Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options

Questions About Auto Insurance and Accidents

16061636566107

Comments

  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    you know that carfacts.com can be a major issue at time of resale

    I think you mean carfax.com, but hey both links work.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Lots of accidents never show up on CARFAX. That can help you or hurt you, depending :P I still have one in my files, my friends Miata, which was hit 3 times totalling $18000 in damages, and the CARFAX report is clean as a whistle.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Basically your insurer will pay you "book value" of the vehicle based on the condition of the vehicle prior to the accident. Bear in mind that although your vehicle was only a week old, it is a used car to the insurer.

    Now your insurance might have some sort of rider to cover a replacement vehicle as noted in your original message. Check with the insurance company.

    As for totalling - every company has a threshold for total loss. Again check with your insurer.

    GAP insurance will cover the difference between what you owe and what insurance pays you if it's totalled. Any downpayment or trade you made is gone forever.

    Last - based on the fact that you pulled out of a one way street in the wrong direction, you are at least 50% at fault.

    Good Luck.
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Anybody ever had this happen? GF was waiting for a car going the wrong way in a bank parking lot. Bicyclist on sidewalk thought both cars were exiting (?) and tried to cut through the parking lot striking my car. Put some good size dings in the car. Bicyclist was fine and left the scene. My GF didn't get any contact information. I think she was pretty freaked out. Of course I'm stuck paying the deductible for damages caused by the bicycle. :-( Bicycle hit and run?

    I've heard of cars hitting bicycles, and bikes hitting parked cars to avoid an accident. This is an odd one though. An inattentive bike rider hitting a car in a parking lot.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Your car should be totaled.

    Repair Estimate (so far) $9,000
    Diminished Value 3,000
    Total Claim (so far) $12,000

    Book Value vs Actual Purchase Price = not the same.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Shifty,

    These two cars have clean carfaxes.............

    image

    image
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    I fail to see anything wrong with either of them, at least nothing that a can of spray paint (Ford Red or Ford Blue) and a roll of duct tape (Alabama Chrome) can't fix... ;)
  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    i thought that would happen to my daughter's 04 hyundai accent- it had $7,500 worth of damage-they did not total it-repaired it. this is the third time it has been hit since new-probably close to $20,000 in repair costs so far over the years-
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Are you referring to the parking lot dings I see there?

    GEEZ...I sure hope those cars don't get fixed again....can't see how they would.

    INCIDENT WITH BIKE -- your GF may have screwed up. Bicyclist could possibly have been liable for damage, or you might have recovered the deductible. A bicyclist has to obey all traffic rules far as I recall.
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Probably would have had to go after the bicyclist in small claims court. I was pretty mad when she said she didn't get information. :-(
  • error438error438 Member Posts: 17
    In Illinois, a new teen driver can only have one non-relative in their car under 20 for the first six months of their licensing period. Does anyone know what the penalty would be for a new teenage driver that got caught with more than one teen in their car? Like is it a moving violation and will it make insurance go up when they were caught?
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Problem is, in New Jersey a lot of cars like that end up at the salvage auctions with clean titles... its a real problem.

    All you have to do is steal their identical twins.. swap VINs, locks and a few modules and whos the wiser?
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,200
    "...when she SAID she didn't get information..."

    That is the oldest trick in the book. If a girl wants a guy's number she bumps him and then gets his number "so I can call you with my insurance info"

    Check her pocketbook. I bet you find his number there. ;)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • threeifbyairthreeifbyair Member Posts: 5
    Is there anywhere I can get insurance in Massachusetts on the weekend? I'm thinking of taking a trip down to CarMax (or possibly some other out-of-state dealership) to buy my next car, but I'm wondering if there's a way to go down there on a Saturday, decide I want the car, and then drive it back. (Assume for now that this is an additional car and I'm not trading one in.)

    I know my current agent only works M-F 9-5, but I'm guessing there must be somebody out there who writes MA insurance online or over the phone at weekends.

    Oh, the joys of Taxachusetts' weird insurance regime...

    (For those of you who don't know, none of the majors will touch MA. Allstate should be renamed 49-state. And Progressive, State Farm and Geico also steer clear of here.)
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    It's my understanding you are automatically covered by your previous policy, presuming you are in good standing and your coverages are the same. Then when you get home you just call in your new VIN #.

    But you should check with your agent before you take off.
  • manda613manda613 Member Posts: 7
    So my car is now at the collision center at the dealership (where I purchased the car). His estimate is $1,000+ < the place where my car was towed (initial estimate). Should I be concerned?

    nj2pa2nc: How does your daughter's car run? If they do decide to repair my car... I'm worried that it will need fixed left and right.
  • nj2pa2ncnj2pa2nc Member Posts: 811
    i am amazed how nice my daughter's 04 hyundai accent looks-the boby shop did an excellant job and it runs excellant.it took the body shop almost a month to get it fixed-between the ordering of parts, etc. make sure the place fixes it the way you want. do not accept it until they do.-match the paint. some colors are harder than others. good luck and glad there were no injuries but sorry it was brand new.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    If you cannot locate the hit and run bicylce rider, you'll have to collect damages from your girlfriend. When an item is borrowed it must be returned in same condition by law. If you think the relationship is not going to go anywhere, you might want to collect asap... or have her sign an i.o.u.
    Don't wait till you break up to try to collect. It will be to late by then. See it happen on Judge Judy all the time.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • manda613manda613 Member Posts: 7
    That eases my mind. Thank you. Yeah, I assumed about a month for repairs. The guy on the phone said 10-12 working days after parts come in. Thanks again for the well wishes.
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    Well... it was another woman. Maybe I don't know something. ;-)
  • erics6erics6 Member Posts: 684
    She's paying my deductible. Stuff happens. No judge judy for me.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,200
    "...it was another woman..."

    LOL, just goes to show you, free advice is worth every penny you pay! :blush:

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    You have seven days to transfer your registration and your new vehicle is automatically covered by your current insurance provided that the new car is replacing the old car. See this:

    http://www.mass.gov/rmv/faq/registration.htm#16

    As for your agent not working - your insurance company might. Try calling them direct to see if they are available on the weekend.

    As for the MA insurance program - I'm looking forward to real competition because I'm an experienced, suburban driver with an excellent driving record and credit history. I pity those without the above because it'll be just like the last time they tried competition - rates rose 3-400% overnight. I remember my Dad's 73 Vega costing over $1K to insure because we lived in the city. The car wasn't worth $3K brand new!!
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Any agent worth his commission welcomes contact at home by his clients. All my stationary, business cards, and advertising included my home 'phone number. Sometimes we agents are needed at hours other than 8 to 5 M-F.

    It has been 12 years since I sold my business and I'm still honored to get a 'phone call from a former client/friend who has a need to get some advice.

    My wife, the pharmacist, often receives professional calls as well.

    We are happy to retire where we worked as it is my intention to dance with the people who paid for the band. ;):)
  • jickybobjickybob Member Posts: 3
    I had progressive insurance when I got in an accident due to a DUI. I am not sure if they are going to cover me now as obviously, the accident was considered my fault and all, and I now have a DUI on my record. My question for everyone is this: now that I have a DUI on my record, what type of repercussions are there going to be from the DUI and does anyone have any experience with insurance after a DUI and insurance afterwards? I have stopped drinking, praise God, but they are not going to care about anything but my driving history; I know this, but I want to know who a reputable company is (not Allstate or Nationwide as they are scamartists!) that may cover me for a low amount of money, or the lowest available with the record I now have. Thank you in advance for anyones help!
  • flaaveoflaaveo Member Posts: 161
    To be blunt. And I'm sure a lot of people here will jump on my back for being honest,but to bad. You deserve to have to pay A LOT more for insurance, at least for a period of time at a minimum,since you drove drunk AND caused an accident,and put EVERYONE on the road in deadly danger. I am sure you drove drunk many times before and didn't get caught...right? So you get no sympathy from me.

    IF it were up to me..any DUI driver wouldn't be allowed to drive again. It's public transportation for life! Hopefully you didn't kill anyone or injure anyone,other than yourself. US sober drivers are the ones who suffer, some for life, because you had to drive drunk! Everyone 'finds God' in prison as well...then WE are suppose to forgive them for murder or rape.

    BUT since you asked a question politely, the basic answer is...every insurance company will look at your entire record. They will see IF you have any other accidents or DUI's, your age of course, male or female, all the standard stuff, and if they take you as a customer, they will base it on your entire record, not just that 1 event. But it will be higher,usually for a period of time,1 or more years.

    Try the major companies, State Farm, Geico, etc...but you may end up with a 'mom and pop' insurance company,if the big guys find your record to dangerous. Can you tell I have no compassion for drunks?! 'Recovering' or not. :mad:
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Obviously, your rates are going to go sky high no matter which insurance company you choose. The good news is that some insurance companies will lower your rates after a number of years with NO additional traffic violations. The specifics depend on the company and you can ask while shopping.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Nobody is going to cover you for a low price and nobody should. Expect to be in the state assigned risk pool and expect to pay thousands and thousands per year.. like $5,000+.

    You got behind the wheel of a 3,000+ pound chunk of steel capable of exceeding 100 miles per hour while drunk. Not only did you drive while drunk but you caused an accident while unfit to operate a motor vehicle. Hopefully your foolish actions did not hurt or kill anyone.

    So now you are going to have to pay for it, plain and simple. It's called consequences for your actions, you clearly learned nothing from your experience. No offense, a drunk killed my Fiancee so I don't have any sympathy. Pay up and deal with it.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Stop driving! Start attending AA and don't say you've found God. He was never lost. A Boozer doesn't drink and drive, but an Alcoholic attends meetings and you're an Alkie. Shudder to think how many times you drove while drunk before caught.

    Alkie's do not have excellent credit ratings, thus you will pay more than you can afford to based on your driving record.

    If you believe this was a one shot encounter, you're in denial and we all hope you stop driving whether you find very expensive insurance or not. Believe it or not, but taking taxis over a period of the next five years will be a lot more economical than buying the most expensive Liability insurance. Public transporation, if they allow you to board, is your future method of travel.

    Your question should not be the cost of insurance, but should I continue to inflict my driving on others. Just stay off the road. :sick:
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    able to stop drinking, so at least your future does have hope...

    Sorry, but I am in agreement with the previous posters, including the most stringent posters, so I will not repeat what they said, except that finding your Maker has no meaning, it is up to you to stop drinking, and you did...

    While you will pay thru the nose for insurance and other things, one thing you might try is the various rehab centers, both medical and run by the state (those DUI defensive courses)...AA is good, I am sure, but maybe rehab programs with monitoring might add something to your improvement...

    I do not know which ins co may be lenient with you, but going thru the rehab may allow your premiums to drop a few years in the future instead of MANY years in the future...

    I would have posted like the others, but they have said what needed to be said...DUI is TOTALLY under our control, and few people have any sympathy when you voluntarily and intentionally place all of our lives at risk instead of renting a taxi or get a friend to drive you home...

    Nuff said...
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    now that I have a DUI on my record, what type of repercussions are there going to be from the DUI and does anyone have any experience with insurance after a DUI and insurance afterwards?

    I won't repeat what the others have said as they've said it better than I could. But you came here asking ins advice. The only experience I have with DUI is from my brothers, which happened years ago and in NY state. The laws are tougher now and we all know each state is different.

    Expect to pay astronomical rates, even for the minimal coverage. Drive a beater that doesn't need comp or collision. Sometimes it can take your current ins co a year or so to run your record but since you had an accident, Progressive already knows. Stay with them until they cancel you as they are one of the more "Progressive" companies. They might just jack up your rates and keep you.
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    AZ just passed a law requiring even 1st time DUI offenders to have a breathalizer installed in their car.
    So, you might have that to look forward to.

    As everyone has said,your ins is going to skyrocket.
    Be glad you don't sell cars for a living. A co-worker of mine had a DUI(in his own car thank God)but, we had to let him go because our dealer insurance would no longer cover him.
  • brownie523brownie523 Member Posts: 22
    Hi all...I posted here some time ago regarding my accident which occured back in March. I've finally settled my personal injury case, but am still waiting on the diminished value settlement. My 2007 Camry was rear ended in march in a 4 vehicle collision. Both myself and the car in front of me were sitting stopped at a light in traffic and were rear ended by 2 other cars. I used an independent company that specializes in DV to do an appraisal and had my attorney send the appraisal over to the insurance company. Today, 4 months after we sent the appraisal over to them, they called and told me they were going to offer me $1250 for DV. The guy said that should I choose not to accept that offer, he would need to come out and inspect the car and that inspection could lead to the offer being even less. He also asked if I had sold the car, which i havent, and said that diminished value does not occur until the car is sold. I responded by saying that my car suffered diminished value when his insured rammed into the back of me. He then said that when he comes out to inspect the car, if he found any diminished value due to the repairs on the car, that the body shop would be responsible for that. That makes no sense to me....

    My car had less than 5,000 miles on it at the time of the accident and sustained $17,000.00 worth of damage. I will not accept this. I told him to come out and do his inspection. IMO, they should have done this in May when I sent the appraisal to them.

    Any suggestions?
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    DV is probably more like an art than a science...BUT, I would think that the dealer who sells your brand of vehicle, in their used car dept, would be able to best determine what your DV is, since they would be qualified to tell you how much value your trade lost if you tried to trade it in on a new vehicle, plus they would know how much less to expect as a consequence of the wreck. That might be a good starting point for negotiating...
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    There are two forms of DV....one related to repairs and their quality and the other "inherent" in the mere fact that it was hit.

    So even if the repairs are perfect, one could argue for inherent DV.

    The insurance company pays for your repairs NOW, not when you sell the car, so DV should be the same.

    I agree, DV is more like an art than a science...I don't see how one could scientifically calculate DV.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    and that value should include Sales Tax and license fees.

    Because it has been six months since the crash, advise the adjuster that due to his non compliance with "Fair Claims Practices Act" he is a target for a "Failure to Bargain in Good Faith" suit. Sic em! :mad:
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Up to last Friday, I was a disinterested bystander in this discussion.

    Friday afternoon, a car full of teenagers made a left turn in front of me and I had nowhere to go but into them.

    Initial estimate from the body shop - $2900. I suspect that number will go up as the climate control system in my car wasn't working after the accident - no cold air blowing and no digital display.

    A couple of weeks ago, I had my car appraised for trade in at $8300.

    State Farm says that the $2900 figure is 28% of the value of my car - roughly $10,300 or so.

    So, when I talk to State Farm about DV, which number should I use? I'm guessing the $10,300 number, but am curious as to what others might think.

    The car in question is a 2003 Saturn L300 - 64K, better than average condition, loaded.

    KBB showed 'good' trade in value as $8600.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Michael,

    I'd say $1,000-1,500 DV is about right.

    The AC no worky because the condensor was almost certainly damaged and you instantly lost your refrigerant.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    State Farm's number for value is more than fair.
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    I don't understand why the insurance company contacted you in reply to correspondence from your attorney.

    'Course I don't understand why they didn't total your car either.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    The AC no worky because the condensor was almost certainly damaged and you instantly lost your refrigerant.

    "lost" it how? there were no visible leaks after the accident, and I was able to drive the car approximately 15 miles to the body shop.

    I should be pressing State Farm for about $1000-1500 for DV, then, correct?

    shifty, i guess i'm a bit slow today ... what exactly do you mean by state farms number being fair? the way i see it, by raising the value of the car, then they are also raising the threshhold of when they can declare the car totalled.

    75% of $10,300 is $7725

    75% of $8300 is $6225

    Granted, I don't imagine for a moment that the cost to repair my car will approach either of the two numbers above ... I figure maybe $4K max, plus the cost of the rental while the car is in the shop.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Lost it in that it leaked out. A front end hit probably caused a crack in one of the metal condensor lines or the condensor itself.. the freon leaked out.

    VERY common on front end hits.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yes but the higher value helps your DV claim...is what I was driving at, since DV claims are often a percentage of value lost.
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    And don't forget, that 10.3 figure is what it would cost to replace the vehicle. I don't know whether that is a correct number but, obviously, your replacement cost would be more than its trade value.
  • dvexpertdvexpert Member Posts: 12
    I read your previous post from May about the diminished value report you obtained. As I understand, your expert stated the loss at $5k.

    Insurance companies always answer these claims in one of three ways. They either accept your report and pay you; OR they may deny your report and say, "Sue us"; OR most often they come back with, "Yeh, we probably owe you something but, holy cow, you're asking for the moon." It's their way of saying, "Let's negotiate."

    I would have your attorney respond with a series of questions making them explain to you IN WRITING the exact method they used to come up with the figure they offered; what amounts have they paid on previous claims, etc. I'm guessing they grabbed a number out of the air which they cannot justify (especially in light of the fact that they have not seen your car) - one that is very favorable to the insurer. Since they don't like people asking questions they have to answer and they definitely don't like creating paper trails, they might just pay you what you've claimed to go away.

    Here's a couple of links to my website where you'll find a good deal of information about Diminished Value and Safe Collision Repairs

    David Williams
    Diminished Value Expert
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    "lost" it how? there were no visible leaks after the accident, and I was able to drive the car approximately 15 miles to the body shop.

    When air conditioning coolant leaks out it evaporates almost immediately so it would be very difficult to tell from just a simple visual examination whether there had been a leak. You would have to measure the internal pressue to determine whether a leak had occurred. Also, a failed air conditioner alone will not make it impossible to drive the vehicle.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    OK, now it's starting to make sense to me.

    The replacement cost is roughly equivalent to retail value to purchase a similar car .. d'oh!

    The explanation of the A/C problem also makes sense.

    I'll give my agent a call today and see what happens.
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    I have one possible answer...when I send a letter of rep, I am representing the client for Bodily Injury only, specifically stating that the insurance may contact the client for PD only...that may the case here...

    Since MOST PD is fairly cut and dried, if we also represented the client for PD, we would "accept" (heh,heh) a 1/3 fee for their PD damages...this way, the Client has the use of ALL the $$$ from the PD Dept...
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    Possible, but it sure didn't sound like it from the language of the OP.
  • raggarwaraggarwa Member Posts: 1
    I bought a used Mazda 6 i-sport this January. There was a small accident in April while reversing my car which caused a dent on the car behind me, though it didn't affect my car at all. However, my insurance premium went up from $690 to $964. My collision coverages have been set at 250 deductible and comprehensive at 500 deductible.

    I have been with Progressive insurance all this while and am having a hard time paying the cost. I checked my quote with GEICO which is coming over $2000.

    Please help me and advice if you can.

    Thanks.
Sign In or Register to comment.