Auto Insurance Question. Wife's car was hit.

[rgf207]

Background: My wife is a high school teacher. A student hit her parked car while she was inside the school. There were multiple witnesses to the incident and the student told the Principal. The principal paged my wife and got the insurance information from the student.

We filed a claim with our insurance company that evening. They at-fault party never called their insurance company. Since the student was at fault we are not going to take the money from our insurance company because we don't want to pay the $500 deductible so we are waiting for the money from the other insurance company. Our insurance company took over and contacted the other party's insurance company (Liberty Mutual).

Fast forward 1 month. The other party's insurance company has not been able to contact the student or the parents regarding this claim. They are sending a certified letter to the people today but I have a feeling that this is not going to work out in our favor.

What options do we have here. Anyone have any experience regarding this.

Thanks

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

If the other family paid their policy premiums up to the accident date and you have the testimony of the people at school, you will be fine.

 

[rgf207]

If the other family paid their policy premiums up to the accident date and you have the testimony of the people at school, you will be fine.

That's good to hear. This has never happend before so how do things like this get worked out? Does the other insurance company just pay even if they can't contact their policy holder?

 

[Jennasis]

How badly damaged was the car?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

That's good to hear. This has never happend before so how do things like this get worked out? Does the other insurance company just pay even if they can't contact their policy holder?

Yes - your insurance company might pay first and then sue them if it comes to it, but in clear cut cases like this, the insurance companies usually work it out among themselves.

 

[msmayor]

Yes - your insurance company might pay first and then sue them if it comes to it, but in clear cut cases like this, the insurance companies usually work it out among themselves.

Exactly...you may still have to pay your deductible, but eventually you should get it back once the claim is settled with the other insurance company.

This happened with an accident I had years ago. My insurance company settled things with me right away so I could get my car replaced, but they went after the other guy's insurance and once they were reimbursed I received a check back from my insurance company for the deductible. I wasn't out one dime.

 

[rgf207]

How badly damaged was the car?

About $800

 

[simba20]

I was rear ended in my hsuband's truck in 2005. For the most part the truck was fine, but the bumper was messed up. So we moved out of the intersection and called police. Police came and took a report. What was so funny and odd about the whole thing, is that the guy while apologizing profusely, tells me he had just come from paying his isurance payment -- showed me the receipt.

So I think all is fine, the guy has insurance, no biggie. I fill out a report so that I can have a report on file for my insurance company, and all is well. I dirve home and stop by my insurance guy's office to show him the damage and start the process.

About a month later, we find out through our insurance company that the guy who hit me -- DOES NOT HAVE INSURANCE AT ALL. Perhaps he made a payment because he was serval months behind when he showed me the receipt, but as many times as Sate Farm (my ins) tried gett in touch with his, they were told that the guy did not have ins with them.

Anyway, SF sent someone out to asses the damage and cut us a check for repairs. They went after the guy for uninsured motorist. Not sure if they collected anything or not.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If the other family paid their policy premiums up to the accident date and you have the testimony of the people at school, you will be fine.

Not necessarily.

My husband had someone hit him once and the guy just hid from insurer. Without his "first person" side of the story, his insurance refused to pay. This student and her family have bigger issues Han an $800 claim.

Now there is the possibilty that his insurer dropped him. But we did not see a dime.

 

[stevenpensacola]

if the other family paid their policy premiums up to the accident date and you have the testimony of the people at school, you will be fine.

War Eagle!


sorry...I could not help myself.

back to the topic...my wife had almost the same thing happen to her. The FHP did respond, but since it was on private property, they had no jurisdiction. He did provide the paperwork for the exchange of information though.

I called the other party's insurance company, and started the claim process. They told me they had not heard from their client, so they contacted her...then they let me know they had contacted her, and told me where to take the car for repair.

Was absolutely painless.

Hope your situation works out ok.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

War Eagle!


sorry...I could not help myself...

Nothing but respect from me. Auburn deserved that win, and they deserve a shot at Oregon. I hope that the NCAA stays out of Cam's business until after the BCSCG, then they can do whatever they want.

Championships should be decided on the field, not behind NCAA closed doors.

 

[golfgal]

If you don't want to pay your deductible (you WILL get it back) you can wait for the certified letter to be sent. The family will have x number of days to respond. If they don't respond the insurance company will most likely pay your claim based on the non-responsiveness of the other party. Usually when they get a letter that tells then to call or the claim will be paid on x date, they call in-not that it will make a difference in this case. Did your wife get a police report?

I would just go ahead and have your insurance company pay to get your car fixed, you pay the $500, they will go after the other company and when they are reimbursed for your claim, they will refund your $500.

You could try calling the adjuster for the other company and find out the time frame for the family to get back to them on the claim. Tell them you would like your car fixed by Christmas or whenever and see if they can move it along.

 

[tvguy]

You pay premiums to your insurance company to provide coverage AND to handle any claims you might be involved. I'd let your insurance deal with it.
I got hit by a drunk driver. He had proof of insurance card that was still valid, but had not paid his premiums. He took days to report it, and then his insurance, Farmers dragged their feet, then said they would only pay $150 for the damage (the lowest estimate of 3 I had was $600). My insurance, Allstate, told Farmers they had 5 days to settle or they would pay the claim plus pass on administrative costs. Farmers paid up promptly then.

 

[manning]

I was rear ended in my hsuband's truck in 2005. For the most part the truck was fine, but the bumper was messed up. So we moved out of the intersection and called police. Police came and took a report. What was so funny and odd about the whole thing, is that the guy while apologizing profusely, tells me he had just come from paying his isurance payment -- showed me the receipt.

So I think all is fine, the guy has insurance, no biggie. I fill out a report so that I can have a report on file for my insurance company, and all is well. I dirve home and stop by my insurance guy's office to show him the damage and start the process.

About a month later, we find out through our insurance company that the guy who hit me -- DOES NOT HAVE INSURANCE AT ALL. Perhaps he made a payment because he was serval months behind when he showed me the receipt, but as many times as Sate Farm (my ins) tried gett in touch with his, they were told that the guy did not have ins with them.

Anyway, SF sent someone out to asses the damage and cut us a check for repairs. They went after the guy for uninsured motorist. Not sure if they collected anything or not.

I was in an accident where the other party was at fault. I was worried about getting reimbursed.

My agent said "don't worry we have ways to collect."

 

[Shmily1]

I was hit and run in May when someone at a red light backed up going fast. She got out and was talking about a truck was about to hit her (there was no one else there), said she was going to move out of the road, then drove off!! Luckily, my DIL was inside the restaurant and knew who it was so DH called the guy that owned the truck and told him his girlfriend should turn herself in since every available officer was looking for her! She was so smart, she forgot to take the drugs out of her pockets when she turned herself in! I let my insurance pay and then they got their money from the guys insurance company.