- Had my car sideswiped in a parking lot last year, no witnesses, just a dent and a note with a barely readable phone number.
- Called the cops anyway—insurance wouldn’t even start the claim without that report.
- Honestly, even if it feels like overkill, I’d rather have too much paperwork than get denied later.
- If there’s a note, still file a report. Otherwise, you’re stuck if the other person ghosts you.
- Yeah, it’s a pain... but skipping steps can bite you hard when you’re already stressed.
Yeah, paperwork is a pain, but trust me—insurance loves their reports. I’ve seen claims get stuck for weeks just because someone skipped the police call. That “barely readable” phone number is classic... people write like doctors when they’re nervous.
Yeah, I’ve been there—once had my car sideswiped in a grocery lot and the guy left a note that looked like it was written during an earthquake. Insurance wouldn’t even look at my claim until I got a police report. It’s a hassle, but skipping the cops can end up costing you way more, especially if you’re already paying through the nose for coverage. I get wanting to avoid the paperwork, but it’s not worth the risk.
Had something similar happen with my Audi last year—tiny scrape, but the repair quote was ridiculous. I tried to handle it through insurance first, but without a police report, they basically shrugged. It’s a pain, but honestly, skipping that step just isn’t worth the gamble when repairs can run thousands.
Had a similar mess with my old Civic—someone sideswiped it in a grocery lot and just bailed. Didn’t call the cops at first, figured insurance would sort it. Big mistake... they wanted a report for anything over a couple hundred bucks. Lesson learned, even for small stuff, get that report.