for all new OEM parts when your insurance may repair with aftermarket, reman or recycled parts.

When someone has an estimate from a shop already when I show up, I usually pay closer to 70% of their total amount. Your insurance is there to protect you in cases like this. Use them.

 

[bhushansethi]

Thanks All for useful suggestions and information.
It helped me to take the decision.

I am filing claim to insurance and will get repairs from them.