You have been involved in a car accident, and afterwards, the panicked other driver approaches you with a favor. He or she asks that you not contact insurance to pay for the damages. It happens all the time. The normally at-fault driver asks if you could potentially settle this matter together without involving the insurance company. It seems tempting, but is it worth?
What should you do in that situation? We have asked attorney, Alaina Sullivan, about what you should do. Here is what she had to say:
Duty to Report Accidents
Know your insurance policy. Most, if not all policies require you, as the insured, to report all claims to your insurance company, no matter who is at fault. This duty does not mean that you officially file a “claim” on your policy, but it does mean you have a requirement to report the actual accident itself.
If you choose to not inform your insurance company about the accident, you run the risk of it hurting you in the end should you need to file a claim later and the insurance company has questions as to why you never informed them about the accident or you get into a later accident and try to claim damage for both accidents. Honesty is always the best policy.
Can You Trust Them?
Sure, the other driver may seem genuine, but can you trust them? Most people like to believe the good in others, but a verbal promise just that: a verbal promise. You may promise not to contact the insurance company, and he or she may promise the same.
However, the other driver could just as easily change his or her mind and contact the insurance company. At that point, you are stuck looking like you are the one “at-fault.” At that point, the damage has already been done.
Losing Out on Benefits
By offering to not contact the insurance company, you are not doing yourself any favors. In fact, you could be missing out on assistance you could very well need. For instance, while your car is getting repaired, you may need a rental car. You could get this benefit through your car insurance policy, but if you do not contact your insurance company, you could be missing out.
Residual Injury
Immediately following the car accident, you may not feel like you are actually injured, but many injuries do not manifest until much later down the road. You could have some significant injuries that require treatment, including extensive physical therapy.
That type of treatment is expensive, and would it not be better if you had some way to cover for these expenses? However, if you are not able to file an insurance claim to cover these costs, you will be stuck paying for this treatment out-of-pocket.
Are You Being Conned?
A good reason could exist as to why the other driver does not want you to contact the insurance company. It could be because by filing an insurance claim and alerting others to the accident, you could be opening the door for other “secrets” to come out. It is like a Pandora’s Box, of sorts.
That little white lie may not hurt anyone, but it may also be a way for the other driver to conceal some illegal activity. It is best to not even take that chance in the long run.
Insurance to the Defense
You pay your insurance premiums for a reason. If the other driver tries to go after you later, your insurance provider is there to help you out. In fact, you have their legal department to defend you. They have a legal team to help defend you if that is what you need, but if you do not let the insurance company know what has happened, how will they know to defend you?
Contact an Attorney Today
In the end, it is a matter of weighing the pros and cons of reporting the accident to the insurance company. If you have been involved in a car accident and are not sure whether you should contact the insurance company to inform them of the accident, it is always recommended you contact an attorney today to discuss your case if you do not currently have a lawyer or have any questions.
A licensed personal injury attorney will be able to evaluate your case and determine if you have a claim against the other party’s insurance company. To receive the compensation for your medical bills, property damages, and pain and suffering, you should speak with a personal injury attorney in your area today.
