Although fatalities caused by car accidents have dropped overall around the country, they have increased in Colorado in recent years. 2017 saw the highest number of traffic fatalities since 2004, according to The Denver Post.
After any motor vehicle accident, even a minor one, you may groan at the prospect of having to contact the police and call your insurance agency. However, these actions are for the best even if the other driver offers you cash at the scene to sweep this incident under the rug. Getting a few hundred dollars is a tempting offer, but there are significant downsides.
You do not know why this person wants you to have cash
Most of the time, the other driver will offer cash because it is clear he or she is at fault. The driver may not want this incident on record, or the driver lacks auto insurance and does not want to get in trouble. It is also possible the person plans on scamming you. One tactic is to give a driver money at the scene. The other driver, the one who caused the accident, later goes to the police and says he or she was in a hit-and-run.
You end up paying for your own rental car
It is possible the cash will cover the cost of repairing any dents, but there are other financial costs associated with collisions you may not have thought about. While your vehicle is in the shop, you will need to rent a car. The cash may not cover that expense, and now you are on the line for those payments.
You have no idea how badly damaged your car is
A scratch or dent could mask significant damage behind the body. You may think it will only cost a couple hundred dollars to repair something only to discover the suspension requires total replacement.
You could have hidden injuries
On that same note, you need to think about your own bodily health. You could have sustained injuries and have no idea how much a doctor’s visit will cost. You should always play it safe and go through your insurance company to pay for everything associated with the crash.