My son's car - registered in my name - grazed the side of another vehicle - as he turned right onto a side street. Minor paint transfer occurred. The owner's daughter ( not even the driver ! ) spoke to me on the tele and was adamant about not involving any insurance company or police - especially did not want the police. The daughter of the owner of the vehicle (in her 40's) told me on the telephone that she would have it estimated within a week and get back to me regarding what it would cost to fix. From listening to my son (age early 20's with NO "incident's" thus far) - I think her girlfriend (the driver) was driving on the wrong side of the road ! But the fact remains my son made enough contact on the other car to cause a little paint transfer - so wouldn't that mean he was at fault - even if she was on the wrong side of the road ? Anyway, I called her several times but got a message that she had no more room ton her answering machine to leave any messages . She never got back to me... until just now - a little over TWO months later I just got a message on my tele answering machine from a man who did not identify himself other than mentioning her type vehicle and that they want $800.00 for this paint transfer that happened over two months ago. Problem is that neither my son NOR I got the name of the DRIVER, NOR the Insurance company they have - and ( also foolishly !) there was NO police report filed. Another problem is that since then, I had the car my son was driving at the time this occurred has been hauled away (crushed by now). He is driving another vehicle. I will call my insurance company in the morning - because I cannot recall if I had given her that info on the telephone ! She was so adamant about not involving insurances and especially did NOT want the police involved and my son told me it was just a paint transfer ( no pic taken, either - ugh ! ), so we did not file a police report and decided not to mention it to my insurance company, either.

Q: Is it too late to file a police report ?

The man caller said that if we didn't want to pay $800 then they would go through the insurance company. I'm ready to let that happen - although I'll offer a much smaller amount of money first. But before we do anything - I am hoping my son can still file a police report - to have an official record of this.

I thinks its too late... too much time has passed for the police to do anything. Reason being in two months anything could have happened that can be blamed on this.

The time for the police report was when it happened or very shortly afterwards.

Personally, if I was them... and I have been in a situation that was similar... tried to give the person who hit me a chance, and they tried to screw me so I went to their insurance and filed a claim on the ENTIRE amount as I got the estimate for, rental car and everything I was entitled to. And where I live, Virginia... the victim takes it to any licensed shop they wish... get ONE estimate and that's what the other has to pay. Its not open to negotiations.

The moral being... pay it or turn it in... tick them off and they can make it a lot more costly very easy.

I would have gone after them if I didn't have cash in hand within a week. I wouldn't have allowed anyone to drag their feet for two months. IN the case I mentioned I was after their insurance company 2 days after I got the second excuse. I went after their company in the state I lived, where it happened, not the rep from his state that wasn't that far away.

Hi "smoothy" ! Thanks for answering so quickly...

I'm hoping the law in the state I live in - will allow a police report to be filed - if only for a record. I'm not wanting them to do anything... I'm also thinking that if my insurance company is going to agree to pay - then they would want to have one of their people estimate the vehicle's damage ? However, there are still a few facts missing -

1. The driver's name
2. Did the driver have a license ?
3. What is their driver's license number ?
4. The insurance information of the other vehicle
5. The offending vehicle is no longer among us. Not sure if that matters?

All the information one should get when in an accident did not get taken down. I thought my son got it - he thought I did - when on the tele with her. No excuse... ignorance is NOOOOO excuse, I know. I'm more annoyed with both my son and myself for NOT getting that info - OR taking a pic of it when it happened - than I am with the pending insurance claim...

I want to give them something - but $800.00?? I'm not out to screw anybody. However, I am trying to avoid being taken for a ride here... The nagging Question that always comes back to me is "Why would the person who was hit NOT want the police involved.?" If someone hit me - I wouldn't call the police on the scene - if it was as minor as this - however, I would be seriously hoping a police vehicle would happen to be driving by at the time and I certainly WOULD want to file a claim with the insurance company - as well as fill out a police report. Something is fishy - gut feeling.

At this point it is a "he said "-"she said ". Police will not give any report regarding fault. In most states this would be a "No Fault" accident. Let the other party file under their own policy. I would not offer ANY money. Why would you offer to pay if "she was on the wrong side of the road "?

I like the way you think :) ! He said... she said... NO FAULT... ( I'll have to look into that )

I agree with no police report, no claim. Too much time has passed, no evidence it even happened, no pictures, and for all you know, the woman driving was drunk or unlicensed or who know what. Further damage to their car could have happened. Ignore the demand for $800 or just say 'too late.' Don't get into a big discussion.
No fault simply means that each person files a claim with his or her insurance, regardless of who was at fault, and lets them sort it out. No fault goes by state, but many have it.

You can go file one, they will do nothing but file it. It will do you no good what so ever. Many departments will not even take it.

You turn it over to your insurance company and let them handle it.

You need to teach you son you have to get the name address Insurance info from them Tag number (and I've even gotteh the VIN in case they have hot tags.).

I've always gotten their drivers license number as well as a phone number.

Just a warning... if you hit an uninsured or unliscensed driver and its your fault... the fact they were driving illegally doesn't automatically get you off the hook. Which is a shame, but it's the law.

Police will not always come to the scene for minor damage that involves no injuries or private property other than the vehicles if both remain operable.