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Questions About Auto Insurance and Accidents

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  • dkvndkvn Member Posts: 14
    My Corolla 2010 (bought brand new, only 2000 miles) got hit in the back. The back bumper was destroyed. I have ins. with $1000 deduction. The person who hit me has ins. with Liberty Mutual. I don't know what I should do, claiming with my ins. or with LM ins. My ins. told me they will fix it then working with LM to get back their $ but we may have to deduct $1000.

    Also my wife has to call the doctor now and will definitely have to visit her doctor next week even though she was OK by the time of accident in this morning. Should we call a lawyer? Any advices are appreciate .
  • mikefm58mikefm58 Member Posts: 2,882
    Call LM and open a claim, leave the attorneys out of the picture, give LM a chance to fix things, your car and your wife's injuries. If you're in an "at fault" state, your policy will pay your wife's medical bills, and since there were injuries, you are also required to notify your ins. company, which it seems you already did.

    In the grand scheme of things, your accident is quite minor and there shouldn't be any problems getting LM to pay things. I take it the police were called and an accident report was issued?
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    Don't be distracted by the concept that you are only dealing with the insurance company for the person at fault. You are not bound by what their insurance policy pays or doesn't pay. The person who hit you is at fault and their hold all responsibility for your damages. So after a brief chance to set things right, you talk suit to go after what hasn't been covered, including your wife's injuries.

    If the person is a deadbeat who has been allowed to drive without financial responsibility then it's up to your state to take away their license and registrations. In Ohio when getting license plates for a vehicle you have to sign that you have financial responsibility in place, whether it's your own personal wealth that you can use to pay damages or you carry insurance. The state of Ohio regularly sends out letters for proof to those not listed as holding insurance in of Ohio.

    Your claim is small and your own insurance company may not want to go after the person for the $1000, since it is your money, if LM doesn't fork up.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    also, you can (and should) settle the car damage and the medical issues separately.

    If you are going to claim medical injuries, you almost have to file a claim, make out an accident report, etc.
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    Insurance!! My 6-month renewal increased 54 %. No accidents/citations in 8 years. Calling the company got the ".....and we are reevaluating our rating structure in CA. Our losses are exceeding our premium revenue.........."

    Realizing that CA does have social issues, flake factor, LA LA land concerns et al...........I called about 15 other companies (and lo and behold - - - none of these companies are in the same ballpark)...........

    What does my present company know that 15 others apparently do not?

    Today I meet with the lizard. I'd like to close with "Season's best" (but I am actually big time annoyed)..........

    ez.....
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    When the lizard or any other company quotes a premium, that quote is based only on the underwriting information you give them. The new company will get an underwriting experience report from your old company. They have 60 days from the inception to stay on you or cancel mid term due to additional information".

    Usually, the company person will not mention your having taken bankruptcy, spent a night or two in jail, or a credit problem all of which can cause your rate to increase. Is there a new driver in the household that is less than sterling in all areas? What have your neighbors told the field underwriter when he came knocking?
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    ..appreciate the feedback/additional info, EU

    As I'm the sole operator, the neighbors must factor here. Perhaps they reported seeing a spaniel driving my little VW diesel PU.

    season's best, ez....
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Tiger was driving an Escalade, can he blame the accident on his caddy? :confuse:
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,737
    **crickets**

    :P

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Actually it's pretty hard in a single car accident to say "it wasn't my fault".
  • the_big_althe_big_al Member Posts: 1,079
    you mean the fire hydrant didn't hit him??
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Actually it's pretty hard in a single car accident to say "it wasn't my fault".

    How about "I flipped my car and rolled it into the ditch while swerving to avoid a child who ran out into the street from between parked cars." Clearly it's the kid's fault! :)

    And then there is the "Some crazy lady was chasing me down the street swinging golf clubs at my Escalade causing me to smack into a fire hydrant and hit the tree" scenario. On second thought, that's just way too far fetched and would just never happen in real life. :P

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Its' the old punch line - "the other guy had to be drunk! He was driving a tree!"
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    I'm sorry that others have failed to comment on your very punny pun. His caddy... snicker.

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    The pun was intended, but that's OK. Thank you for understanding a punny. :)
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Tiger crashed into a fire hydrant AND a tree. He couldn’t decide between a wood and an iron.

    Given Tiger’s racial heritage can we call this a Black Thai affair?

    Tiger just changed his nickname but still kept it in the cat family. Cheetah.

    Happy Weekend Kirstie :)
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Since we're at it.

    Tiger is really losing it - 400 yard drives used to be so easy for him.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    Yeah, just shows what happens when a drive goes into the rough instead of the fairway!

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    The police asked Tiger's wife how many times she hit him with the 5 iron. She said 4 or 5 times.

    They told her she would have to decide if it was 4 or 5 times. She then said hmmm. ok put me down for a 4. :)

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,242
    A reporter wants to talk with parents of teens who had cell-phone-related car accidents or near misses and are willing to talk with on camera about their experiences. Teens must be willing to be interviewed also. Please email jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Friday, January 29, 2010 and be sure to include your city and state of residence.

    Thanks,
    Jeannine Fallon
    Corporate Communications
    Edmunds.com

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
    Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
    2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
    Review your vehicle

  • ecruiser1ecruiser1 Member Posts: 1
    I had a minor accident the day before yesterday. It was the other driver's fault since he hit me behind while I stopped because of the traffic. The police recorded him as the #1 driver and I had a witness as well. Their insurance company has filed the claim but needs to confirm with the driver for some details.

    How long does it usually take for them to investigate? If the driver doesn't respond to them, will it be a long wait since the insurance company won't be interested in paying proactively? I heard I shouldn't wait for too long but dont know what I can do.

    Another question I have is if I can request to get compensated for the time I spend in dealing with fixing the car? I have to take work-time off to do it.

    Thanks for your help. Really appreciate.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    We've got some crack insurance folks around here who will answer more completely but in my state, insurance companies have 30 days.... or at least it was that way 15 yrs ago when someone hit me. Their agent took the full 30 days too. :sick:

    You can turn the whole thing over to YOUR insurance company and they will go after the other company. I'd still check on them though.
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    tallman has a point...here in GA the insurance of the at-fault driver does have the right to contact their insured to get their version of the story...the police report is not Gospel, and I have seen where an insurance refused to pay for the damages because their driver said that you backed up on the interstate, or some such crap...having the add'l witness will help YOu, of course...sometimes, and it should not be this way but reality bites sometimes, it may pay to have YOUR collision insurance fix the car (yes, you must front the deductible) and have your insurance pursue the other insurance...they will recover the money, in full, and refund your deductible...your insurance will even assume the cost to sue the other company if it is necessary...it is my belief that companies who do that should be fined $100K each time by the insurance commissioner, but they have not yet anointed me Emperor of the World...as soon as they do, remind me of your situation... ;)
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    but they have not yet anointed me Emperor of the World...

    Obviously a major error on their part.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    the time and effort you spend in dealing with fixing the car should not be included as it is an indirect result of the crash. I've never known of this being specifically covered by an insurance carrier. A Bodily Injury claim might include a couple of bucks (for dealing with fixing) but only to keep control of the loss or to settle.
  • dbl3dbl3 Member Posts: 7
    Hello,
    I damaged my license plate in an accident that was my fault with the other car having a scrape and tire scraped, it is two weeks later, and although I reported it to my insurance company, the other driver has not contacted their co or mine. In the next couple of days, my insurance co. says they will call them to find out if they were going to file for damages.

    Should I call them first and offer them money?
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    edited May 2010
    I suppose the first thing I want to know is the amount of the damages and the info on the car (I guess that is the 1st and 2nd things I want to know)...you mentioned a "scrape"...was this a 2008 Buick or a 1972 Nova???...if the car is so old it may not matter to the owner, if it is a newer car worth fixing, I would call the owner and ask them to get the damage appraised...if you can pay it yourself, you might avoid an insurance claim...was the "wreck" documented by a police report, and, as silly as it sounds, is the other driver claiming injury???

    Or, did this incident happen in Arizona, and was the other guy an illegal alien???... ;):blush:

    Build that wall, keep them out, shoot on sight...strong words to follow...
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    If the other car was vacant, ask for a couple of estimates of th damage. If you can afford to pay "out of pocket" do so.

    If the other car was occupied, let your company carry on so as to prevent a latent injury claim down the road.
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    Yep, once you pay someone, you have admitted liability. What would happen if you paid them $100. now and a couple of months later you got a letter saying, "Oh by the way, here is my medical bill for $6,000 !!

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • lilyowenlilyowen Member Posts: 125
    I don't exactly know that I would agree with this. Insurance carriers pay people all of the time to settle cases ... without an admission of fault. Settlements are made everyday where one party isn't negligent, but simply doesn't want to commit more resources to litigation.

    The biggest problem I see here is that your carrier has not contacted them in over two weeks. Frankly, I don't think they are doing their best to protect you from an exposure here. You pay your carrier for a service ... and dodging claims is not the service you signed up for. Seriously, read your policy. It says nothing about dodging claims.

    Tell your carrier to call them and settle the claim.
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    One small factor was omitted...by paying up for the damages, I was assuming (ah, we know what assume means) that the driver would get a general release of damages, both property and bodily injury...then they would be clear...
  • foxylady404foxylady404 Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2010
    Hello,

    Ok, well here's the thing. I recently bought a car on the 15th of april cash from a dealership. I traded in a car with liability coverage but I also have a new truck with FULL coverage. When we bought the car the dealership told us it would take them a little time to get the car together because it was a certified car and they had just got it in the day before. I said that was fine. The car wasn't ready until the 23th. That same exact day, less than two hours from getting the car, I got into an accident and totaled the car in a four car accident where I was at fault for following too closely. I got a certified letter the other day. Now, my insurance company is fighting with us about paying for MY car because they don't believe I owned the car because the bill of sales says the 15th and I got the car on the 23th. One bill of sales says we financed, but we didn't. The first day we put $500 down and we made a post dated
    check for the rest. They cashed the check within days and made another bill of sales for the cash money. They are trying to say they don't believe us and aren't obligated to pay because one....they don't believe it took 8 days to get the car......and TWO because of the difference in the bill of sales. Nothing is final YET. My full coverage from my truck DOES cover this accident since my coverage follows me to any vehicle I drive right? If that's the case.....Can they do that? Can they deny my claim simply because they DOUBT I own the car without proof? I have my documents with no scratch outs or anything.....plus the dealership faxed them themselves. I'm confused. How do you believe everything will work out? I'm real stressed out right now because although I have a truck to fall back on I had a car too because of gas since I work a long way from home. Now, with the increase in gas my pockets feel really light right now. What should I do?
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    You did not mention whether your insurance is responding to your liability for the other cars involved. Any word about that?

    Do you have an insurance agent who is looking out after your interest or does the person you purchased insurance from work directly for the ins. company?

    Tell whoever wrote the letter to meet you at the dealership for a full explanation of the various dates, etc. It really should not matter because as a worse case scenario you bought it on the 23rd and wrecked it on the 23rd.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I think it all depends on the rules in your state.

    Many states/insurers allow a grace period between purchase and registering/reporting new vehicle to insurer in which your registration and insurance is valid.

    What the insurer sees is a Bill of Sale dated the 15th and an accident dated the 23rd. What are the rules in your state?

    If you are outside the parameters, you should have the dealership get involved showing the sale was dated the 15th but the delivery wasn't until the 23rd and hope the insurer accepts it.

    Good luck.
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    you cannot drive a car off the lot without insurance...and the loan you have on the car must be insured thru collision and comprehensive (N/A, of course, if you paid cash for the car)...so, if the car you traded in only had minimum liability, I am sure that the dealer would never let you take the car without the loan being insured thru collision...whether you got the extra coverage from the dealer (short-term) or called your agent to order the rest, I do not know...
  • foxylady404foxylady404 Member Posts: 3
    well we gave them a post dated check when we got the car which they had yet to cash when i had the accident, does that mean we were financing like the first bill of sales said? If that is the case is the car dealership obligated to pay since we were not told to get full coverage on the vehicle before driving off the lot?
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    IMHO, it means that you post dated the check to ensure things were ok with the car before you took it. You paid for the car and IMHO, they are not obligated to pay since you didn't finance the car. As such, it was no concern of theirs whether you had insurance or not.

    Talk to your agent - RIGHT NOW.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    that at the time of the crash, you owned a truck with full coverage scheduled on it.

    Because the crash occurred withing 30 days of ownership, you automatically have the coverages on the new acquisition that you have on the truck.

    You began ownership of the crashed car when you granted consideration (money) with a post dated check to cover the balance later. Because you didn't pay 100% at the time of ownership, the dealer noted on his books that the balance is financed.

    That period of finance was from the date of downpayment to the date of crash.

    Your company's freshman adjuster needs further training. Tell them to talk to the dealer.
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    "at the time of the crash, you owned a truck with full coverage scheduled on it.

    Because the crash occurred withing 30 days of ownership, you automatically have the coverages on the new acquisition that you have on the truck."...

    thanks for the comments...but I could still see a situation where you might only have the coverage of the vehicle you traded in, not the one you have at home...I simply was not sure which policy would prevail...and if the dealer released the car w/o full coverage, it could simply mean that the lender is the one who is unprotected in the event of a collision, if there was no collision insurance...
  • dtownfbdtownfb Member Posts: 2,918
    Re-reading your post, it seems like the insurance company is refusing your claim not because of your coverage but simply they do not believe you actually owned the car? Is that correct?

    It seems like this should be easy to prove and verify with the dealership. Not sure how they can deny the dealership information since they have no incentive to lie.

    Basically, you will have to get your agent and dealership in the same room. Possibly a sworn affidavit by the dealership.

    BTW, what state do you live in?
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,814
    edited May 2010
    ..pretty well sum it up..

    If you own one car with full coverage, but another car with liability only, then who says the new car has full coverage? From the original post, it seems the insurance adjuster has no problem paying off the liability claim, as the insured has liability on any vehicle they drive.

    With the rampant amount of insurance fraud out there, I'm not surprised they are looking at this with a jaundiced eye... Post-dated checks, etc, etc.. would all raise red flags.. I'm sure they are worried about a conspiracy, where all of the conspiring parties split the proceeds.

    regards,
    kyfdx

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  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    What? A conspiracy with a car dealer? Nah. Couldn't be....

    That's an interesting point. That may be exactly what is holdingthings up.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    The policy scheduling the truck with full coverage says the new car has full coverage. It is termed the 30 Day Liberalization Clause. A post dated check is not a Red flag when it is offered to cover funds at a future date sourced from selling a paper asset. It takes a few days to sell stock & receive the cash.
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    It is beginning to look like this is a one post and run away deal.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • foxylady404foxylady404 Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2010
    Yea, well I stay in Georgia to answer dtownfb. I read up on the laws however I am still unclear as to whether the car is under the liability of the car traded or the full coverage of my truck. Needless to say, the agent didnt argue about that so I am pretty convinced its under the truck I have. It just puzzles me, how they can not believe I owned the car. I have a bill or sales in my hand and the dealership's dealer and finance department backing me up. Update, the dealership did fax new copies of my bill of sales and talked to her. The agent also took a sworn affidavit by phone on a recorder. What will happen next I am unsure.
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    where they come up with Bar exam questions so convoluted, one would think you must be on drugs to make this stuff up...but, no, truth really IS stranger than fiction...I couldn't make up that scenario if I was hallucinating on LSD (that's Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, for those who wonder... :P ...).
  • lilyowenlilyowen Member Posts: 125
    I can't speak for GA ... and I have an increasingly short memory as I get older, so excuse me if I confuse the facts, but unless there is some special case law that states otherwise in GA, I would think this decision to be very policy driven.

    Your "new" car will fall under one of two catagories from what I understand. A replacement vehicle, or an additional vehicle. If it is a replacement vehicle, you will get the coverage of the vehicle it replaces. If it is an additionaly vehicle, you will get the broadest coverage on your policy for 30 days, then zilch.

    BUT ... you should read your policy to know. It will likely be listed in the definitions under "insured vehicle" or "covered vehicle" or something of the sort. There is the key to your coverage, once you have proven what role the vehicle takes. To me, it sounds like it replaced a vehicle with liability only coverage ... I think you may have some issues ... good luck.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    edited May 2010
    Interesting. Some policies term "Newly Acquired Vehicles" which receive the broadest coverage of any other scheduled auto

    Hagerty's = "Your covered auto" means, 2. Any classic vehicle on the date you beccame owner during the policy period, whether as a new vehicle or replacement of a vehicle shown in the Declarations, provided that b.You ask us to insure it within thirty days after you become the owner; and c. We insure all of your collector vehicles.

    Under Coverage for Damage to Your Covered Auto, the limit provided on this vehicle, will be the leser of the following: a. The purchase price, B. The verifiable value: or c. $50,000.

    Encompass = c. A motor vehicle that replaces one shown in the Coverage Summary. The replacement vehicle will have the same coverage as the vehicle it replaced.

    Hopefully she didn't insure with Encompass
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    Roseann Rosannadana, It's always something...
  • junjun1junjun1 Member Posts: 1
    i recently had the battery n alterator checked n there good but i charge the battery in the morning n by 10pm the battery has been drained what can be the problem
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