Yesterday I was in a multi-car accident, it was the other drivers fault. The other driver was a contractor for Red Express. While we were filing the police report, he stated his employer would call and likely want to handle this incident without using insurance and I need some guidance. The gentleman called and left a voice mail but before calling him back I want to be clear on how this should be handled.

 

Anyone have experience with this time of scenario?

Let the insurance handle it.

Too many things could go wrong.

 

Unless, you just want the cash...

I'd go through insurance.

Yesterday I was in a multi-car accident, it was the other drivers fault. The other driver was a contractor for Red Express. While we were filing the police report, he stated his employer would call and likely want to handle this incident without using insurance and I need some guidance. The gentleman called and left a voice mail but before calling him back I want to be clear on how this should be handled.

 

Anyone have experience with this time of scenario?

 

Unless the damage you suffered was very, very minor (like a scratch or maybe a small dent) and you are sure there is no other mechanical damage to your car, I'd go ahead and let insurance take care of it. If the other driver was at fault, it is of absolutely no benefit for you to allow an at fault driver to handle the wreck outside of the insurance company. His boss is just trying to avoid an insurance hike. By going through insurance you don't have to worry about how trustworthy the other guy is, or if he has enough money to fix your car. If you let insurance handle, your odds of getting everything fixed quickly go up substantially.

I've gone this route in the past. When I was in college, my truck was hit in the parking lot of work by a 16 year old that slid on a patch of ice. He and his dad asked not to go through insurance. I agreed. However, I still reported the accident to my insurance company just in case, and I also had a police report. I got an estimate for the work, and they paid me cash.

Yesterday I was in a multi-car accident, it was the other drivers fault. The other driver was a contractor for Red Express. While we were filing the police report, he stated his employer would call and likely want to handle this incident without using insurance and I need some guidance. The gentleman called and left a voice mail but before calling him back I want to be clear on how this should be handled.

 

Anyone have experience with this time of scenario?

 

How bad was the damage to your vehicle? How about a picture of said damage?

As long as there is an official police report you can give them one bite at the apple. That means, they get one chance to pay you the full cash amount you are owed. If you get any slack at all call your insurance agent.

As long as there is an official police report you can give them one bite at the apple. That means, they get one chance to pay you the full cash amount you are owed. If you get any slack at all call your insurance agent.

 

I do want to add one caveat, you have to be sure what your total cost will be. If your damage is even moderate, there will be add ons to the estimate once they repair the vehicle (meaning stuff they find wrong that wasn't included in the initial estimate price) so if you take cash up front, then come upon the add ons, you are going to be out of luck unless that company is super cool to work with.

I am also going to add, there shouldn't be any issue with calling your insurance agent first, but not making a claim so to speak, to get his or her professional advice about it.

 

But remember one thing everyone, your Insurance Company does NOT represent you, they represent their own best interests.

Report it to insurance. If you fail to report it to insurance, you assume the risk with no benefit in exchange. Do you think they're going to pay you MORE because you didn't report it to insurance? Of course not. Why take the risk?

Report it to insurance. If you fail to report it to insurance, you assume the risk with no benefit in exchange. Do you think they're going to pay you MORE because you didn't report it to insurance? Of course not. Why take the risk?

 

This is definitely the safe bet but I still don't see the harm in entertaining their best cash offer.

If you're not at fault, then his insurance has to pay you directly if you choose not to repair.

I believe a valid course of action may be to file a claim to your insurance and let them subjugate to the other party or their insurance. You are out the deductible until the subjugation is done and refunded with this route.

 

Reporting to your insurance, but not filing a claim maybe a good course of action. In a multi-party incident the variables are greater than when its just two parties. If someone sues they may sue all or some of the other parties involved - regardless of police reports, facts or statements.