Long story short: I was driving my 4Runner and my driver side mirror hit the driver side mirror of the car coming in the opposite lane. Nothing happened to my mirror, but her mirror broke. My insurance will pay for her car, but I also have the option of paying for it myself. Should I let them pay for it or should I pay for it out of pocket? It's $295 - apparently she needs a new assembly and then has to get it re-painted. The police weren't called and I've been meaning to switch insurance cos. to All State (currently have Geico) b/c our homeowners is w/ them.

Suggestions would be appreciated. I told her I would let her know by tonight.

 

id pay it out of pocket if it means no claim

 

Geico knows about it already though - is that bad? Also, if the police weren't called, it's not on my record, right? So if I switch insurance cos. then I won't have any accidents (I hardly would call this an accident though) on my record?

 

Even if the police were called, as long as no claim is made it won't be on your record. Pay out of pocket and save your claims for when they are really needed.

How did it come to be your fault, sounds like it's equal blame?

 

It was a residential street w/ cars parked on the side of the road (well, one car). I went into the other lane a bit so I wouldn't hit the parked car and our mirrors collided. I was approaching it first and thought she would either slow down or go more to the side of the road. I told the story to Geico and they said it was my fault, that I should have yielded.

Would All State find out if I had a claim w/ Geico? If so, then I'll just pay her the $300.

 

technically yeah you probably should have yielded. kind of like technically we shouldn't speed, but oh well...i'd just pay out of pocket. even if geico knows, your rates won't be affected if you don't file a claim

 

All claims go on your CLUE report, even if the insurance company paid $0. If they are aware of it, expect it to go on the report (since they opened the claim and already assigned an adjuster). If it's going on there anyway, why not have them foot the bill? It will affect you the same either way.

 

sucks to have your insurance. mine doesn't work that way (nationwide)

 

I'm an insurance agent. I know a little bit about this process. Nationwide owns Titan and Victoria Insurance also, one of the companies I represent. And yes, Nationwide (and affiliated companies) *do* work this way.

 

talk to my agent. i've told him every mishap i've ever had, including out of state tickets, running over things in the road, etc. my rates have only gone down over the last 3 years...