When your deductible makes you second guess filing a claim

Title: When your deductible makes you second guess filing a claim

Honestly, insurance feels more like a safety net for big stuff these days. For anything borderline, it’s almost always less hassle to just settle up directly if you trust the other person isn’t going to pull something shady.

That’s pretty much how I look at it too—insurance is there for the “oh crap” moments, not the little stuff. Still, I’ve seen cases where folks thought it was just a fender bender, handled it privately, and then months later the other party suddenly claimed neck pain. Even with photos and a written agreement, it can get messy if they change their story. I always tell people to weigh the risk: is saving a couple hundred bucks now worth the potential headache if things go sideways later?

Curious—has anyone here ever had a private agreement go south? Or maybe regretted NOT filing a claim after the fact?