Important Car Accident/Insurance Question?? Advice Please!!

[seven_of_nineski]

This afternoon I was hit from behind by a car while I was at a stop light. It was not a big accident; my back bumper is just slightly damaged. I am a Nanny and was in a car with the three girls I watch. When I called my boss to tell her about the accident she made me report the accident to the police and so I filed a report. Later in the afternoon I was contacted by the insurance company of the lady who hit me (AllState), but I was unable to talk at the time so they are calling me tomorrow.

I was hoping to not contact my insurance agency (GEICO), as I do not want my rates to go up. At the same time I want to make sure that the insurance company of the lady that hit me pays the full amount to get my car fixed. Do you think that her insurance company will try to contact mine? They could easily get my insurance information from the accident report. Is there any way to avoid telling my insurance company or is that stupid? I was researching car accidents on-line and it said to not talk to the insurance company of the person that hit you because they will try to find a way to blame you and avoiding paying out.

The bottom line is I don’t want my rates to go up, but I want my car damage to be taken care of. By the way, I live in Florida which is a no-fault state.

 

[tharpdevenport]

You don't have to tell your company, the other person was at fault. Is your state like mine (Florida) where if you hit somebody from behind, you're automatically at fault? If "Yes", don't talk about it to the other person's insurance company. Let them take care of the repairs to your vehicle.
If the other driver admitted fault, if your insurance company contacts you, just tell them the driver hit you, admitted fault, and you've contacted the other driver's inruance agency. YOU didn't cause an accident, you didn't damage another vehicle, you didn't cause damage to property (right?). You've done nothing to have your rates raised.
At some point they might contact your insurace agency, but since you were not at fault, I don't see why you would have to.

Some states require (and some insurance agencies) that accidents are reported to the police, and indeed if an officer feels inclined, he can ticket you for fleaing the scene of a crime.

 

[Captain Ice]

You don't have to contact your insurance company if you don't want to on this.

However, I doubt your rates would go up if you did contact your agent and let him/her know you were rear-ended and the other driver admitted fault. Believe it or not, getting your insurance company involved might save you some headache.

About 8 years ago, I was rear ended while stopped at a light. When the light turned green, the driver in the car behind me didn't notice that I did not take off right away, and he smacked my bumper. His insurance company (Geico) would not talk to me. They would not even look at the car for three weeks. Then there were problems getting them to adjust the estimate (the bumper supports were damaged). What finally got the issue resolved, so I was told, was my insurance company (State Farm) telling Geico that if they didn't get this resolved immediately, they'd do the exact same thing to Geico customers that Geico was doing to me.

The adjustment was made and the claim paid the next day.

 

[Captain_Nick]

However, I doubt your rates would go up if you did contact your agent and let him/her know you were rear-ended and the other driver admitted fault. Believe it or not, getting your insurance company involved might save you some headache.

This

The other driver was at fault. Your insurers should be able to make a full recovery from the third party's insurer. There is no reason for your premium to increase as a result of this accident.

 

[Jan]

I'm in Florida and was rear-ended at a light a few years ago. I reported it to my insurance agency and my rates didn't go up because the other person was at fault. The advantage to having your agency involved is that if the other insurance is balking at paying, your company will go to bat for you.

Jan

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Yeah, you won't be penalized considering the accident wasn't in any conceivable way your fault, so don't hesitate to call GEICO. That's who I use and they're really helpful in cases like this.

 

[seven_of_nineski]

Thanks guys! I appreciate all of your advice. Everything worked out...AllState took care of me and I got my bumper fixed, and no increased premium from Geico.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I'm happy for you.

I think what gets me is that, in today's day and age, when someone hits someone else with their car, the biggest concern... the concern that comes to someone's head is all this insurance crap. Sure, many people do care about whether everyone is O.K, but even they don't vocalize it, they are concerned about the insurance stuff. I'm just as guilty of this as everyone else. It's just the mindset this "let's sue them" country has brought upon us.

 

[joeysmith]

Your car insurance company will not increase your rates unless they have to pay out a claim to you, it’s best to get them involved right away to make this entire process easier on yourself.