Accident in parking lot - should I file a claim?

Question

I just had an accident in the parking lot of a store. I had backed out of my parking space. My foot was on the brake and I was going to shift gears and drive off, so I wasn't moving. A 20-ish guy in the row behind me backed out of his space without looking and backed right into me. I saw him coming, but I had no time to get out of the way.

We got out and exchanged the necessary information. My car has an area pushed in between the left rear passenger door and the end of the car. I pointed it out to him. I didn't see any damage to his car. He said he didn't know whose fault it is. I insisted that it was his.

Should I file a claim? I personally am not insured. It's my dad's car, and he is insured. $500 deductable. I'm sure it's the other guy's fault, and I don't want him to get away with it, but am I making more trouble for us than it's worth? If the other guy will have to pay, OK, but if we'll have to pay and our rates will go up... I don't know if it's worth it. I'm in NY

Answer 1

Always report any accident to both the police and your insurance company.  Always !  Always let YOUR insurance company handle/advise the entire matter.  ALWAYS !

Answer 2

Yes, report it just to protect yourself. Since you were 100% out of your space it is the others persons fault. Pictures with a cell phone would have been worthwhile.

Answer 3

yes you should file a claim

call the guys insurance company

and file. if you were stopped then it was his fault and you wont have a deductible because it is through his insurance. They will just give you a check!

If he was uninsured then it would be a pain to have to take him yo court though

Answer 4

Yes, file, because I'm sure he will and your insurance company will find out anyway.  

The companies' adjusters would probably be able to figure out fault by investigating the damage.  

Are you listed as additional insured on your father's policy?  Or does his policy allow for other drivers to be covered for liability, whether or not they're listed?  If not, you have no coverage.  

Note that your father's rate is going to go up, whether or not the other driver was determined to be at fault; that only determines how much.  An accident is an accident in the eyes of insurance companies.

Answer 5

yes file as long as he is at fault it shouldnt drive up your bill