HurricaИe wrote:
My mom just got into a fender bender... she was definitely to blame (I was there with her) and both she and the other guy accept that. The car on the receiving end didn't take much damage (he was in a big old SUV full-stop at a traffic light, we accidentally accelerated and hit him) but my mom's car has the front grille busted in and a bit of the hood is damaged, it'll probably need to be replaced.
The dilemma is, if she reports it to Geico then they'll either bust her insurance rates even more through the roof than they are now, or she'll get das boot all together. We're not exactly rich so we can't handle that, but repairing her car without Geico paying for it is also gonna be expensive.
Does anyone have advice on what to do?
This doesn't sound like her first wreck. Insurance is a big scam anyway - even people who have their first accident where the insurance forgives you, depending on the situation, you could still be left with paying the (high) deductible.
You, unfortunately, are stuck. The cheapest way out of this is to repair the vehicle on your own by not going through insurance. By law, you should be reporting the accident to the insurance company. However, thousands every day don't do this. By reporting this particular case, not only do you still pay for your repairs, but you'll have a hefty premium to pay afterwards for eternity.
Reason to report accident to insurance: What if they other guy reports the accident to HIS insurance company? Undoubtedly he has much of your information, including plate #. He simply needs to hand this to his insurance company, and they WILL find you. Next thing you know, YOUR insurance company will be calling you, and it won't be pretty from that point on. While it still won't be in your favour to be reporting the accident, you insurance company will be more likely to listen if you report it.
Reason to not report accident: It's gonna to get very expensive. You CAN settle this on your own without your insurance company (or his) ever knowing. You need to approach this from the stand-point that you're at fault, and the other driver has a right to get several quotes for repair. Cost of auto repairs will be expensive. Accept responsibility, and allow the other driver to have the vehicle repaired where HE wishes to have it repaired. While nothing will be cheap, just keep in the back of your head it could have cost you thousands more for a very long period of time. Take your lumps, be a good citizen, and all can be well.
How good are you mechanically? If you didn't bend any structural parts, and it's just cosmetic damage to your own vehicle such as a punched out grill and headlights, you might be able to repair this yourself for very cheap. You can visit some of the wrecking yards local to you, pull the parts you will need, and install them on your car. Again, this is only if nothing major has been bent (a front body panel isn't major, but the frame it's bolted to is). You can save plenty of money by doing this (provided you possess some mechanical skill).
My advice would be to take care of the other driver first - if you piss him off, not only will you be dealing with high insurance rates, but you'll be going to court, too, where you will lose (you already admitted guilt, and if you choose to stiff him now, it only will get worse for you).
I can't tell you WHAT to do one way or the other. Dealing outside of insurance is a no-no, but many do it usually because of financial restraints. I understand this, but if you cut your own deals outside of insurance, you are on your own. You even risk your insurance company terminating your insurance if they discover your actions. Assuming you choose settling on your own, everything will work out if you keep the other driver happy. If you're afraid that he might screw you around, well, this is why we have insurance.
The "right" thing to do is report the accident to your insurance company ASAP. You will be protected if you do this, even though the costs in the end will be greater. Sometimes it's worth it just so you don't get potentially shafted down the road. Good luck, you don't face an easy decision.
