If you’re sitting at a stop light and are rear-ended or are involved in a low-speed accident, you may think that the little amount of damage incurred is just not worth involving your insurance agent. It’s not uncommon for us to hear that people were offered cash to repair the damage to the car, hoping to eliminate claims and potential insurance hikes. While this workaround seems to make sense for accidents that are not large-scale in nature, it could cost you much more in the long run.
Damage Can Be More Extensive Than You Know
Much of the bodies of cars built today are plastic and fiberglass. While this keeps the costs down for manufacturers and results in a car with clean, slick lines, those same cars suffer much more damage than the heavily built cars from the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Rear bumpers that were once made of aluminum or steel are now made of plastic. Instead of crumpling like steel would, these high-tech plastics can flex in and pop back out, leaving seemingly little damage behind at first glance. If you get out and eyeball a broken taillight and accept the standard $300-400 in cash to fix it and there’s extensive damage to your body, reinforcement bars or exhaust system underneath, you’re going to be forking over hundreds, maybe even thousands when you take the car in for repairs. Damage can sometimes take days before you notice it, and continued driving of the vehicle can mean that you’re causing more harm.
They May Be Trying to Skirt the Law
The state of Connecticut requires car insurance for every driver, no exceptions.The driver that hit you may have no license, no insurance or a poor driving record. You can still receive insurance benefits if the other driver has no insurance, but if the claims are large, you can be out a significant amount of money for an accident that was not your fault. First make sure that you are in a safe place and that no one is injured badly enough to require medical attention. Obtain their insurance information and cell phone number. Take a photo of the card, their license plate and the damage your car, no matter how minimal it seems.
Your Injuries Could Exacerbate. When you are in an accident your adrenaline is high and you may not realize how badly hurt you are. It’s not uncommon for whiplash, back injuries or knee problems to start days later after the internal impact is felt by the body. If you do require medical treatment, those costs can stack up quickly. If you feel any pain at all at the scene of the crash, seek medical attention immediately.
If you have questions about car insurance contact us. We’ve served Norwich, Connecticut for over 100 years and are happy to help you!