Auto Insurance Claims: rear end collision, legal recourse, careless driving

Question
I was involved in a minor (less than 3 miles an hour) rear end collision that did not do any discernible damage to the car I bumped. I did not report it to the insurance company until I received a summons for careless driving, and they declined to cover me saying I had not reported the incident in a timely manner. I was convicted of careless driving three months later. A year later I received a bill from the insurers of the owner of the car I bumped asking for damages to her car. My questions are:
Did the owner of the car have any obligation to notify me of damages and work needing to be done, to allow me to settle without her insurance company getting involved with the subsequent addition of her deductible on my bill?
Am I entitled to the parts which were replaced (which were not noticeably damaged)?
Did she have any duty to inform me to allow me to inspect the car and get a competing quote (she got one quote and her insurance company hired a surveyor to check it - for which they have billed me)?

Answer
Hi Louis,
She may have totally ripped you off for the amount, but it was done in the proper legal manner.
You have absolutely no rights or legal recourse except to pay the bills that you have been sent.
You have no right at this time to see the damaged parts, they were sent to the junk yard months ago when her car was repaired.
Practically all states have a law on the books requiring you to report a damage only accident within 10 days and an accident that included death or serious injury within 24-48 hours.
All insurance policies have a clause requiring you to make a timely report of an accident so they can immediately inspect the damaged car and pay the claimant for only the damage that you caused.
You have learned an expensive lesson about state and insurance laws.
In the future, if you ever nick, scratch, bump or collide with another vehicle, try to get a police report and immediately make a report to your insurance company.
They will investigate and pay if necessary.  In most states unless you caused damage exceeding that state's threshold, which is usually $500-$750, the incident will not be considered chargeable and have no affect on your insurance rate.
I trust this answer has been of help, please write again if I can be of more assistance.
Your feedback for my answer will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area 10-29-07 9:25 AM PST