Yesterday in a parking garage in LA, I nicked a bumper of a Subaru as I was rounding a corner in a parking garage (their car was stationary, nobody was in it). I left a note with my name & cell number, explaining what I did and where the damage was. I did take a couple of pics.
I’m not sure what my next steps should be. I’d like some recommendations.
I’m wondering if we can get out of this without reporting it to insurance. Problem is, my deductible is only $500, and I’m pretty sure if the owner wants to replace it, it would cost a ton more. If that's the case, I'd definitely want to report it. Are there other options I could lobby for from the owner, instead of replacing the bumper?
At any rate, because this was a parking garage in a harbor, it could be a week or two or three before the owner even comes back to the car. I’m not sure if insurance companies have requirements about how soon you have to report something.
Last time I reported a claim to my home insurance, it was denied, but it was still on my record as a “claim,” and other insurance companies told me that they wouldn’t take me as a home customer until x years had passed after the last claim. So I’d rather not have this on my record if I’m going to settle privately with the driver anyways, but on the other hand like I said, I don’t know if there is a time frame that the insurance company (Mercury) wants to hear about it, before refusing to pay.
Finally, assuming we do settle without reporting, should I have the owner of the car sign some statement to the effect that they will release me from any further damages, upon payment of the money that I’ll give them?
I have settled without reporting once before when someone hit me. It was actually a very smooth experience. I've never had to talk about this possibility when I've been the one at fault.
I’ll post the pics later on today.
I’m not sure what my next steps should be. I’d like some recommendations.
I’m wondering if we can get out of this without reporting it to insurance. Problem is, my deductible is only $500, and I’m pretty sure if the owner wants to replace it, it would cost a ton more. If that's the case, I'd definitely want to report it. Are there other options I could lobby for from the owner, instead of replacing the bumper?
At any rate, because this was a parking garage in a harbor, it could be a week or two or three before the owner even comes back to the car. I’m not sure if insurance companies have requirements about how soon you have to report something.
Last time I reported a claim to my home insurance, it was denied, but it was still on my record as a “claim,” and other insurance companies told me that they wouldn’t take me as a home customer until x years had passed after the last claim. So I’d rather not have this on my record if I’m going to settle privately with the driver anyways, but on the other hand like I said, I don’t know if there is a time frame that the insurance company (Mercury) wants to hear about it, before refusing to pay.
Finally, assuming we do settle without reporting, should I have the owner of the car sign some statement to the effect that they will release me from any further damages, upon payment of the money that I’ll give them?
I have settled without reporting once before when someone hit me. It was actually a very smooth experience. I've never had to talk about this possibility when I've been the one at fault.
I’ll post the pics later on today.