If someone hit your vehicle ...

[Anonymous]

... how long would you give the other person to pay up, if s/he promised to pay out of pocket (i.e,. not go through insurance)? Dealing with a situation now where a guy said he's going to pay us (the collision is entirely his fault), and we've just passed the 2-week mark since he's received the estimate for the damages. So far he's made excuses for not paying, though just today left a message saying we should receive the payment early next week at latest. I'm wondering if there is a waiting period (say a month) by which point maybe it will be too late to file against him (i.e., contact his insurance company directly), so maybe he's playing that game with us. Thanks for any input.

[Anonymous]

I would give him until the middle of next week and then file. Is your insurance company/his insurance aware at all?

[Anonymous]

Two weeks? I'd probably tell him you want payment within 48 hours or you are calling his insurance company.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for writing. Yes, were thinking of giving him a bit more time. But it's going to be three weeks since the collision by middle of next week, so that's why we've gotten anxious/suspicious. We also hope to settle this privately, and will not involve our insurance company (we aren't at fault), and I'd imagine he has not reported it either, if he wants to settle directly with us.

[Anonymous]

How much damage ($) are we talking about?

[Anonymous]

A couple thousand. -OP

[Anonymous]

Even though you weren't at fault, you do realize your insurance company is going to cancel your insurance? You are supposed to notify your insurance company promptly when there's an accident. They will cancel for not reporting.

Good luck. I think your problems are just starting.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We've unfortunately been hit in the past -- another vehicle, again not our fault -- and we successfully claimed against the other person, not involving our insurance. So, that is not correct. Our coverage was not cancelled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We've unfortunately been hit in the past -- another vehicle, again not our fault -- and we successfully claimed against the other person, not involving our insurance. So, that is not correct. Our coverage was not cancelled.

You are lucky. If they become aware of the accident either through you or the other person, they can and will cancel.

[Anonymous]

OP, you did a very kind thing, but I think you need to tell the other person to pay up within the next 24 hours or else you'll contact insurance. I think you'll be contacting your insurance. If 16:38 is correct, better be prepared to give the insurance company a very good reason for the delay in filing. Hope this doesn't turn out to be a case of "no good deed goes unpunished." Good luck!

[Anonymous]

How do you even know he has insurance? He could have told you that, but it doesn't mean he has insurance.

[Anonymous]

Why are you so hesitant to report the accident to your insurer if you were not at fault?

It must have been a pretty significant crash to cause that much damage. Did you at least get a police report?

[Anonymous]

Hi recent posters. Yes, we do know he has insurance for certain (have his info). I agree, we have been too kind/flexible. The damage wasn't that significant, no, and the vehicle is drivable. But it's still the guy's fault, and of course the entire thing was/is upsetting to us. No police report, but we took photos, have other info/evidence. -OP

[Anonymous]

I'd give him 48 hours and call it a day. Next time, regardless of what the other person says they will or will not do: ALWAYS, ALWAYS report it to YOUR insurance in a timely (same day) fashion. They'll just cancel the claim if he ends up paying.

We had someone hit us and he said he was insured but wanted to pay out of pocket. He delayed and delayed and never paid. Turns out he had an insurance but hadn't paid the policy in a few months and so it was inactive.

Our insurance ended up paying as an "uninsured driver" although we had witnesses, etc. We paid the $250 deductible out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi recent posters. Yes, we do know he has insurance for certain (have his info).-OP

But how do you know it is current? How do you know it hasn't been canceled?

You are taking his word, when so far it hasn't amounted to much.