Hey all, I need your quick advice on something. I was just in a small accident (minor scrapes on both of our cars, not a huge deal) in a situation which seemed to be the other driver's fault. We were driving down a one-way street and I was in the leftmost lane. I was looking in my rearview mirror (for apparently too long) when I looked forward and the car in the right lane started to turn left in front of me to pull into a gas station (not at a light). I managed to veer off the road and avoid a street light but I made minor contact with the car. I was awesome and calm and we exchanged information (license plate, driver's license, photos of damage, name and number) but the guy was quick to blame me. I told him we'd let our insurance companies figure it out. I remained friendly and optimistic because he was young and obviously upset.
I tried the non-emergency police lines but after ten minutes I gave up when no one answered. They usually don't show up for such minor accidents anyway.
So I started to call my insurance agency (after I got home) to file the claim but then I got a call from the kid I got in the accident with. He had his dad on the phone who is a "retired police officer" and he asked if we could get this resolved without bringing in our insurance companies because he didn't want his son to have a tarnished record right out of college. So basically they admitted that it was his son's fault. They asked me to get a few quotes for repairs and send them and they'd foot the bill.
Are there any loopholes here? Should I still talk to my insurance company? What would you do? This is the only accident I've been in where I was one of the drivers.
Thanks in advance ladies (and a few gents)!