Driving & Driving Test Tips: Car Accident Without the Police Involved, car bumps, honest estimate

Question
Hi, I hope you are having a good day.  I have a honest question regarding an accident I was involved in.  There were two cars in front of me while I was driving.  The first made a right turn quickly causing the second car to brake quickly.  When I see the car in front brake, I quickly braked my vehicle trying to avoid a collision, but unfortunately, my car bumps into the back of his bumper (van)causing a small crack to his bumper.  My car's front-end is destroyed.  We both looked at our damages, but the man didn't want to involved the police.  I agreed with him.  I didn't have insurance and I don't don't believed he had insurance either.  We exchanged information and I told him out of good faith that I will try to take care of the bumper for his car.  He was fine with that and he got in his car and left.  His wife called me and she is telling me all kind of stuff about the estimate of damage and they are pretty extreme.  People have been telling me to forget about it because the man clearly didn't want the police involved.  They are taking advantage of me.  That it was his fault not to mentioned, I have to fix my car.  My car is destroyed and I don't believe I caused the accident.  If we walked away without getting the police involved, why should I pay for their small damage?  What is your opinion about this?

Answer
First I have to tell you that you are at fault for the collision.  you were following too close for conditions.  you need to maintain a safe distance behind another vehicle to be able to stop if it has to suddenly brakes, which he did in this case.

Just because the Police do not get involved does not resolve you of your financial obligation.

if you are going to pay for the damages, then you should make sure that the other driver obtains an honest estimate for damages, otherwise he may get an inflated estimate.