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Report minor accident to insurance company?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by 05RedTaco, Mar 29, 2012.

  1. Mar 29, 2012 at 8:27 PM
    #1
    05RedTaco

    05RedTaco [OP] Nom Nom Nom

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    I got rear ended today while being completely stopped waiting for light turn green. My truck has very minor damage. The rear bumper is bent downwards a little. I had a receiver with a ball in my hitch since I tow my trailer quite a lot. The Camry which rear ended me had trashed bumper, grille bumper support, etc...

    I called the police and filed a police report, even though the damage was minimal on my vehicle, I felt it was the right thing to do...

    Now the question is should I call the insurance company and get my truck fixed? Most likely all I would get is new bumper, BUT if I can get black "base" bumper out of it that would be AWESOME... I HATE the chrome bumper with passion.

    I called my friend who worked for USAA for quite some time. He said to call the insurance company of the person who hit me and file a claim with them. He said since I am not at fault that way I dont have to pay deductible.

    What do you guys think?
     
  2. Mar 29, 2012 at 8:30 PM
    #2
    707tothe907

    707tothe907 Superior Member

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    If you aren't at fault call your insurance company. Always.
     
  3. Mar 29, 2012 at 8:39 PM
    #3
    hamsterhater

    hamsterhater Well-Known Member

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    you only pay deductable if your useing your insurance. since he's at fault because he rear ended you his insurance will pay without you having to. thats if they agree on it based on police report. otherwise you file through yours pay deductable and they fight to get the dedutable back for you if you win and they have to pay in the long run.its a fine line , see if they'll pay without useing yours at all. sorry to hear, and that bumper you hate is a pretty penny so make sure you get all the money you can. mine was 700 when i got rear ended and make them check frame since he hit hitch and its attached to frame rails. good luck
     
  4. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:26 PM
    #4
    Kevin C

    Kevin C Well-Known Member

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    Just a question to throw out there. Don't you have to consider resale (car fax) down the road? I believe here in CA, any claim, even of a small incident/value gets you a salvage title. Other CA members will correct me if I'm wrong.
     
  5. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:39 PM
    #5
    05RedTaco

    05RedTaco [OP] Nom Nom Nom

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    Yes the frame issue crossed my mind. Definitely good idea to get it checked out.

    I am so upside down on my truck that I cant really sell it without paying few grand out of pocket :( I am stuck with it for a while... I was pissed. I mean why can't you hit me strong enough to total my truck so I can get a 4x4 DC?
     
  6. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:43 PM
    #6
    Cowboyz

    Cowboyz Membor

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    If It was me I would get another bumper on that other guys insurance company. If your not at fault your insurance company shouldn't be involved what so ever
     
  7. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:44 PM
    #7
    toyotatacomaTRD

    toyotatacomaTRD Senior Member

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    I'm not in CA, but I doubt any vehicle would be labeled as salvaged because of a replaced bumper...
     
  8. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:47 PM
    #8
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Negative... IF you have collision on your policy. If you have liability only, then no... your insurance company won't accept the claim.

    Generally, file a claim with YOUR insurance company.
    Provide them with the contact information and insurance information for the party that hit you.

    Your insurance company will repair the truck, and they will bill the other insurance company for the repair.
    Never, never, never speak to ANYONE from the other insurance company unless you do not have collision and are forced to deal with them directly.
    Their job is to get you to admit fault and then lowball you on the repair.

    On replacing the chrome bumper with a base, the insurance company is obligated to restore the vehicle to it's pre-accident condition. If you want something different, you will have to work that deal with the body shop. He will most likely be more than willing to install a cheaper bumper. He may or may not need to submit his invoice to the insurance company, so he might be able to bill for chrome.
     
  9. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:48 PM
    #9
    Sigi

    Sigi Well-Known Member

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    Tell the insurance that you just want the money for the bumper and buy a black aftermarket heavy duty one with that money :) . I'm sure a oem one is pretty pricy from the dealer .
     
  10. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:49 PM
    #10
    RMAN808

    RMAN808 S)(AKALO)(AWAII

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    dude! i got rear ended today too! by a much bigger F-150. no damage to me except small chips off the bed-liner on my bumper. now his bumper and license plate took it all. i was pretty proud :D

    there was NO damage to my truck and me and the gf were okay so we just parted ways after checking each others trucks out. wish you luck though!
     
  11. Mar 29, 2012 at 9:51 PM
    #11
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Nope.

    Salvage title is only assigned under two conditions:
    1 - Vehicle is written off as a "total" and not repaired.
    2 - Owner does NOT purchase the vehicle at salvage value.


    If you get rear-ended, the insurance company totals, and you accept the payout and they take the vehicle, it has a salvage title assigned when the title transfers to the insurance company.
    If you decide "Okay, they are totaling because they say it's $10,000 to repair, but I want to put glass fenders and an LT on it anyways" so you buy out the residual (depending on the value and the loss, you MAY be able to keep the vehicle and still get some cash!)...
    Since the title does not transfer, it does not get branded as salvage.

    For a title to "brand" or "taint", it must be transferred to a new owner.
     
  12. Mar 29, 2012 at 10:04 PM
    #12
    05RedTaco

    05RedTaco [OP] Nom Nom Nom

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    I have full coverage and gap.
     
  13. Mar 29, 2012 at 10:07 PM
    #13
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Turn it in to your company.
    No deductible since it's not your fault.
     
  14. Mar 29, 2012 at 11:25 PM
    #14
    nammer

    nammer Well-Known Member

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    it looks like everybody has different experiences, I personally had it written in a police report that someone hit me, i went to other driver's insurance, they took care of everything, my insurance didn't even need to know. Located in FL
     
  15. Mar 30, 2012 at 6:32 AM
    #15
    novataco

    novataco Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. I have an estimate for my rear color keyed bumper replacement at $1500.00. I got a settlement from the insurance company minus my deductible (I was at fault), and have a deposit on a Brute Force off road bumper at well under a grand.

    I will use the difference to clean up a few minor dings and scratches.
     
  16. Mar 30, 2012 at 6:34 AM
    #16
    derekabraham

    derekabraham Living vicariously through everybody

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    Your insurance should let you take it to a body shop to get an estimate, at which point you can choose to have them fix it, or cash out and repair it yourself. If you want a new bumper, get the money to do the repairs yourself and get the bumper you want.




    Edit: Apparently others have already said this. :facepalm:


    :laugh:
     
  17. Mar 30, 2012 at 6:42 AM
    #17
    dfrugia

    dfrugia Well-Known Member

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    A lot of overreacting on this thread. Call the other party's carrier. The other party will already have a claim filed to fix their vehicle. This is a rear end accident therefore liability is clear. Go get a few estimates from local shops to have handy. You don't have to accept anything from them if you don't agree, then pursue your own carrier. I'm I'm the insurance industry.
     
  18. Mar 30, 2012 at 7:13 AM
    #18
    brny67

    brny67 Well-Known Member

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    x2^^^i used to be in the industry, each state is different, when I got hit from behind in va i did not call my insurance I called his and they took care of everything, believe me u do not want your insurance company to know, no reason for them to know, at least here in Va. Wish u the best whatever happens and keep us updated.
     
  19. Mar 30, 2012 at 11:33 AM
    #19
    grhopper

    grhopper Well-Known Member

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    I got rear ended a few years back. We both had the same insurance company, but if I filed the claim under my policy I would have had to pay my deductible, so I had to file it under hers. My car was pretty old, so it didn't take much for it to be a total loss. I was given the option to take the full NADA value and transfer the car to the insurance, or take NADA minus salvage and keep it. I kept it and got it fixed. I was supposed to file with the state to get a special title stating that it was totaled and fixed, but I never did. It has been almost 3 years and it has not been reported to carfax.

    The way most insurance companies work is that the adjuster looks at the damage and comes up with an estimate. They will also give you a list of pre-approved repair places you can take it. If you take it to one of those places, you will not see any money. If it costs more than the adjuster's estimate, they pay for the difference. If it costs less, the insurance keeps the difference. If you don't want to take it to one of those pre-approved places, the insurance company will give you a check for the estimate (minus any deductible) and it may be up to you to cover anything over the estimate, or you get to keep the extra.

    If you're wanting to make some mods, file a claim with the at fault person's insurance, compare their estimate with some independent estimates, then take the cash.
     
  20. Mar 30, 2012 at 12:45 PM
    #20
    skytower

    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Any accident affects your insurance rates, at fault or not.
     

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