So, I got into a little fender bender, and now I’m worried. The guy called an ambulance even though he seemed fine. The paramedics checked him out and then left, and the police told me I could leave too. I’m not sure what to expect next, and I’ve never dealt with this kind of thing before. Is there a chance he could still sue me even though he didn’t look hurt? And how bad will this mess with my insurance?
If they called an ambulance, he might try to sue you. Your insurance should cover it, but you might want to contact them ASAP just in case. The fact that he had an ambulance come out is kinda worrying.
@Paris
The paramedics checked him out, and he seemed fine. They told me I could leave the scene, so IDK if that’s a good sign? I thought insurance would cover any medical bills if he tries something.
Moe said:
@Paris
The paramedics checked him out, and he seemed fine. They told me I could leave the scene, so IDK if that’s a good sign? I thought insurance would cover any medical bills if he tries something.
Yeah, insurance should handle it, but if he decides to sue, they’ll assign you a lawyer. My wife went through the same thing—no injuries at the scene, but we got a lawsuit notice years later.
@Koa
Wait, years later? Isn’t there some kind of time limit on how long they can wait to sue?
Marin said:
@Koa
Wait, years later? Isn’t there some kind of time limit on how long they can wait to sue?
Depends on the state. Some places have a statute of limitations of 2-3 years for these cases.
@Koa
Same thing happened to my friend. Small accident, but they tried to sue for ‘emotional distress’ and all kinds of stuff. People will do anything for money.
Moe said:
@Paris
The paramedics checked him out, and he seemed fine. They told me I could leave the scene, so IDK if that’s a good sign? I thought insurance would cover any medical bills if he tries something.
I’ve had a similar situation. Minor accident, no damage, but the dude called an ambulance anyway. Then I get a letter from the hospital saying they’re putting a lien on the insurance payout. My rates doubled for three years after that.
@Vail
I’ll lose it if my insurance goes up that much. I’m already stressed.
Moe said:
@Vail
I’ll lose it if my insurance goes up that much. I’m already stressed.
I hear you. I’m with Allstate, and they add a surcharge for accidents that sticks around for three years. Hopefully, it won’t be as bad if he doesn’t claim any medical costs.
@Vail
Ugh, I’m also with Allstate. The paramedics left after checking him out, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign. Is there any way to know if he actually went to the hospital?
Moe said:
@Vail
Ugh, I’m also with Allstate. The paramedics left after checking him out, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign. Is there any way to know if he actually went to the hospital?
There’s no way to know for sure. In my case, the ambulance left before the cops even showed up, but I still got a call from my insurance two weeks later.
Moe said:
@Vail
Ugh, I’m also with Allstate. The paramedics left after checking him out, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign. Is there any way to know if he actually went to the hospital?
Might be time to look into budget insurance if Allstate spikes your rates… just saying.
To avoid a huge insurance hike, follow these tips: 1) Don’t tailgate, even in slow traffic. 2) Pay attention to the road.
But honestly, unless you can convince the other person to settle privately, your rates are likely going up.
@Amani
I wish I’d gotten his number. I feel like I have no way to communicate with him now.
Moe said:
@Amani
I wish I’d gotten his number. I feel like I have no way to communicate with him now.
Didn’t the cops give you an accident report with his info? At the very least, you should have the other car’s details.
@Heath
Depends on the state. Where I’m from, minor accidents don’t always get a full report. They just jot down notes.
@Heath
I tried calling the number they gave me, but the office was closed. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Moe said:
@Amani
I wish I’d gotten his number. I feel like I have no way to communicate with him now.
Honestly, even if you had his number, it wouldn’t make much difference now. If the insurance and police are already involved, you can’t really avoid a rate hike.
@Colin
I was hoping to settle it privately with cash. Guess that’s not an option anymore.