Neighbor Backed Into Me And Is Suggesting We Not File A Claim Because He Believes I Was Driving Too Fast

MD, USA

I was leaving my neighborhood earlier today when my neighbor two houses down backed into my car. There is damage to my passenger side rear panel and his driver side rear panel. We exchanged name and phone number at the time. I sent him a copy of my insurance card. He called me and suggested we not go through insurance and just drop it. Presumably he thinks that I'll back down because "the damage isn't that bad" and he claims I was driving so fast that he didn't see my car.

I was driving about the same speed I always do, so probably 25 MPH, which is arguably faster than is legally allowed in a residential zone. He's only 200 feet down the road and my car doesn't accelerate very quickly, so it's not like I was doing 60.

Anywho, I'm reasonably certain that he's absolutely at fault regardless of my speed. And after talking to my SIL who runs a body shop, a quality repair could run $2k+ (I live in a high cost of living area right outside of DC). I just need a sanity check that I am not at fault, and I should get his insurance information and file a claim.