Minor fender bender?

My mom and I were in a minor accident when backing out of a spot at the post office....to me it looked like surface scratches on both cars. We had some chalky residue that would easily wipe off on our car, while the other driver had the same, with a slightly deeper surface scratch....we weren't even sure our cars touched each other, we barely felt an impact at all.
The other driver was acting as though there was more damage than meets the eye (I think having it happen during the holiday rush was more the trouble), so we called the police for a report and are going through insurance. Even though it was our fault for backing out without seeing him, will my mom's insurance go up? If so, how much? She has a perfect driving record and has had no accidents or tickets. Thank you!

oklatom

There is a police report, and you are going through your insurance. Let them handle it. As far as an increase, yes, it's possible, but how much only your insurance could tell you.

CowboyBill

I am always amazed at the number of people that are horrified at the thought of their insurance rates going up after an accident. Do you all really believe they will raise your rates to $20,000.00 a year? Did you know a speeding ticket will raise your rates as much as an accident? If you are so concerned about rates I suggest you drop a wad of cash into a savings account and raise your deductible to $5000.00.

Chris

It depends on your insurance company's procedures with regard to an increase. She may get accident forgiveness if she has a clean record, which would mean no increase. Then again, if they pay more than a certain amount (they may have a threshold of $500.00 where if it's under that amount they take no action) it can be surchargeable. That would mean an increase for 3 years. She'd need to ask her company what may happen.

adam m

there is usaly a repair limmit. so say the repairs r $1800 it may go up. if it is les it may not

Be Still and know He's God

You never really know. With a perfect driving record, it may not. And it also depends on the insurance company. She can call her insurance company and find out if she really wants to know now.

Nobody's home

She will lose her accident-free status, so if she was receiving a discount for that, she will lose it, but it is not a large sum.

You were wise to go ahead and fill out an accident report. A couple of years ago, I accidently tapped a co-worker's car in the parking lot. Smudged my bumper and her fender. We called the police and did the paperwork, which is a good thing, because it turned out her fender was cracked, and it cost my insurance company $1200, instead of me.

stewiegriffin4president

^----------- What he said!

Cowboy Bill, I love you!!!

DakotaPR7

Lot's of factors in play here. Type of car you own, what the other driver ows, who your insurance is, etc. etc. Typically most insurance companies work on a semi points system where they have like an accident forgiveness in a way. They will not rais your rate depending on the type of accident and amount of damage. If anything worst case is the guy has a bumper replaced which seems unlikely, but that is problaby about $500 so what the insurance company does is figure out your deductible and the amount of total damage. That way they can determine what bracket you fall into given your record and all the other criteria mentioned above. Personally I would not worry as they will most likely not go up.

NY1Krr

Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer tor your question. It all depends on the insurance co. If both of you will backing out of a spot, or moving, it will be both of your faults. Since your mom has a clean record her insurance may not go up. It really depends on the insurance company. Most will charge an "accident surcharge" but hey, they might not.
It all depends on what company she has.

Fraz

I wouldn't admit fault. If it was a private lot then all drivers have the responsibility to use caution. Street laws do not apply to private lots. Thats why she recieved no ticket from the popo (most likley). After all,, wasn't the other driver traveling too fast for conditions ;-)

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