Auto Insurance Claims: To be nice or not to be nice?, juris doctor, car wash

Question
Our driver took our company vehicle to a car wash. The car wash employee damaged the side of our service truck that has cabinets. The car wash owner would like to keep the insurance company out of it and pay for all the expenses. I want to be nice and work it out, but the cost may exceed his "guesstimate" of repairs. I, in my gut, feel like we still need to report it to our insurance company... because you NEVER know. Should I trust the car wash owner and let him pay...or go with my gut feeling?  

Answer
Hi Davina,

It is good to cooperate and let the party at fault solve the repairs without reporting it to his insurance, BUT ONLY IF THE FULL REPAIRS ARE MADE OR PAID FOR.

Thus, I would get a professional opinion as to the damage, making sure that there is not any hidden or structural damage, and then give the estimate to the car wash owner and let him do with it as he wishes.

If he does have a body shop that will give him a "price" and the repairs are not too significant, then by all means let him do it that way.

But you do not have to take one dent less than full repairs.  Otherwise, if he is just stalling, go ahead and report it to your insurance company.

Best wishes,

Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
www.SettlementCentral.Com