Truck got backed into while parked...insurance questions.

[The motor guy]

Here's a thought. Since the truck seems fine other than the scratched bumper. Why not just have the trash company just cut me a check for like $300 and I'll live with it as is? That will cover any devaluation of the truck and any possible insurance hikes since it went on a police report. There's no way I'm taking it to a body shop for something I can probably fix up myself. The truck will sit at the body shop for 3 weeks most likely, that's not going to happen. This is the whole reason why I drive an older vehicle. Something stupid like this happens and then you have to live with it on a $100k truck for the next 10 years.

 

[Propflux01]

"I figure at the very least they could pay for an alignment and a new lower front bumper" All that alone will be way over $300. They will most likely just flash a check for the damages. Whether you fix it or not is up to you. But take more than the $300 your thinking of.

 

[The motor guy]

"I figure at the very least they could pay for an alignment and a new lower front bumper" All that alone will be way over $300. They will most likely just flash a check for the damages. Whether you fix it or not is up to you. But take more than the $300 your thinking of.

You think I can just work something out with the garbage company and not include their insurance? That's what I'd prefer. I just hope I didn't hurt myself with insurance rates rising moving forward. I kind of have a feeling they wanted a police report regardless though, because the supervisor was like I called the cops when he got there like 45 minutes later and the cop already left. lol I apologize for all the questions, but i've never had the police involved for a fender bender and i've been driving over 20 years. I have however avoided numerous near wrecks and close calls over the years. I've been lucky.

 

[Owen Lucas]

If the garbage company puts in a claim with their insurance company it'll show up on the carfax more than likely. I have experience with this.

The police report is where CarFax or Auto Check will correlate this accidents information with your vehicle. Insurance company estimating system such as CCC or the body shop / mechanic can also share data with Carfax and Auto Check.

I honestly don't see me getting anything from a 6inch gouge in a bumper. It's on the bottom section where they put that cheap chrome junk looks like like crap after 10 years unless you buff it shiny regularly which I don't. Theyll just laugh at me if someone comes out I bet

That chrome piece and bumper repair labor, alignment, and whatever chip ding or scratch on the fender can be some serious Christmas $$$. I am an insurance auto damage estimator and I write these checks all day.

Your insurance technically shouldn't go up because you aren't filing through it, but the insurance companies might find out based on their data collections systems if the garbage truck goes through their own insurance Claims Liability Underwriting Exchange. The police report probably will be found by the CLUE reporting system as well, so there is no undoing this event. It is possible that the trucking company can pay out of pocket but I doubt it.

Make a claim and take the money. Call the ins co and have an adjuster come out to your house to write a field estimate. He'll probably low ball you and write for recycled parts and a 2 wheel alignment. If he tries to low ball you really bad let me know. Post a pic and I'll give you an idea.

The truck will sit at the body shop for 3 weeks most likely, that's not going to happen.

With a drivable truck, the body shop would order parts and call you once they are in. If there is no paint work they'll probably have it done in a day or 2.

 

[The motor guy]

The police report is where CarFax or Auto Check will correlate this accidents information with your vehicle. Insurance company estimating system such as CCC or the body shop / mechanic can also share data with Carfax and Auto Check.



That chrome piece and bumper repair labor, alignment, and whatever chip ding or scratch on the fender can be some serious Christmas $$$. I am an insurance auto damage estimator and I write these checks all day.

Your insurance technically shouldn't go up because you aren't filing through it, but the insurance companies might find out based on their data collections systems if the garbage truck goes through their own insurance Claims Liability Underwriting Exchange. The police report probably will be found by the CLUE reporting system as well, so there is no undoing this event. It is possible that the trucking company can pay out of pocket but I doubt it.

Make a claim and take the money. Call the ins co and have an adjuster come out to your house to write a field estimate. He'll probably low ball you and write for recycled parts and a 2 wheel alignment. If he tries to low ball you really bad let me know. Post a pic and I'll give you an idea.


With a drivable truck, the body shop would order parts and call you once they are in. If there is no paint work they'll probably have it done in a day or 2.

It's literally just an 8" scratch/indentation on the corner of the lower chrome part of the front bumper. That's it. No paint damage or anything. There is paint damage, but not from this incident. So I can just take the money and not worry about fixing it? I thought they quit doing that and only cut a check to the body shop.

 

[Owen Lucas]

It's literally just an 8" scratch/indentation on the corner of the lower chrome part of the front bumper. That's it. No paint damage or anything. There is paint damage, but not from this incident

Is this chrome part metal and part of the face bar, like the entire front bumper or is this a trim piece?

If the main chromed bumper is damaged, there is no repairing it and you are owed a front bumper and labor. Throw in the alignment and any damage to the sidewall of the tire and wheel.

 

[The motor guy]

Is this chrome part metal and part of the face bar, like the entire front bumper or is this a trim piece?

If the main chromed bumper is damaged, there is no repairing it and you are owed a front bumper and labor. Throw in the alignment and any damage to the sidewall of the tire and wheel.

Sent you a pm

 

[Propflux01]

You think I can just work something out with the garbage company and not include their insurance? That's what I'd prefer. I just hope I didn't hurt myself with insurance rates rising moving forward. I kind of have a feeling they wanted a police report regardless though, because the supervisor was like I called the cops when he got there like 45 minutes later and the cop already left. lol I apologize for all the questions, but i've never had the police involved for a fender bender and i've been driving over 20 years. I have however avoided numerous near wrecks and close calls over the years. I've been lucky.

Doesn’t hurt to talk to them. They may do the old school “3 estimates” thing and go from there. Police are usually involved to protect people from “small dents becoming much larger”. Even if it’s insurance, chances are they would just send an estimator, cut you a check and it’s done. Since you’re keeping the vehicle, and its age, anything that may show on a carfax is irrelevant.

 

[The motor guy]

Doesn’t hurt to talk to them. They may do the old school “3 estimates” thing and go from there. Police are usually involved to protect people from “small dents becoming much larger”. Even if it’s insurance, chances are they would just send an estimator, cut you a check and it’s done. Since you’re keeping the vehicle, and its age, anything that may show on a carfax is irrelevant.

I'm waiting for them to call. I wouldn't be surprised if they never did lol I'll probably have to call them.

 

[Propflux01]

I'm waiting for them to call. I wouldn't be surprised if they never did lol I'll probably have to call them.

More than likely you will.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Depends on your state laws. Illinois they would be responsible for 80% of the damages. Your company may have to sue.

Where did you get this info? I worked Illinois claims and unless something has changed I believe you’re misinformed.

 

[burbguy82]

in cases like this, the first one to report gets the worms.

Suppose you never reported it, but the garbage guy did report it.....he could say that you hit him.

in short, it is always better to report, if their is another car or witness involved.

Without 3rd party witnesses, it would be your word against his, and if you do not report, then you have something to hide.

 

[The motor guy]

in cases like this, the first one to report gets the worms.

Suppose you never reported it, but the garbage guy did report it.....he could say that you hit him.

in short, it is always better to report, if their is another car or witness involved.

Without 3rd party witnesses, it would be your word against his, and if you do not report, then you have something to hide.

That's why I got the police report. So do I call their insurance directly or start with the garbage company?

 

[burbguy82]

That's why I got the police report. So do I call their insurance directly or start with the garbage company?

That is up to you. I am sure that the company does not want anything going on their insurance. Of course, extortion is a crime also. You also must consider retaliation..........I am assuming that this garbage company picks up you trash? No law says they have to, so they could just cancel your trash pickup and tell you to get lost.

Call who you want, but think about it greatly, before you pick a fight.

 

[Nukeman7]

Also be aware that since you only have liability and no collision coverage on the vehicle, your insurance company has no legal obligation to represent you in a claim against the other insurance company. I had a bad experience in 2021 where I was the victim of a hit and run where my insurance company said they could not pursue subrogation on my behalf because I did not have collision coverage on the seldom driven, 24 year old, beater vehicle.

Fortunately, I had 3rd party witnesses and the police retrieved traffic cam video evidence that identified the liable party (who lied to their insurance company and said I ran the stoplight). In the end, I had to do all the legwork (e.g., submit police report with witness statements and provide video evidence) to the other insurance company to get a settlement two months later.

 

[Arch Stanton]

You did the correct thing in calling the police to report the incident. Now it is up to you to work out with the garbage company how you get compensated. My guess is depending on how much it costs will determine if they turn it over to their insurance company. I worked for a underground construction contractor and occasionally vehicles parked in the area we were working would get damaged. Depending on the amount of the claim would determine if the owner would turn it over to his insurance company or not. I wouldn't sit and wait for them to contact you. More than likely you will have to get the ball rolling.

 

[SHOZ]

That's retarded. Even in a case like mine where I didn't do anything wrong?

Where did you get this info? I worked Illinois claims and unless something has changed I believe you’re misinformed.

It happened to me back in the 90s. Had liability insurance for me. Guy backed into me in a parking lot. His company paid out 80% after I filed a claim with them.

 

[zzyzzx]

I just think at the time I went a little overboard, because now it will probably show the truck is wrecked on carfax etc.

So what. It's 17 years old and unless you get it fixed at a shop it isn't going on CarFax anyway.

 

[Pew]

I just think at the time I went a little overboard, because now it will probably show the truck is wrecked on carfax etc.

One of my cars had like 6 insurance claims on it. I think only 1 or 2 came up on Carfax and none of those were the bigger claims either (hail and I think one curb smack were the only ones that showed up.) You might get lucky too.

 

[SHOZ]

The car I got hit in was a salvage title. The guy who backed into me was from out of state and had expired plates. The store did not want to call the cops. I had the guy blocked though so they relented as it was blocking up the parking lot too.

And he gave me a different insurance company than what he gave the police. Good thing they told me or I would have been out 100% as I was the one to contact the hitters insurance company and filed the claim.