I get the whole “overprepare” thing, but honestly, sometimes it just feels like we’re doing their job for them. I’ve had my share of parking lot mishaps—once with a new S-Class, which was a nightmare—and every time, it’s like they’re looking for an excuse to deny the claim.
- I get that having photos, dashcam footage, witness info, etc. helps, but is it really reasonable to expect everyone to have that level of documentation on hand?
- The “prove it six ways” approach you mentioned... yeah, it works, but at what cost? Time, stress, and in my case, a lot of back-and-forth with adjusters who seemed more interested in finding loopholes than actually helping.
I actually tried the “just call the cops and file a report” route once. Took forever, but it did seem to carry more weight with insurance. Not saying it’s always worth it—especially if it’s just a fender bender—but if your car’s worth a lot (or repairs are going to be expensive), it might be less hassle in the end.
On the other hand, I get why some people skip the cops and just deal direct with insurance. Sometimes, you just want to move on and not spend half your week chasing paperwork. But in my experience, the more expensive the car, the more hoops they make you jump through. Maybe that’s just me being cynical.
Anyway, I’m not convinced there’s a “right” way to handle it. Depends on the car, the damage, and how much patience you’ve got left after dealing with all the nonsense.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but for me it’s less about “overpreparing” and more about just covering my bases. I drive a pretty average family car, nothing fancy, but even then, insurance can be a pain.
- Quick phone pics take 30 seconds—doesn’t have to be a whole photoshoot.
- Dashcams are cheap now. Saved me once when someone tried to blame me for a scrape in the school parking lot.
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Totally agree, but skipping steps can mean paying out of pocket later.Sometimes, you just want to move on and not spend half your week chasing paperwork.
I’d rather spend a few minutes upfront than fight with insurance for weeks. Not saying it’s fun, but it beats getting stuck with the bill.
Can’t argue with that logic—my ‘72 Chevelle’s had more photos taken of it after fender benders than at car shows. Insurance folks always want proof, and I’d rather give them too much than not enough. Dashcams are a lifesaver, honestly... wish I’d had one back when a runaway shopping cart “attacked” me.
Dashcams are a lifesaver, honestly... wish I’d had one back when a runaway shopping cart “attacked” me.
I totally get that. My minivan’s been dinged by more rogue carts and mystery bumpers than I care to admit. I’m with you on the dashcam thing—those little gadgets are worth their weight in gold, especially when you’re dealing with insurance. But here’s where I’m a bit torn: is it always best to just hand everything over to insurance? Sometimes I wonder if it’s smarter to call the cops first, especially if the damage is more than just a scratch or if there’s any doubt about who did what.
Last year, someone sideswiped us at the grocery store and took off. No note, nothing. Insurance wanted a police report before they’d even look at my claim. Felt like overkill for a busted taillight, but apparently it’s standard now? Maybe it depends on your state or company, but man, it’s never as simple as just snapping a few pics and moving on.
Anyway, I guess my point is—photos are great, dashcams are better, but sometimes you still end up jumping through hoops no matter what you do.
Honestly, I’ve run into the same issue—insurance companies almost always want a police report if there’s any chance someone else was involved or if it’s a hit-and-run. It does feel like overkill sometimes, especially for minor stuff, but I guess they need that paper trail. I’ve noticed some states are stricter than others, too. Once, I tried to file a claim for a parking lot scrape and my adjuster flat-out refused without a report. Kind of frustrating, but I get why they do it. Dashcams help, but yeah, there’s still a lot of red tape.
