My neighbor backed into my car while leaving the house. I live in a duplex with a shared driveway that has enough space for four vehicles. While my downstairs neighbor was attempting to turn right to exit, she accidentally clipped the front end of my car with her rear tire. Now, my bumper is hanging off, the headlight is scuffed, the fender is bent, the fog light wiring is damaged, and the brackets for the headlight are broken, along with what I suspect are a few other minor issues.
I called the police to file a report and document the damage, but they couldn’t do much because it happened on private property. The driver of the vehicle went inside, while her aunt (the truck’s owner and insurance policyholder) came out to speak with the officer. They said they would go through their insurance.
I’m 19 and this is my first experience dealing with an accident. Should I file a claim with my own insurance, or should I wait for the neighbor’s insurance to assess the damage first?
I’m sorry to hear about the accident. It’s definitely a stressful situation, especially for your first experience. Since the other driver has acknowledged the incident and plans to go through their insurance, that’s a positive step.
You should still report the incident to your own insurance company, even if you don’t plan to file a claim right away. This is important for a few reasons:
Make sure to keep all records, including photos of the damage, the police report, and any communication with the other party and their insurance. Good luck, and I hope you get everything resolved smoothly!