So today kind of sucked.. I was coming home from picking up my brother from his university and the weather was really rainy/groggy in the middle of the rush hour.. It was touch and go traffic at the lights so I accelerated but when I braked the car skidded into the one in front of mine.

There was only superficial damage on both cars (the other driver acknowledged as well and I offered to pay for it all) and wasn't all that keen on calling the cops or anything but then he said how his back could be hurting tomorrow. Anyhow we traded our information and though he sounded understanding given that I took responsibility for everything and it really was accidental and not carelessness or reckless, I feel a little apprehensive about the 'back pain' thing. He said he'd wait out a day and let me know tomorrow what he'll do and I'm simply hoping that he'll be understanding though I'm not counting on it.

Any idea what kind of financial damage I could be looking at, here?...I'm 24, and I haven't had any accident in 8 years or any speeding ticket in last 4~5 years. This is in Ontario, Canada.

Quick note: He was driving an old VW (probably 10 years old if not older), and I was a 2005 Corolla..

Yeah.. I bet his back will be hurting tomorrow. That sucks man. I would call your insurance company and explain what happened first off.

Insurance rate will rise if a claim is filed.

the back thing is bull****, don't fall for it if he shoves a doctor's bill under your nose. Did you do everything you need to do for your insurance? In the long run you're probably better of if you keep it all official.

With out a police report on the scene he really can't claim crap now.

If the cops weren't called and hence a report never filed, you technically don't HAVE to be at fault. If he tried pulling something shady, he won't be able too without a police report on his side.....unless you confess.

Yeah we traded information so I have his contact, insurance info, license plate and license no...

Fingers crossed the damage won't be too much...

sorry to hear about it.. driving in this kind of weather is never fun... my drive back from work in toronto today was good 30-40 minutes longer than usual with the crappy weather

Newer cars are more and more expensive to fix.

Even if its a little dent your look at at least $500.00

I hope you have your check book ready. Should of called insurance on this one.

The car I'm not worried about because there really isn't any damage/dent. At most a few scratches in front but no dent or anything. His car I'm not sure about but given there wasn't any dent on it either and when he rubbed the damage area, it was just the paint coming off...I don't think it should be *that* much.

Only thing I'm concerned about is the back-pain thing because I've no answer to that. I mean, if someone rear-ends me in touch-and-go traffic I'd never even think about it. Hell I didn't till he mentioned so I was weirded out..

Since it happened on a public road...what does your local law say about reporting accidents. Hopefully, this person is honest and realistic and not home sitting with his buddies scheming.

My friend just mentioned that you can go to the cops and file a report (as in they don't need to come) so there's a small chance that the police report could have still been filed too to supplement the insurance claim. I guess I'll find out tomorrow either way.

In Aus, you have up to 48 hours to file a report with the police, so he could still do one.

If he wasn't worried about the car, I don't really see him going for a compo claim...

Paint can cost up to $2000-$3000 depending on what he wants to get repainted, and where he goes.

Your insurance company will charge you for the accident at your next renewal. You will drop from 8 to 0 years without claims. It will hurt you. Maybe you had an accident forgiveness package that would not drop it to 0 but keep it to 8 or lower it 7 years without claim.
Years without claims and years of experience/age are the 2 main criteria for the price of policy. You will loose a no-claim/renewal discount that if between 5 to 10 % and also expect a hike from 25 to 50% for dropping to a 0 rating.
Your rear-ended him. Even if you didn't call the police, there is no way that you could not be responsible for that accident. The logic being that you were following from too close.

I've already accepted full responsibility for it. I just needed an idea on rest of the information; thanks for the info.

That's when you just take a soft hammer and bash it back Body work is way too expensive.

lol so lame, since you say there are no dents I assume it was just a light hit, if his back is in pain maybe someone else rear-ended him (no cars involved). I would not accept any medical cost, it seems to me this guy already has a problem in his back and wants to get paid for it.

Or maybe he is honest and he had a problem and now he may fear it will come back again.

The fact that no police report was filed makes it more complicated, its now all hearsay. Who's to say he won't back into a tree now and claim it was you rear ending him? Or throw his back out lifting something? Bumpers are flexible/plastic... watch a crash in slow motion and you'll see they get smashed in and then pop back out. You probably have some sort of damage to your bumper support.

You should always get a police report. It helps eliminate someone from lying or tacking on ridiculous things.

Did you at least take pictures?

what the...oh...rear ended in a car...nevermind then

^ LMFAO!!! Nice! LoL

Whether you see it as purely accidental or not, insurance companies will see it otherwise as the roads were slick from rain and and you were following too close. If you had not been following too close, you probably could have had time to stop before hitting another car. IMO, it was careless as you should have been aware and practicing safe® driving.

call the police, no questions. don't try to get around the law. you had an accident, plain and simple, take responsibility and call the police, as it might REALLY save you a law suit.

The police won't do **** in the US, i got in an accident before called the police they asked if the cars were still drivable i said yes(just cause there drivable don't mean they are in good condition), she told me call our insurance companies, that's it no police report no nothing

Beat me to it.. lol


Sucks bro, Well at least you didn't run through a garage door like somebody I know.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I ran through the garage door.

MUCH better than rear-ending a pole. I saw someone do that.

Always go through your insurance company (unless you only damage your own car).

I've been there before. I bumped a lady in the shopping mart parking, she was dragging her ass to get over a speed bump and I wasnt' entirely engaged in driving at that moment. My car nudged her car creating a minor scratch on her bumper. I saw her get ouf of her car and looked fine. Her son called the cops, and as soon as they arrived she was acting like her neck was injured. An ambulance was called. Where I live police do not need to be involved unless there is more than 1000.00 worth of damage or bodily injury, which neither were the case. Her son told me while waiting for the cops that they, him and his mother, wanted to be safe than sorry eventhough we had exchanged insurance info. I immediately called the insurance to report what I witnessed. Nothing ever came of the situation. Apparently they had on record several other fender benders. The insurace company was very understanding and my rate never went up. I didnt' pay a cent.

So I suggest you contact your insurance company to protect yourself. The situation sounds a little fishy. Good luck, hang in there.

Maybe where you are, but each time I've been in an accident, the police came.

This lady rear ended me in August, I said I don't care, since it was just a tap, I didn't even know she hit me until she knocked on my window. She inisisted she call the police. They came and did all the paper work, gave us police reports, etc...

Sorry about going off topic, but that comment made me think of this classic father ted moment...

don't live in Dfw(shows like cops, and SWAT love our town) then(i lived in arlington)

provided that there is no body work, it is about 500 per bumper to paint and 500 per fender and 500 per quater panel, and 500 per door. If there is body damage and any part of the body has to be filled or replaced that price goes up. A scratch on the rear bumper to get it repainted only is 500, expect that. If it is more or the driver is expecting any sort of medical coverage, call the insurance company. it is better for your ins premiums to go up than to deal with that. That guy, if he really is hurt, can take you for everything that you have and possibly everything that you are going to have. Even if it is crap all he has to do is get a dr to say some crap and then it is up to you and your lawyers to duke it out with him and his dr which will cost you a lot. Insurance also has lawyers and it is better going though them, if they have to pay out you better believe that they have their pockets covered with some good lawyers. Once the individual comes after you personally is when your lawyers come into play (and that guy can come after you personally ins or not, but the ins will be a buffer).

If it truly is a small bump get it taken care of without getting insurances involved, if it is anything more esp if there is a claim of any pain get your ins and cops involved.

Thanks for all the replies. Went through the insurance, I can expect some rate hike though I'll find out the details on Monday. I can move on now.

Change insurance company ASAP, since the other one will have no record of it yet. That should save you a year or so in terms of premiums.
I believe some people have done this and never got an increase due to some loophole...at least that's what people on Red Flag Deals suggest when you get into an accident in Ontario.

I worked as an auto underwriter and when you will call the get the premium, they will ask whether you had claims or not. If you lie and say no, you will get caught. Sure it will work for the next days/weeks because the company needs to update your file for all other insurers. But your new insurance company, when they will find out that you had an accident, will cancel you policy and/or NOT PAY for your next accident and they will write a note for all your future insurers that you lied to them. Good luck finding a new insurer after that! "Have you ever had your policy canceled?" No we don't want you cheap liar.

As for the loophole, I am aware that you can't change a policy premium after it is written. However, they can cancel it without a 30 days notice.

I thought the advice was to never admit liability in an accident, even if it was your fault. That way the insurance company isn't *forced* to make a payout.

If you go into the back of someone, its always your fault as far as insurance companys are concerned. You should of been a safe stopping distance away, even if they slammed on there brakes for no reason.. Its your fault for going into the back of them, as you wasnt a safe distance.

I think this thread can be deleted/closed now. I went through the insurance so it's all dealt with now. Thanks for all the replies.