Got rear-ended -- what to check for?

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I was stopped waiting to turn left when I saw a car coming at me way too fast. Once it was clear she wasn't going to stop, I gunned it, but it was too late. She did lock up her brakes at the last minute, so she ended up nosing UNDER by trailer hitch (ball and tongue still in it). I got no more than a few cosmetic scratches on my bumper cover. Her Honda Civic was certainly totalled. There were about 23 different fluids all over the road from her crushed engine.

What I want to know is what would be the obvious things to look for on or under the car. I looked, but nothing even seems scratched, much less broken or bent. I have a new 16-year-old driver, and I'd just assume not even get insurance involved, even though her side will have to pay (she was ticketed).

Should I just go to the dealer and have them check? I know if I go to the insurance company they're going to say that the cosmetics do not warrant repair, and since I'm pretty sure they'll say that, I'd rather just not even get them involved.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[Gerdo]

You got hit and it wasn't your fault.
Yes have a dealer or other shop look at it. She hit your hitch which is mounted to the frame. It might have bent the frame.

 

[SgnDen]

She'll need to file a police report surely and the cops will record everything if course.

Unless she was uninsured, I'd imagine your vehicle will show up as being involved in an accident in the big-bad database in the sky.

 

[mikebontoft]

people are starting to suck more and more at driving... that must be why I bought a 4runner, so they only hurt my hitch.

Does anything look bent? that's a bad suggestion though. you may want to have it put on an alignment rack. they can do a few more tests by following the on screen instructions of their alignment rack. they can tell if the frame was tweaked enough to move the axle even the slightest bit.

 

[Antman]

That's why you pay for insurance. YOU were hit so they will pay to make it 100% fixed and then go after her insurance company to pay them.

 

[Gerdo]

I assume that her car hit your spare tire. Have someone take a look at the spare tire winch and make sure it didn't get stressed or its mounts. Also if she hit the spare hard enough, it could have been pushed into the panhard bar, bending it.

 

[dsfra]

When not actually towing, it's perhaps a good idea to remove the ball mount from the receiver. That way the bumper gets the impact, not the rear cross member - unless you really get nailed. This can also save on those painful 'shin/knee meets ball mount' impacts.

 

[Carl.]

I have a new 16-year-old driver, and I'd just assume not even get insurance involved, even though her side will have to pay (she was ticketed).

In situations like this I deal with the at-fault driver's insurance directly and leave my insurance company out of it. No reason I see not to get her insurance involved if you think you might have damage.

 

[Foques]

^
It is your insurance co's responsibility to deal with other party's insurance.
I know there are some companies that do not provide the support, but most of them will go as far as suing people who cause your accident.

By taking that responsibility upon yourself, you do them a favor, usually.

 

[Lancez]

In situations like this I deal with the at-fault driver's insurance directly and leave my insurance company out of it. No reason I see not to get her insurance involved if you think you might have damage.

if you do that, you just got yourself a part time job at her insurance company.

call your own insurance and tell them what happened with evidence (police report, pic, etc.) and bring your truck to your prefered repair shop (you have the right to pick any local shop that you prefered, at least in cali), your insurance company will take good care of you from this point.

i was rear ended twice within a year in 2 different cars, so i've learned my lesson.

 

[redbull9944]

I'm not sure of what sort of insurance company you're dealing with, but there would have had to of been a police report if they were called. And you were the one rear ended, so you definitely were not at fault. The insurance company should definitely take care of you and fix any damage that the Civic might have caused.

I hit a deer last year when I was 17. It smashed up my front end and actually made it look like I hit a telephone pole. There wasn't any blood or fur for proof but the insurance took care of me as it was an "act of nature." They didn't question me and my premium didn't raise one bit. You should be just fine.

 

[Carl.]

if you do that, you just got yourself a part time job at her insurance company.

Last time my wife got rear ended it took about 10 minutes worth of phone calls and emails to the at-fault party's insurer, on top of dealing with getting the damage quoted and repaired, which you have to do anyway. Plus we got a small amount of money if my wife agreed not to sue for bodily injury (she wasn't injured and never claimed otherwise). Pretty sweet part time job. And I didn't have to worry about a third party handling my claim.

The OP was concerned about needing to notify his insurance company. My point is, if the at-fault party has insurance, liability is clear, and there are no bodily injuries, I don't see much benefit in involving your own insurance company right away to play middle man anyway.

 

[Jtraskell]

"The OP was concerned about needing to notify his insurance company. My point is, if the at-fault party has insurance, liability is clear, and there are no bodily injuries, I don't see much benefit in involving your own insurance company right away to play middle man anyway."

This is a common belief. But lack of notice is NOT in your best interest. NOT making a claim with YOUR insurance company when you are NOT at fault, either totally or even in the majority is YOUR decision. You do not have to pursue a monetary claim with your company if you do not want too.

However, ALL insurance contracts have "conditions" spelled out in the policy. Some of these conditions are actually "duties" of BOTH parties listed within the contract. Usually, one of the first conditions listed is that YOU, as the policy holder, have a duty (requirement) to inform your insurance company of ANY accidents or occurrences you or your vehicle(s) are involved in.

If you think about it, this makes sense. Even though you are not pursuing a claim because YOU do not think you are at fault, later, if something should go wrong and the other insurance company denies your claim, or let's say a passenger in the other car claims an injury.....(Remember, the passenger is almost always negligent free), the passenger can sue anybody....including you.(So even if you are only 1% at fault, as to the passenger, you are many times considered100% at fault)..... And often depending on the state, they have multiple YEARS to file that suit before the statue of limitations runs out.

If you did not tell your insurance company about the accident up front giving them a chance to do a proper and TIMELY investigation and document same, your claim for a defense and indemnification from that suit may be denied because YOU failed to follow a basic policy condition thus prejudicing the investigation due to what may currently be missing evidence .....not a good thing.

So, be advised, let your insurance company know of the situation, you do not have to have them pay for ANY of your damages if you do not want to.

Be Safe.

 

[deekoi]

I got rear ended recently too.

Not as bad as you but you should get it checked out.

The other insurance company (state farm) wrote a check out for the whole bumper to be redone.

 

[Carl.]

So, be advised, let your insurance company know of the situation

Yes, there are caveats and possibly some risks in not immediately involving your insurance company to play middle man when you're involved in an accident where it seems certain that you won't need them because liability is clear and you're not injured.

 

[[email protected]]

Great Advice...

I think I'll just call my insurance (State Farm) and let them handle everything. That's what I pay for, I guess. With 5 cars on my policy, they get plenty from me!

Thanks for all the advice and input T4Rers!

Bret

 

[Jtraskell]

Yes, there are caveats and possibly some risks in not immediately involving your insurance company to play middle man when you're involved in an accident where it seems certain that you won't need them because liability is clear and you're not injured.

Just to be clear, I NEVER said your insurance company should play middle man. I only said they should be noticed of the accident. Which is a policy (contract) condition.