"if the repairs end up costing more than expected or the other party suddenly claims injuries later, you could be stuck footing a bigger bill."
Yeah, learned this one the hard way. Couple years back, I had a tiny bump in a parking lot—barely a scratch, right? We shook hands, exchanged numbers, all smiles. Next thing I know, dude's texting me about "neck pain" and quoting repair costs that looked like he was fixing a Ferrari instead of a Honda Civic. Photos saved my butt big time. Moral of the story: document everything...and trust nobody, lol.
Yikes, that's exactly why I always advise clients to loop in insurance even if it seems minor. People can be super chill at first, then suddenly they're claiming whiplash from a 2 mph tap. Seen it happen way too often. Sure, your premium might take a small hit, but it's better than getting blindsided by surprise medical bills or inflated repair quotes later on... Better safe than sorry, right?
Had a similar thing happen a few years back—just a tiny bump at a stop sign. The other driver seemed totally cool, said it was nothing major. We exchanged numbers to handle repairs privately, but two days later he sends me this crazy quote for a full bumper replacement and paint job.
- Original scratch was barely noticeable, maybe 2 inches.
- Repair estimate jumped from "probably under $100" to over $800.
- Ended up looping in insurance anyway, but the delay made things messier.
Lesson learned: even if it seems minor, probably best to just let insurance handle it from the start.
Yeah, totally get where you're coming from. Even tiny bumps can escalate quickly once repair shops get involved. Always safer to loop insurance in early—saves headaches and unexpected hits to your wallet down the road. Live and learn, right?
Yeah, agreed. I learned this the hard way a few years back—thought I'd just handle a minor scrape privately to keep premiums down. Ended up being way pricier than expected once the shop started digging around and found hidden damage behind the bumper. Classic cars especially... parts aren't always easy (or cheap) to come by, and what looks like minor cosmetic stuff can quickly spiral into structural repairs.
That said, sometimes it's still worth weighing your options first. If it's genuinely just surface-level paint scuffs or something you know you can DIY easily, insurance might be overkill. But if there's any question at all—like alignment feels off or panel gaps changed—better safe than sorry.
Also, keep in mind that even if you don't end up filing a claim, giving your insurance rep a quick heads-up about the incident isn't usually a bad idea. At least you're on record early if things do escalate later. Just my two cents from experience...
