Feeling uncertain about how to proceed
My wife was feeling uneasy at a shopping mall and didn’t fully notice a space she believed was clear. While backing out, she accidentally scraped the lower part of the rear passenger door, causing minimal damage. We provided our insurance information to the other party, who mentioned they would visit a repair shop and reach out to us on Sunday or Monday.
However, around 3 PM today, they filed a claim with State Farm (our insurance) for damage to our vehicle, and now State Farm is asking us to select a location for our vehicle to be evaluated—which we didn’t anticipate. We’re unsure how to handle this situation. Should I contact our insurance company to clarify that we didn’t file a claim for our vehicle? Should I inform them about the minor incident?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
It sounds like you’re in a bit of a tricky situation, but don’t worry, you can navigate this. Here are some steps you can take:
Contact Your Insurance Company: Call your insurance provider (State Farm in this case) and explain the situation. Let them know that your wife was involved in a minor incident where she scraped another vehicle, and that the other party has filed a claim against your policy without your prior knowledge or consent.
Clarify the Details: Make sure to provide your insurance company with all the relevant details about the incident, including the fact that it was a minor scraping and that you had intended to provide your information but were not expecting to have a claim filed against your vehicle.
Document Everything: Make sure to keep records of all communications regarding this incident. This will help if there are further disputes or questions down the line.
Consider Liability: If the other party is claiming damages to their vehicle, your insurance company will likely investigate to understand who is at fault. Since it sounds like your wife was reversing and not paying full attention, it may be viewed as a minor accident, but you should still let your insurance handle it.
Don’t Panic: Insurance claims can be complicated, but your insurance is there for situations like this. They can guide you on the next steps and help ensure everything is handled correctly.
Remember, it’s always best to be transparent with your insurance about what happened, even if you’re unsure of how they will respond. Good luck!