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  1. #1

    Exclamation What Can Happen if You Rear-End a Car but Don't Exchange Information or Make a Report

    My question involves a traffic accident in the State of: Wisconsin

    I rear-ended someone, and there was no damage to their car, but I stupidly did not get any of their information (not even their license plate) or take pictures. There were 3 people in the car, two parents and their probably high school or college aged daughter. The parents did not speak English, so I communicated with their daughter. They had absolutely no idea what to do, and not being in many problems like this before, neither did I. I was not thinking clearly and was mad at myself for having hit them. I guess I thought since their car didn't have any damage and I was at fault, I didn't need their information. They have my name and phone number. We did not call police since there was no damage, and I have looked into reporting the accident, however in the state of Wisconsin there must be at least $1000 worth of damage or injury for a report to be made. I wouldn't really have enough info to complete the form anyway.

    I am worried that they might damage their car in another incident and then try to blame it on me, or that they will claim something like an injury even though they said they were fine and try to sue me later. We had a similar incident to this a few years back in my family where the person that was hit came back at us 2 years later with claims that there was more damage than there was. Does anyone have any advice on how to move forward/deal with this, or is it just a waiting game?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: What Can Happen if You Rear-End a Car but Don't Exchange Information or Make a Re

    What difference would it make if you had their names, addresses, dates of birth, and favorite meal? If they are going to make such claims they are going to make such claims.

  3. #3

    Default Re: What Can Happen if You Rear-End a Car but Don't Exchange Information or Make a Re

    The difference is that I do not have photos of the vehicles immediately following the incident, so there is no proof of when any damage would have occurred. They could damage their car another way after and then claim that it was a result of our incident, not something else, thereby making me responsible for paying for that damage that I didn't actually cause. It is also an issue that I don't have their information in case something comes up where I end up needing it in the future and have no way to contact them without them contacting me first. It is always recommended that info is collected by both drivers, as I have now learned the hard way. It's also possible that I wasn't entirely at fault even though I just assumed I was at first. My question is whether I should be worried or if there are any more steps I can take, bearing in mind that I don't have much evidence, to protect myself.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: What Can Happen if You Rear-End a Car but Don't Exchange Information or Make a Re

    Quote Quoting outoftheashes88
    View Post
    It's also possible that I wasn't entirely at fault
    Nope. You hit the car in front of you. You were either following too closely, going to fast for conditions, or failed to control your vehicle, any or all of which puts you 100% at fault.

    Quote Quoting outoftheashes88
    View Post
    My question is whether I should be worried or if there are any more steps I can take, bearing in mind that I don't have much evidence, to protect myself.
    Yes, there is one step you can take.

    Call your insurance company and report this right now. Your policy requires it so you don't want to lose your insurance if stuff hits the fan later and reporting it now gives the insurance company notice so the experts can handle it if something comes out of the woodwork.

    "Will my rates go up?"

    Maybe. But so what. Would you rather pay thousands to your victims or a few bucks more for insurance?

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