Tesla Bumper Claim — Action Guide
⏳ Waiting on GEICO's documents — no money owed yet.What Happened
Four short facts about the incident.
- Sub-1 mph reverse bump.
- Small dot on the Tesla bumper.
- Other driver replaced the entire bumper.
- GEICO sent a preliminary letter — no dollar amount yet.
The letter says “WHEN we pay our insured.” Nothing is being demanded yet.
The Insurance Problem
Ernest was a named EXCLUDED driver at the time of the incident. That means no coverage for this event. We are negotiating personally, not through insurance.
Ernest is now added to the policy. That covers future incidents only — not this one.
MOST URGENT
Book a 1-hour attorney consult about the SR-1 / DMV filing.
- Accidents over $1,000 in damage require an SR-1 within 10 days.
- An uninsured driver in a reportable accident risks license suspension.
- The deadline has passed — get legal advice before any DMV action.
⛔ Never Do This
- Never give an SSN.
- Never circle options 1–3 on the questionnaire.
- Never admit fault beyond “contact occurred.”
- Never mention the insurance exclusion.
- Never agree to amounts on phone calls — everything in writing.
✅ Action Checklist
Six tasks. Tap or click a row to mark it done.
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Mail signed response letter & questionnaire via certified mail — minimal info only, scan first.
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Create the claim file folder.
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Call GEICO 1-800-841-2920 — get adjuster name & email.
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Get written confirmation of policy-add date & a copy of the exclusion form.
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Attorney consult (reference the urgent box in section 3).
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When documents arrive: save them, agree to nothing, decide the counteroffer together.
What We're Requesting from GEICO
When the Number Arrives — Negotiation Playbook
Liable for actual damage — not excessive repair.
Damages should reflect what really happened, not an inflated estimate.
Counteroffer at 50–60% as a lump sum.
A payment plan is also a normal ask. Anchor lower than the first number.
If unreasonable: small claims court is real.
Up to $12,500 in California. Repair reasonableness can be contested in front of a judge.
Leverage: mismatch of repair to event.
An imperceptible tap vs. a full bumper replacement is a real discrepancy.