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I was traveling eastbound on a highway. In middle lane coming up to a cube van in front of me in middle lane, traffic on the right attempting to merge in, so prepare to maneuver vehicle into leftmost lane (one over) of traffic to pass van and allow traffic in. Checked behind car and noticed a white 2005-6 Chevrolet Silverado approximately 20 feet behind my car. I proceed to turn on signal and begin lane change maneuver to pass cube van. While 25-50% in left lane, look up in rearview mirror to see the headlights shining right behind me and before I had time to react I am bumped by the truck on my driver’s side rear quarter panel / bumper and nearly lose control.
We pull over on the median between GV and Webster once we are well off the bridge. I get out of my car and the driver gets out of his truck and he proceeds to talk shit. “What the fuck is your problem you stupid cock sucker this is my fucking truck" and I in shock yelled back “this is my car why the hell did you speed up and hit me for asshole?” we both proceed back to our vehicles and I proceed to call 911 requesting assistance. An officer from Brown County Sheriffs department (I did not get name, badge number or squad car #) came and did talk to the truck owner who was outside of his vehicle for about 10 minutes. The officer came towards me and instructed me to stay in my vehicle and asked me for my license, my name, phone number and name of my insurance company. He then asked what happened, I told him and he left.
After some time I did notice he was talking to the driver of the truck who was again outside of his vehicle and after 5 more minutes the driver left. The officer came back towards my car and let me get out and explained to me that since the damage on both of our vehicles was less than $1000 each that he would file this as a non-reportable accident. The officer told me he could not give me the name of the other driver or any other information unless we have exchanged this previously to the officer arriving / driver leaving. The officer told me that we are both partially at fault as this could have been avoided from either party’s perspective but that we are both at fault for this. The officer said he is not going to issue any citations. The officer also said that we can take this up with our own insurance and gave the report number of 07-**** to give to our insurance companies. He said the way this has been handled should help both of us as we were not cited, damages were low and it should help from an insurance standpoint if we choose not to file a claim which we would have to do against our own policy in this case.
Unfortunately, I did not get a copy of the report at the scene. I also did not have the name of the driver or his license plate or any policy number (he did not get my name, policy # either as far as I know unless the officer told him but the officer did not even get my policy #, just asked for the name of my insurer) as I was completely shaken up and in shock that someone would do this when I had my signal on and proceeded to change lanes. I can accept the fact being partially at fault for this and can accept the fact I will just pay out of pocket the expense to pay my vehicle’s repair costs. What I am concerned about is the other individual trying to file a claim against me or a small claims lawsuit and I have do not have adequate information to defend myself other than this until the report becomes available which I can order or pick up from the police department.
I don’t really want to report this to my insurance as I can suck up the cost out of pocket and pay the repair since I have been in an accident two years ago (insurance goes back as far as three years) where I was at fault with major damage and injuries which REALLY doesn’t help me much. If I’d report this my rates would be nearly impossible to pay. So you can see why I just want to pay for my repair myself. Other than being shouted at by the other driver and shouting back we have not exchanged any information. However I do think he has my plate # as he was behind me and I did not see his plates on the front of his truck (lucky me). I also did not want to attempt to walk behind his truck to get his in case he would initiate a physical altercation. Like I said, both at fault, I can accept that and pay for my own shit. My car got the raw end of the deal anyway, all that happened to his truck was his bumper got scuffed. There were no witnesses and we were both driving with no other occupants in either vehicle so it’s his word vs mine. I just don’t want any surprises to come back and wnt to know what I should do to protect myself against any small claims lawsuit or if his insurance company gets ahold of me (which they probably can if he reports his and gives the report # with my contact information on it).
What should I do? I'm just really worried because I didn't get a lot of info I probably should have, and although this is a pretty minor incident, I am freaking out about it. What do you think I should do regarding my insurance company?
We pull over on the median between GV and Webster once we are well off the bridge. I get out of my car and the driver gets out of his truck and he proceeds to talk shit. “What the fuck is your problem you stupid cock sucker this is my fucking truck" and I in shock yelled back “this is my car why the hell did you speed up and hit me for asshole?” we both proceed back to our vehicles and I proceed to call 911 requesting assistance. An officer from Brown County Sheriffs department (I did not get name, badge number or squad car #) came and did talk to the truck owner who was outside of his vehicle for about 10 minutes. The officer came towards me and instructed me to stay in my vehicle and asked me for my license, my name, phone number and name of my insurance company. He then asked what happened, I told him and he left.
After some time I did notice he was talking to the driver of the truck who was again outside of his vehicle and after 5 more minutes the driver left. The officer came back towards my car and let me get out and explained to me that since the damage on both of our vehicles was less than $1000 each that he would file this as a non-reportable accident. The officer told me he could not give me the name of the other driver or any other information unless we have exchanged this previously to the officer arriving / driver leaving. The officer told me that we are both partially at fault as this could have been avoided from either party’s perspective but that we are both at fault for this. The officer said he is not going to issue any citations. The officer also said that we can take this up with our own insurance and gave the report number of 07-**** to give to our insurance companies. He said the way this has been handled should help both of us as we were not cited, damages were low and it should help from an insurance standpoint if we choose not to file a claim which we would have to do against our own policy in this case.
Unfortunately, I did not get a copy of the report at the scene. I also did not have the name of the driver or his license plate or any policy number (he did not get my name, policy # either as far as I know unless the officer told him but the officer did not even get my policy #, just asked for the name of my insurer) as I was completely shaken up and in shock that someone would do this when I had my signal on and proceeded to change lanes. I can accept the fact being partially at fault for this and can accept the fact I will just pay out of pocket the expense to pay my vehicle’s repair costs. What I am concerned about is the other individual trying to file a claim against me or a small claims lawsuit and I have do not have adequate information to defend myself other than this until the report becomes available which I can order or pick up from the police department.
I don’t really want to report this to my insurance as I can suck up the cost out of pocket and pay the repair since I have been in an accident two years ago (insurance goes back as far as three years) where I was at fault with major damage and injuries which REALLY doesn’t help me much. If I’d report this my rates would be nearly impossible to pay. So you can see why I just want to pay for my repair myself. Other than being shouted at by the other driver and shouting back we have not exchanged any information. However I do think he has my plate # as he was behind me and I did not see his plates on the front of his truck (lucky me). I also did not want to attempt to walk behind his truck to get his in case he would initiate a physical altercation. Like I said, both at fault, I can accept that and pay for my own shit. My car got the raw end of the deal anyway, all that happened to his truck was his bumper got scuffed. There were no witnesses and we were both driving with no other occupants in either vehicle so it’s his word vs mine. I just don’t want any surprises to come back and wnt to know what I should do to protect myself against any small claims lawsuit or if his insurance company gets ahold of me (which they probably can if he reports his and gives the report # with my contact information on it).
What should I do? I'm just really worried because I didn't get a lot of info I probably should have, and although this is a pretty minor incident, I am freaking out about it. What do you think I should do regarding my insurance company?
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