zaqwert7

I need some help...

Today, I was hit by a Taxi cap in Manhattan. It was not that serious. Actually, it was little bit of scratch on the rear bumper.
However, The taxi driver didn't want to admit that he hit my car. So I had to call the police for help and I got the police report saying it was his fault.

Now, I have no idea what to do cause it was my first time to have this kind of accident. Should I call my insurance company and claim the damage? or Just use rubbing compound to erase the yellow paint on my white bumper? Well, The police man told me that my insurance will go up if I claim for the damage.. but it was clealy not my fault. and I dont want any scratch on my car....

Do you guys have any idea what I should do?
I also want to know how much it is to fix this kind of damage?
I will include the picture...so please help me...

SAM from Fort Lee, NJ (97' C230)

henry47

dont clean it yet. Leave the scuff marks there. Go call your insurance and let them know. They'll investigate it. Just tell your insurance the details of the accident and if it turns out to be the taxi's fault, thenyour premiums will not rise

DMXtremeZ

Nah that's not true. NJ has some f*cked up insurance policies, one of them being if you are in a car accident and it wasn't your fault, your premium will still go up just for being in an accident. Did you get the license plate or the number of the taxi that hit you? Then you could go to that company and speak to someone there about it...

DougandhisC280

He said Manhattan. I know Jersey is only like 5 miles away but in most cases that means 2 hours. When I was hit mine didn't go up any.

henry47

wow thats horrible. It doesn't seem fair for someone's premium to rise even though it's not their fault

EncinoMan

Fair? Who said life was fair? Especially in Manhattan! If what the other poster has said is true about your insurance going up regardless of fault, then your options are few. You could approach the cab co about paying whatever a body shop charges to repaint that portion of your car, but there's no guarantee they'll admit it was their (or their driver's) fault. You could take them to small claims court. Problem is, you'd have to prove to a judge that it really was this driver's fault. You'd need witnesses or photos of it actually happening. The police report proves nothing except that YOU SAID it was his fault. It might just be a whole lot easier to try some polishing compound and be done with it. I know it's a drag, but such is life. I know I'd be bummed if it happened to my car.

95c220

You might also want to check what the NY law is- I think that the governing law might be where the accident occurred- at the very least, I'd contact the cab company's insurance company. If you have a lawyer friend who'll write a letter on letterhead for free, that might get you something.