Colleague hit my car

[Anonymous]

My colleague hit my car and the front of my car is damaged.
I have taken pictures of both the cars.
She says not to contact her car insurance.
She giving me a car mechanic number to contact and get the car repaired and says she will pay the mechanic.

Please advice what is the best option? Is it better to contact the car insurance?

[Anonymous]

No, her way is better. Even though she's at fault, your premium might still increase (depends on the circumstances, your driving history, lots of factors).

[Anonymous]

Contact your OWN mechanic. Ask THEM for an estimate. Tell her she either pays YOUR mechanic that YOU choose or you will go through insurance.

Never use the mechanic of the person who caused the damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, her way is better. Even though she's at fault, your premium might still increase (depends on the circumstances, your driving history, lots of factors).

OP here:
my car was parked. I was not in the car at the time when she hit my car.
why should the premium increase in this case?

[Anonymous]

Go through your insurance. Let them handle it. It will be too messy dealing with her mechanic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Contact your OWN mechanic. Ask THEM for an estimate. Tell her she either pays YOUR mechanic that YOU choose or you will go through insurance.

Never use the mechanic of the person who caused the damage.

+1

A friend backed into my car once and caused significant damage. She paid for the repairs at the place of my choosing and I didn't go through insurance because I was made whole and I was happy with the repairs. If the friend had questioned the cost I might have looked for a second opinion, or I might have just gone through insurance depending on how much of a hassle the whole thing would have been for me.

[Anonymous]

Get an estimate from a body shop you choose. If she insists on a different body shop or balks at the cost, let he know that you’d just as soon let your insurance handle it.

[Anonymous]

I also want to piggy back on others and tell you to get an estimate or two from a mechanic of your choosing. Let her know the price and if she doesn’t agree to it, then go through insurance.

[Anonymous]

Body shop, folks. Not mechanics.

[Anonymous]

Contact your insurance, provide the details, the photos, including her license plate. If you want your car fixed right, DO NOT do what she wants you to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get an estimate from a body shop you choose. If she insists on a different body shop or balks at the cost, let he know that you’d just as soon let your insurance handle it.

Dont forget to figure in car rental fee while your car is in the shop.

[Anonymous]

Since it’s my colleague I would go with her shop. For anyone I don’t know I wouldn’t. If you go thru your insurance she will think you a major byatch. I doubt her body shop does too poor a job. If you have a run of the mill not so new car there’s not much to be afraid of.

[Anonymous]

If your car was parked you nothing to fear from your insurance company. It’s treated as a no fault accident caused by the other party. You have total rights to use any body shop you want, legally you don’t even have to get multiple quotes.

[Anonymous]

Going through insurance guarantees a report that shows up on your carfax report when you try to sell it. Going through your/their body shop will likely leave you with a clean carfax

[Anonymous]

Yeah I think it’s fine if she wants to pay cash but you get to pick the mechanic.