Will my first accident "haunt" me forever?

[TheModerate]

After 9 years of driving, I got into my first accident! It occurred near my campus. As I was attempting to turn left into my school's parking lot from the main road, I was struck by a sir in his employer's pickup truck that was in the opposite lane. Their damages were minimal which involved the front bumper (fender bender), but my damages were the complete tearing of the bumper, frame, and panels (valued $4000 of damages).

Luckily, there was a campus police already in the vicinity who came by to record the situation, as usual. Although I did not admit fault to the police officer, I did tell the good sir and his employer (his boss who came to the scene later) that I would be willing to pay for their damages out of pocket without involving insurance. They fortunately agreed. (Yesterday, I met with the boss again to confirm that she won't be filing and I also asked if she was fine with signing a "Release of Liability" form once I get a quote from her and pay for all the damages. She pleasantly agreed to that as well.)

The campus police did not give me any violation or charge me with anything. To bring in more context, the reason I don't want to claim insurance is because my car is insured under my parent's policy; however, I am an authorized driver. Essentially, I don't want to disclose this incident to my parents because I want to avoid inducing stress into their lives. I am committed to keeping this incident discrete, and I already have the funds to complete repairs of my car with the cost at worse-case estimate which is $4200.

The biggest question is, since the accident has been filed with the police, will it forever be part of the car's VIN#/history (even if I didn't get a ticket/violation charge)? When my parents renew their insurance policy next year, will the insurance recheck my VIN#/history and associated police reports? When I decide to insure my car using my own insurance, would not reporting the accident with my parent's insurance cause me to be deferred? Do insurance actively seek police reports during renewal periods? Will this police report be reported to higher echelons? BASICALLY, will this police report "haunt" me forever?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state?

 

[Zigner]

Wait...you REALLY want to spend $4,200 just so you don't have to own up to your mistake? Wow

 

[HighwayMan]

Wait...you REALLY want to spend $4,200 just so you don't have to own up to your mistake? Wow

Well, it's more than that since he is also paying out-of-pocket for the damage to the other vehicle.

I think this person is over-reacting to what was a relatively minor accident.

 

[HighwayMan]

When my parents renew their insurance policy next year, will the insurance recheck my VIN#/history and associated police reports?

It has nothing to do with the vehicle. If a police report was filed than it's on YOU as a driver. The collision is now recorded on your driving history and yes, it may very well affect your parent's insurance rates and your own when you decide to get your own insurance.

 

[TheModerate]

Wait...you REALLY want to spend $4,200 just so you don't have to own up to your mistake? Wow

With all due respect, sir/ma'am, I'm paying out-of-pocket utilizing my own money in my emergency savings account. I'm not "disclosing" this to my parents simply because I don't want to receive their scolding; I don't want to add unneeded stress in their daily lives. It is my personal moral obligation. $4200 is the worse-case scenario, and yes, I didn't include the other party's vehicle which was very minor (probably $400-$500).

Quincy, I'm from Georgia.

Highwayman, well, it looks like I already screwed myself for not reporting to my parent's insurance, and we barely just started..... The entire point of not claiming insurance was to avoid it being on record, especially since I'm going to do a complete repair to the vehicle.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

the accident will show you your record even if no charged. Insurance will know about it and hence it is likely your parents will as well. Insurance has been paid for I find it stupid not to use it.

 

[TheModerate]

I appreciate every single one of your advice, gentlemen! After taking account of all y'all's advices, I'm considering to just disclose the accident to my parents and filing an insurance claim. The accident happened Thursday. Today is Sunday. I'll give it one more day and hit the campus police office tomorrow to check on the status on their accident report before I make my decision to claim or not. Hopefully, it isn't too late to claim.

PayrollHR Guy, I was thinking about the same thing for the past 3, restless nights. Why pay for full coverage if you're not going to use it? Defeats the whole point of insurance; crap happens in life even to the safest drivers. It would be nice if I could access my parents policy to see if they have accident forgiveness. I simply just wanted to carry the burden of this accident by myself without troubling my parents, but unfortunately, the circumstances seem to now allow me to. I recently figured that compensating them by paying their increased premiums is better than forking $4200 to repair the damages of both my vehicle and the other party's.

Thanks again y'all, especially for the stern critiques on my judgement!

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

If your parents are footing any of your bills they should be included in how you save them money.

That said, I will repeat there is a very good chance the insurance company will find out about the accident any way you go. There is also the outside possibility that the other driver will all of a sudden claim medical costs.

 

[Perter Parker]

When I was 20 I was going home from work at late night and needed to swing by the gas station. I was getting ready to make a left turn into the station and waited for a few motorcycles to pass and I looked down the road to clear the turn and saw a single light from a motorcycle about a mile away so I went ahead and made the turn. About halfway through the turn I saw the light getting brighter and noticed the guy was maybe 3 feet away from my car.
That’s when time began to slow down as I stomped on the gas to try to get out of the way. It was unfortunately too late as his body hit the side of my car completely shoving to the side. I got out and he just lay crushed in the street. The gas station was very busy so a crowd immediately formed around the man and cops and ambulance came. He died a few hours later in the hospital.

After the accident I just sat on the side of the road thinking well I’m going to prison I just killed a dude, very much in shock and a bystander came up to me and said “do you see what you did!!? Go see what you did!” I wasn’t really responsive at this time. After detectives came and talked to people I found out the guy was going well over 150mph on a bike trying to catch up to his friends and when I pulled out he didn’t slow down but apparently ditched his bike and only his body hit my car. Turns out if he stayed on his bike he would have missed me completely. I was bothered for some time but have come to accept that this kind of crazy shit happens, just have to carry on.
Now, I am working in an auto insurance company in Houston, USA. Life change everyday moment come and go some of them take time. Try to engage your self in work or either with your family and friends not sit alone and thinking about it okay.