Had a minor fender-bender yesterday, nothing serious but enough to leave a noticeable dent. Not sure if I should rush to file the insurance claim or if waiting a few days is okay...anyone dealt with this before?
I'd say sooner is better than later. Had something similar happen last year—waited a few days thinking it wasn't urgent, but my insurance rep mentioned it's best to report within 24-48 hours. Apparently, delays can sometimes complicate things if the other party decides to dispute details later on. Probably won't be an issue for something minor, but better safe than sorry...
"Apparently, delays can sometimes complicate things if the other party decides to dispute details later on."
Yeah, that's exactly what worries me too. Even if it seems minor now, you never know how the other person might react later. I had a friend who waited about a week because it was just a small scrape, and then the other driver suddenly claimed there was more damage than initially thought. It turned into a whole mess. Better to just get it sorted early and avoid the headache, right?
Yeah, sooner is definitely better. I once dealt with a case where the driver waited almost two weeks because they thought it was just a minor fender-bender. By the time they reported it, the other party had already gotten repairs done and inflated the damage quite a bit. It turned into a lengthy back-and-forth dispute... not fun for anyone involved. Just file early, document everything, and save yourself the hassle later on.
Yeah, sooner is definitely better. I once dealt with a case where the driver waited almost two weeks because they thought it was just a minor fender-bender.
Agree with the advice above, filing sooner rather than later is definitely smarter. I've had a couple minor incidents myself, and here's what I've learned:
- Insurance companies appreciate prompt reporting—it helps your credibility.
- Waiting can sometimes complicate things, especially if the other party decides to escalate or exaggerate damages.
- Document everything immediately: photos from multiple angles, notes on weather and road conditions, and any conversations you had with the other driver.
- Even if you decide later not to go through insurance (maybe the repair cost is below your deductible), having the claim filed early gives you options.
- Keep in mind, some policies have specific deadlines for reporting incidents. Check your policy details to be safe.
I get wanting to avoid the hassle, but from a purely practical and financial standpoint, sooner is usually better.
