Re: Saturn Safety, is Great!! Group: rec.autos.makers.saturn Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2004, 10:06pm (PDT+2) From: snipped-for-privacy@cox.net (J=A0Haggerty) Your best action would be to let your insurance company handle it. If you have any medical problems down the road, or have any problems with the repairs, and you haven't reported it to your insurance company, then tehy would not have to provide you with coverage after the fact because you didn't report the accident to them in a timely manner. Each policy has time limits stated for when you need to report the accident to the insurance company. It's amazing how much bumper repairs can cost. The damage to the bumper cover may appear minor, but underneath there could be structural damage not apparent until the car is on a lift and measurements are taken. If the structural damage is not repaired correctly, then the bumper may fail the next time it's hit. Most good insurance companies will guarantee the repairs that the repair shop makes, and will subrogate to get your deductible back for you. In some states and with some companies, as long as they consider you not at fault and the other driver has insurance, then they will waive your deductible and just pay for your repairs. You could also contact the other drivers insurance company (after notifying your own) and have them handle the repairs. This is sometimes a good idea if you don't have rental coverage on your own policy. That way, you have no out of pocket expenses to get your car fixed, although they may require you to get more estimates than your own company. I worked a few years as a claims rep, and for most accidents under $1,000, we would have a check in the mail the same day we got the estimate from the policyholder. If the insured used one of the pre-approved repair centers, then they didn't even have to send an estimate, because repairs at those shops are pre-approved and we'd get the estimate from them. JPH snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net wrote: They did use the safety angle in the beginning, but I guess they had to stop it, because they could not gurantee anyone's safety in any given situation. I said I only had a few scratches on the Bumper well those few scratches will cost close to $500 to repair!! That is a lot in my opinion, but I want it done right, because the car is only about 5 months old!! And now the Person who did the damage is balking at the cost of the repair. I do not understand this, if it is your fault, why not take responsibility for it, and do the right thing? I thought we might avoid the entire Insurance thing, but now it looks like we will not be able to because the other driver is complaining about the price of the repair. I think $500 is really a small price to pay if you ask me, just think if someone had been hurt in all this, then the cost would be a lot more then $500! And what about the cost to me, in time, and the fact that the car will be in the shop for 3 days? Alll of this is just not in the thought process of the person who caused all the damage in the first place. If it was me and I was the diver of the other vehicle I would have paid the $500 right away,and been gratefull that no one was hurt or killed by my actions behind the wheel. JMO
--------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for that information, I tried to explain all that to the other driver, but they did not seem at all interested. I am still in dis-belief that the other driver said If it was them, and I had hit their car like that they would have just said, "Oh Just A Few Scratches, Forget About It"! That is the craziest statement I have ever heard in my entire life. Why would I even say that about a 5 month old car? If it was up to the other driver I would get a Bottle of Touch up paint, and that is it. And the other driver had the nerve to say It was only a slight tap to my bumper, right after saying they were going 70mph on a congested Freeway, before Braking! I am going to see my Insurance Agent in the morning, I hope 6 days later is not too late to file a claim? I think the other driver was just trying to string me along until the time ran out to file an Insurance Claim. What do you think? Thanks!