A friend of mine recently had his car scraped in a parking lot. While he was at work, another driver caused the damage and left a note with their information, which was later emailed to my friend by the lot’s management. Now, my friend is uncertain whether he should contact the other driver’s insurance directly or go through his own insurance company. He’s worried that involving his insurance might lead to a premium increase, despite not being at fault and not even being in the car at the time. He has full coverage, and while the damage appears to be mostly paint-related, the repair costs could easily exceed $1,000. What should he do in this situation?
Friends car got hit at a parking lot, does he call his insurance or the other guy’s?
Your friend should reach out to the at-fault driver’s insurance company first. Since the other driver left a note with their information, it indicates they are taking responsibility for the accident. Your friend can file a claim directly with their insurance and provide the details of the incident, including the other driver’s information.
Here’s a suggested course of action:
Collect Information: Make sure your friend has all the necessary documentation, including photos of the damage, the note left by the other driver, and any correspondence with the lot owners.
Contact the Other Driver’s Insurance: Your friend should contact the at-fault driver’s insurance to report the claim. This can help avoid involving his own insurance and potentially affecting his premium.
File a Claim: If the other driver’s insurance is cooperative, your friend can file a claim with them directly to cover the cost of repairs.
Consider his Own Insurance: If for some reason the other driver’s insurance is uncooperative or if the process takes too long, your friend can then consider contacting his own insurance for assistance. Since he has full coverage, they may be able to help facilitate the claim or provide recommendations.
It’s understandable to be concerned about premiums; however, if he is not at fault and handles it appropriately, his insurance shouldn’t raise his rates. Just make sure he documents everything well, as that will be beneficial throughout the process.