Car accident and should I report to my insurance?

Question

Hi,

I got into a car accident this morning.

A big delievery truck was trying to merge into my lane and hit me from side from behind. But he won't admit it was his fault.

I didn't even try to argue with him.

I waited for the police about 40 min and when he came, he told us to exchange insurance info.

He didn't even give us the policy report.

1) can the police refuse to give me the police report?

2) The truck driver came into my lane and hit, the merging dotted lane didn't even start yet. He went across the white solid lane to get into my lane. This major highway.

I led in one car in front of me and going slow when he hit me.

Either he might not have seen me since my car is small and float, old Honda Prelude.

Is it my fault?

3) There was no damage to his truck front bumpter.

But my car has some damage. I am about to contact my insurance, Geico to report.

Would this increase rate in the future??

I have been with Geico for almost 10 years and no accident.

Should I not report it?? since it is my old beat up car.

The car runs fine.

What are your thoughts??

Thanks much.

Answer 1

if it cost less then 500 dont report it. but the cops cant refuse a report ever. thats what they are there for and thats what you pay taxes for. you may have to pay for the report to give to your insurance. but either way it may take awile for your insurance to file a claim and suit against the other driver  

Answer 2

If the damage is under a certain amount say $1,500 then you are not required to file it with insurance and the police are able to enable you to do an exchange of insurance info so that you can work out the cost of repair between you. If he is unwilling to settle this without involving insurance companies, then I would definitely file it with my insurance company. It can affect his rates, but it really depends on where you live and the insurance laws in that state.  

Answer 3

Whether you file a claim with your insurance or not... you should report it, and have your insurance company contact the truck drivers insurance co... have your agent request a police report...

This is part of what you pay them for....

Answer 4

You will have to go to the police department to get a copy.

When the police verify your insurance they will know you had an accident.

Answer 5

Sometimes the police will not make a report unless someone was physically injured in the accident which is probably why he didn't give you one.  Also if you have a really good insurance agency that will fight for you then you don't have anything to worry about.  If you can afford (for now) the deductible to get your car fixed (old or not you still need it) then do it because once they investigate on who's fault it was then you will more than likely get reimbursed for it.  This would be the best time to see if your insurance agency is actually any good or not.  Because if it wasn't your fault then they should be there to fight for you and prove it.  All they would need is the other persons license plate # and that persons name and address and the name of that persons insurance company and they can do the research from there to find out what the policy number will be.  Hope this helps good luck and don't just give in especially since it wasn't your fault and because you are the one that has to fix your car.

Answer 6

Report it to your insurance company.  Whether you file a claim with them or not is up to you, but you should report it anyway.

Answer 7

The police will give you a copy of the report, just go to the police station and get a copy, it take a week or so before they are ready, that is why you did not get it at the site. If he came into your lane, it clearly was not your fault. I would report it, and your insurance company will then contact their insurance company for you and work out all the details. If this is your first accident and the police report shows it not your fault, your rates will not increase. I would however, insist that they get some money for you to fix your car.

Answer 8

If you want your car fixed, then report it. If you can live with the damage, keep it quiet to avoid insurance increases.

Answer 9

Police reports take a couple of days. What you do is go to the police department by friday and give them your name. If the cop took both your insurances and licenses that means he was writting the report up.

If it's not your fault it should say so on the diagram. You then need to report it to the other guys insurance in order to get paid for damages. If he doesn't have  insurance to cover the damages or if the cop didn't actually crate a police report (which is strange and very wrong) then just call the police where ever your car is parked and have them issue you another report and just tell them you found your car parked( park it in a mall lot) and have them write you a repet then which will say (hit and run) If you did get the guys info, you could just go to police department and they will reissue you a repoet with his info. If you go through your own insurance, this will increase your rates for the future!!!

Answer 10

You can go to the police station and get a police report, they cost a few dollars. I was in an accident and that is what I had to do.

It appears that it was his fault. The police report will tell you if he got any citations.

If there is less than $500 worth of damage than you don't have to report it.

What is your deductible? If the damage is less than what you will have to pay then I wouldn't report. Your insurance may go up since they consider you partially at fault for just being there. Not fair, but that it how it works.

Answer 11

1.  The police don't give you a report at the scene.  You have to get it later.  It usually takes a few days for the report to be filed, and THEN you can get it.  There is usually a fee for this, under $20.

2.  Likely, if his lane was ending, and he merged into your lane, and you were NOT accelerating to try to "cut him off", but decelerating, the accident is his fault.  If you were accelerating (and the damage on your car vs his truck would show where exactly the two of you were positioned, when the impact began), then it's YOUR fault.  Police do NOT determine fault.  But if the damage is the back rear of your car, and the front of his cab, it's probably going to be your fault.  But the front side of your car, and the back of his truck, will probably come down to your fault.

3.  If there's no damage to his truck, and you have no collision coverage, it's pointless to report it to Geico, IMO.  

4.  You ARE allowed to change lanes across a solid white line, with caution.  So THAT part is irrelevant.    But if he was trying to merge onto the highway, it's probably HIS fault.  The point is, if you don't have collision for your car with Geico, they aren't going to try to help you get the money from the other guy's insurance.  You'll have to try to do it on your own.

Answer 12

well is the police report towards your advantage ..you can get the report from the police it shouldnt be a problem. id report it so you can get your car fixed.and if you know any one that can make the estimate bigger and get your car fixed  for less and keep some of the money your one step ahead of the game a bit. i have been in  a few accidents i havent had geico as insurance but i know my insurance has not gone up  from the accidents. and my insurance had to pay out to the one lady and she backed into me.so you go figure.if you dont think you can get anywhere with out going threw the insurance maybe try calling the company the trucker works for and say you just got into an accident you really dont want to go threw the insurance but would like your car fixed see if they will settle with you out of the insurance company.. hope some of thishelps  

Answer 13

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