Had something similar happen on a road trip last summer—barely tapped someone's bumper at a rest stop, zero visible damage. We exchanged info just in case, but agreed not to report it. Never heard anything after that, and my premiums stayed put. If there's genuinely no damage and the other driver's cool with it, probably best to handle privately... insurers can be weirdly touchy about even minor stuff.
Had a similar thing a couple years back—barely grazed someone in a parking lot, no marks or anything. We both shrugged it off and moved on. Honestly, reporting minor taps can sometimes come back to bite you... speaking from experience here, haha.
I get where you're coming from, but personally, I'd be careful with just shrugging it off entirely. I had a similar incident last year—thought it was nothing, just a tiny bump in traffic. The other driver was chill at first, we laughed it off and all seemed good. Then two weeks later, surprise letter from insurance claiming damage... suddenly that "tiny bump" turned into a headache.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should run to report every little tap—insurance premiums are high enough already—but snapping a couple quick pics or exchanging info can't hurt. At least then you've got your bases covered if someone tries pulling a fast one later on. It's all fun and games until someone decides their scratched bumper needs a full repaint job, haha...
Yeah, I totally agree about snapping a few quick pics—it's saved me more than once. A few years ago, I tapped someone's bumper in a parking lot; no visible damage, we both shrugged it off. But I still took a couple of quick photos just in case. Sure enough, about a week later, I got a call from their insurance claiming there was a dent and scratches. Sent them the pics I took, and suddenly their story changed... no further claims after that.
It's annoying that it has to be that way, but you never really know how someone might react once they talk to friends or family who push them to "get something out of it." Even if the other person seems totally chill at the moment, it's always better to have your own evidence handy.
I'm curious though—does anyone know how long after an incident someone can actually file a claim? I've heard different things depending on state and insurance company policies. Would be good info to have, just to know when you're finally in the clear.
"Even if the other person seems totally chill at the moment, it's always better to have your own evidence handy."
Couldn't agree more with this. A couple years back, my wife had a similar situation—barely tapped someone's car at a stoplight, no visible damage, and the other driver waved it off. She still snapped a few quick pics of both bumpers just to be safe. Sure enough, two weeks later, we got a call from our insurance saying the other party reported significant damage. Those photos saved us big time.
As for how long someone can file a claim, it really varies. I've heard anywhere from a few weeks to even months depending on state laws and individual insurance policies. Best bet is probably to check your state's statute of limitations for property damage claims—usually easy enough to find online. But yeah, having those photos definitely gives peace of mind until you're officially in the clear...
