The state of Indiana has a two (2) year statute of limitations for someone to make a claim or sue for personal property damages. So if you are saving up to see what the costs are and want to know how long the other party has to go after you for the cost of their repairs due to you backing into their vehicle it is 2 years from the incident date.

Hopefully now that the holiday season has passed the person will get you the estimate so that you can decide if you will pay out of pocket for their repairs or have them put the claim through your Property Damage Liability portion of your auto insurance policy. If they do not you may want to contact them to find out what is going on with their car repairs so that you can get this situation taken care of and not have to wonder for the next 2 years if and when the person may make a claim or sue you for the cost of their damages.

Keep in mind that the state of Indiana directs those involved in an accident to exchange information, including insurance information. The IN Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) states that if you are in an accident where there are no injuries you should exchange information such as name, address, license plate, driver’s license number and insurance information. One should provide their insurance information to the driver, occupant(s), or persons with any vehicle or property damage in the accident. So while you did provide the person with your name and email you should also have given them your auto insurance information and other information.

The BMV also says to immediately alert your insurance agent about the accident and to ask your insurer to file an operator’s crash report (SR21 form) if the damages so require. The driver of any vehicle involved in an auto accident resulting in injury or death or total property damage of $1000 or more must make a report on an SR 21 form.

An SR 21 form, or the Indiana Operator Proof of Insurance Report, is a form required by the state of Indiana to confirm a person involved in an accident was insured at the time of the accident. By Indiana state law, it is your responsibility to make sure this report is filed within ten (10) days after an accident.