Bumper replacement, should I pay out pocket or use Tesla insurance?

[MangoTheSpitz]

My brand new CT with < 300 miles was backed into while parked at a shopping center, upon reviewing the sentry footages, the car drove off, license plate wasn't captured, it suffered front bumper damage + some fender scuffs, no official estimate yet but I estimated the repair to be around $3k (new bumper + fender cover + labor), I have Tesla insurance with 1k deductible on the CT, have been with them since they first started here in CA, never filed a claim, my question is, should I go through insurance risking premium increase or just pay out of pocket ?

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[JCERRN]

Oh wow thats really frustrating… did you save the video up till you got in the car? Usually record about an hr loop. Might have caught the person pulling in? Or any chance the building has cameras? If theres any way to get that info id try just because filing a claim with your insurance will raise your premium regardless of fault.

 

[hemiarch]

Yeah. That sucks. My personal experience with something exactly like this on our model x Tesla tells me you’re better off biting the bullet and paying for it. We have State Farm. Can’t really comment on Tesla insurance

 

[MangoTheSpitz]

Not sure how the dashcam works, there is none for that day, only thing I found on the day of the incident are sentry footages

 

[hemiarch]

There are lawyers in here that can give you better advice but let’s say you find the video and it has a plate on it. What are you going to do next?
In our case, the police refused to even take a report because it was in a parking lot which was technically private property and not a public roadway.
Are you really going to PI this and find the person and confront them (which could potentially be dangerous for you and/or your family) and hope they fess up and pay for it?
If not, I’d say find the most economical way to fix the damage.
Maybe one of the many forum members upgrading to aftermarket bumpers want to sell you the takeoff so it’s not sitting in a garage?
Those same people if they have just uninstalled and installed a diy aftermarket bumper could probably also help replace it with you if you find the right person. They will already have the know-how.
You could also just consider this an opportunity to buy an aftermarket bumper yourself and either install it or have it installed.

 

[cybercricket]

There are lawyers in here that can give you better advice but let’s say you find the video and it has a plate on it. What are you going to do next?
In our case, the police refused to even take a report because it was in a parking lot which was technically private property and not a public roadway.
Are you really going to PI this and find the person and confront them (which could potentially be dangerous for you and/or your family) and hope they fess up and pay for it?
If not, I’d say find the most economical way to fix the damage.
Maybe one of the many forum members upgrading to aftermarket bumpers want to sell you the takeoff so it’s not sitting in a garage?
Those same people if they have just uninstalled and installed a diy aftermarket bumper could probably also help replace it with you if you find the right person. They will already have the know-how.
You could also just consider this an opportunity to buy an aftermarket bumper yourself and either install it or have it installed.

That's the weirdest thing I heard this year. Destruction of property is against the law regardless of where the property is located. I haven't checked all 50 states, but pretty sure it's universal nationwide. I mean it may not be a specific traffic offense because of the "private property", but the general criminal law still applies.

Here is the law for example for Oregon:
https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_164.365

Because the damage is in excess of $1,000 this law kicks in, which is a FELONY, pretty bad mojo.

 

[hemiarch]

Yes. It’s against the law but they were not interested in enforcing it. This is a documented conversation I had with the cops here. I even called my friend @CT_AZ_4x4 who is an attorney and he agreed with you. But I couldn’t MAKE them send out an officer to document it.
If I was pushy I could have brought them evidence of the hit and run to report it as a crime at the police station but they wouldn’t have likely done anything about it.
Just telling you my experience. I live in Phoenix.
In our case this was an actual hit and run that happened with my wife sitting in the car in a grocery store parking lot. She even had video of the person driving off.

 

[MangoTheSpitz]

I am ok paying out of pocket, already have an appointment set up with Tesla collision center.

I am just curious if I go through Tesla insurance, will my premium increase for claim such as this ?

 

[cybercricket]

Yes. It’s against the law but they were not interested in enforcing it. This is a documented conversation I had with the cops here. I even called my friend @CT_AZ_4x4 who is an attorney and he agreed with you. But I couldn’t MAKE them send out an officer to document it.
If I was pushy I could have brought them evidence of the hit and run to report it as a crime at the police station but they wouldn’t have likely done anything about it.
Just telling you my experience. I live in Phoenix.
In our case this was an actual hit and run that happened with my wife sitting in the car in a grocery store parking lot. She even had video of the person driving off.

Wow, that's really some shitty police department. Sorry you got to find out that way. Please write a complaint to the city council. It will probably fall on deaf ears, but hopefully enough citizens will actually try to hold them accountable where they may feel worried about their seats and put pressure on the Chief of Police.

 

[cybercricket]

I am ok paying out of pocket, already have an appointment set up with Tesla collision center.

I am just curious if I go through Tesla insurance, will my premium increase for claim such as this ?

If you go through insurance you want to have a police report filed. At least attempt to file it That establishes that you were not at fault, and shouldn't affect your premium.

 

[That Beast Mode]

Personally, I'd get an aftermarket steel bumper at that point. The bumper is already wrecked, get a heavy duty aftermarket one so next time something like this happens is shreds their car. The plastic fender piece is cheap enough to buy from Tesla on your own and the scratches in the steel can be buffed out. It will be not only be like new, but better. The bumper and parts would probably be less than your deductible.

 

[SlegMD]

Phoenix PD is notoriously “busy”, if there is no report and solid evidence….GL.
In fairness they have a huge jurisdiction to cover. Anyway this isn’t about Phoenix.

If the spread is 2000 then I wouldn’t risk the premium change
For me USAA covered no problem, no experience with Tesla insurance.

EDIT can always call instead of guessing, not sure if you’ll get a human at Tesla though

 

[MangoTheSpitz]

Phoenix PD is notoriously “busy”, if there is no report and solid evidence….GL.
In fairness they have a huge jurisdiction to cover. Anyway this isn’t about Phoenix.

If the spread is 2000 then I wouldn’t risk the premium change
For me USAA covered no problem, no experience with Tesla insurance.

EDIT can always call instead of guessing, not sure if you’ll get a human at Tesla though

Going to give them a call this morning, Tesla policies are underwritten by State National, estimated hold time for a live agent I am guessing min 2 hours on Monday

 

[hemiarch]

Going to give them a call this morning, Tesla policies are underwritten by State National, estimated hold time for a live agent I am guessing min 2 hours on Monday

Sucks. Again, sorry this happened to you. People are assholes.

 

[JCERRN]

Oh wow thats really frustrating… did you save the video up till you got in the car? Usually record about an hr loop. Might have caught the person pulling in?

I am ok paying out of pocket, already have an appointment set up with Tesla collision center.

I am just curious if I go through Tesla insurance, will my premium increase for claim such as this ?

insurance companies can subrogate if you know who the other person is, even their license plate, or date/time/location can be sufficient, however you would still have to eat the ding to your premium for filing the claim. It wont be as bad as if you were at fault but some insurance companies offer “accident forgiveness” and some cant change your rate mid policy unless you are at fault. Check with them but even calling and asking about it ive heard can affect your rate lol. Auto and homeowners insurance is a scheme against consumers.

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