Question about liability and hitting someone's car.

[Ranger111]

Just a side note:

If you take one poster's advice and "just call your insurance company -- without making a claim," just know that many insurance companies in the US will make a note in their files that you called about a car accident.

And that will "COUNT" almost as much as a claim or AS MUCH.

http://www.aarp.org/money/insurance/info-12-2011/phone-call-raise-insurance-rate-ask-sid.html

 

[MomToOne]

File with your insurance. They will go after him for reimbursement. You will have to pay the deductible, but when they collect will refund it.

This is true only if you have collision - in that case, they will go after him only because they want to recoup what they have to pay out to you. They are not expending that effort out of the goodness of their hearts and because they care about you as a person, it's all about money to them.

If you only have liability insurance, they won't do much for you other than give you a bit of sympathy and assure you that should the other party try and claim against your insurance, they'll deny it. Been there, done that.

 

[jcano]

JMO but you asked so here goes.
I'd call my insurance and see what they say. Not file a claim. Just find out my options.

Do either of these damages affect the drivability of the car? If not, I'd just have her drive it as is. She did part of the damage when she hit the pole. If it is only cosmetic damage and she wants it fixed, she can pay for it.

 

[Ranger111]

JMO but you asked so here goes.
I'd call my insurance and see what they say. Not file a claim. Just find out my options.

Do either of these damages affect the drivability of the car? If not, I'd just have her drive it as is. She did part of the damage when she hit the pole. If it is only cosmetic damage and she wants it fixed, she can pay for it.

Once again people, see my earlier post, calling "about" can count as much as a claim.

 

[ZachnElli]

Once again people, see my earlier post, calling "about" can count as much as a claim.

Who does this? I'm an independent agent and no company I know does this. I also worked at State Farm, they didn't do it either. So which companies count calling and asking questions count it as a claim? That's my job to answer these questions and guide the insured.
It's hard to answer such a question on a message board because it varies by state. Call the police first and see if they can help, if not call your agent.

 

[Ranger111]

Who does this? I'm an independent agent and no company I know does this. I also worked at State Farm, they didn't do it either. So which companies count calling and asking questions count it as a claim? That's my job to answer these questions and guide the insured.
It's hard to answer such a question on a message board because it varies by state. Call the police first and see if they can help, if not call your agent.

Hi, ZachnElli:

I am actually a "bud" of an agent. Maybe you don't know all, or maybe things have changed. But my bud is with a major company. One that could have farm in the name. He confirmed that they do "record."

Read the link, do what you think....

YMMV, as I said -- read the article in the link. But, as Clint Eastwood said "Do you feel lucky."

Myself, I am not "rich," but jeopardizing my "rating" for a $600 claim -- not worth the trouble.

 

[HookdonWDW]

The half brother is 21. He's an adult. Although it would be nice if her father would pay to repair the vehicle as her father, but he has no responsibility to pay for the damage caused by his adult son.

I'd pay what I felt I needed to pay, let her father pay for what he feels he needs to pay, and have her approach her half-brother (hate that term - siblings are siblings...) about the rest. Side note: If he can't afford to pay his way at the half-way house, I doubt he can pay for car repairs...

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

DON'T CLAIM IT is my advice.

1) Police will not <usually> do anything -- not even take a report -- unless there is a serious accident with a chance of injury -- even if it is on a public road.

2) As said -- you can call your insurance company and make a claim -- tell them all the details and they will deal with it -- but not what I would do

3) The "other driver" can and may deny hitting said car -- may deny ever saying they hit it.

4) If it were me -- I would probably get it repaired myself. Not worth the HIT your insurance is going to take (yes, it was not your fault, and no it may not make your rate go up, but KNOW it will be on record, and if you have another accident -- even again if it is not your fault -- ODDS are it will cause some adjustment in your rates (it's called the unlucky driver syndrome). For $600, I would not claim it. Just not worth the hassle and the ping on your record for such a small amount.

5) If you insist on claiming it -- I might just go the "phantom driver route."

Lots of bad advice here, especially point #5! I hope you weren't serious about lying to the insurance company.

OP, report this to your insurance company. They will go after your daughter's half brother to recoup the costs of fixing the car.

As an alternative, she can take her half brother to small claims court.

 

[JillyBean1899]

Who does this? I'm an independent agent and no company I know does this. I also worked at State Farm, they didn't do it either. So which companies count calling and asking questions count it as a claim? That's my job to answer these questions and guide the insured.
It's hard to answer such a question on a message board because it varies by state. Call the police first and see if they can help, if not call your agent.

USAA doesn't either. And they don't raise your rates when you file a claim where someone else was at fault, because all they do is act as an intermediary between you and the other insurance company. If your insurance company treats a question about an incident as a claim and uses that to raise your rates ... well, maybe it's time for a new insurance company.

 

[Ranger111]

USAA doesn't either. And they don't raise your rates when you file a claim where someone else was at fault, because all they do is act as an intermediary between you and the other insurance company. If your insurance company treats a question about an incident as a claim and uses that to raise your rates ... well, maybe it's time for a new insurance company.

And you know this how...I do not dispute that they do -- or do not -- but unless you have something in writing that says they do not...

If you have that, please post it, as I would be very likely "likely to switch."

Just saying, you have to look out for yourself.

Sorry, not a perfect world.

 

[Ranger111]

Lots of bad advice here, especially point #5! I hope you weren't serious about lying to the insurance company.

OP, report this to your insurance company. They will go after your daughter's half brother to recoup the costs of fixing the car.

As an alternative, she can take her half brother to small claims court.

As a basic fact, not really lying as you cannot prove brother hit car....YMMV....just thinking with the story you told. your advice could result in $$$$ rates.

Not sure. I am not an insurer

 

[JillyBean1899]

And you know this how...I do not dispute that they do -- or do not -- but unless you have something in writing that says they do not...

If you have that, please post it, as I would be very likely "likely to switch."

Just saying, you have to look out for yourself.

Sorry, not a perfect world.

I know this because when I swerved to miss a raccoon in the road and ended up with some body damage to my Saturn, and called to find out what I should do (ended up just paying out of pocket, I carried a $1k deductible at the time), my rates didn't go up. And when some bratty teenager decided to take his mom's car joyriding in the snow/ice and wiped out my Focus, my rates didn't go up. And when some other genius woman decided putting her car in neutral on a slight hill and rolling back into my Amigo would be a good idea, my rates didn't go up, either.

Do accidents that aren't my fault affect my rates?
-
Not usually. If we agree that you had no responsibility for an accident, your premium will not be affected by an accident that is not your fault. Even if an accident were your fault, it may not affect your rates. For example, being responsible for a minor accident resulting in a small amount of property damage may not affect your rates. However, two minor accidents within a specified time period may result in higher premiums.

That was taken directly from the FAQ page at USAA's website. Yes, some scummy companies may raise your rates if you ask them a question about a claim, but like I said, if they do that, it may be time to change companies to one that actually gives a rat's behind about the people they insure.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

We seem to be getting off the original question. IME we have never had our insurance rates go up due to accidents. We have been hit 3 times in the past 3 years. None were deemed our fault, but because we are in no-fault states, our insurance company works out the liability.

We always get a police report--even when my son drove backwards into the tree in our yard. In fact, our insurance didn't go up much for that. We lost our multicar discount (car totaled).

If you are unsure about which to speak with in regards to police or insurance...call the county clerk's office. They can not give you legal advice, but they can point you to the laws that affect you.

And I am not sure what your deductible is for your insurance. We have been $500 for so long. So, with $600 worth of damage (the pole), it would be better for us to pay the extra $100. She should not be held responsible for something another person did--family or not family.

 

[Ranger111]

I know this because when I swerved to miss a raccoon in the road and ended up with some body damage to my Saturn, and called to find out what I should do (ended up just paying out of pocket, I carried a $1k deductible at the time), my rates didn't go up. And when some bratty teenager decided to take his mom's car joyriding in the snow/ice and wiped out my Focus, my rates didn't go up. And when some other genius woman decided putting her car in neutral on a slight hill and rolling back into my Amigo would be a good idea, my rates didn't go up, either.



That was taken directly from the FAQ page at USAA's website. Yes, some scummy companies may raise your rates if you ask them a question about a claim, but like I said, if they do that, it may be time to change companies to one that actually gives a rat's behind about the people they insure.

Sorry, not going to risk my rates from a "me and Joe" story.

I again refer to the web link I posted.

 

[JillyBean1899]

Sorry, not going to risk my rates from a "me and Joe" story.

I again refer to the web link I posted.

Well unfortunately I don't have the bills from before and after each incident to prove to you that my rates didn't change, but this is first hand experience I am relating, not "my brother's friend's roomate's cousin twice removed by marriage said ..." stories. If you don't want to trust them, that's your decision. I just put the info out there.

However, after reading the link you posted, that just proves my point ... those are scummy insurance agencies that will mark a question as a claim, and then charge you for it. In *MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE* with USAA, this has *NEVER* happened. But again, that's my experience, which I'm sure carries no weight with you. Maybe it will help someone else.

 

[tarak]

I have USAA, too. They've insured me for 27 years. About six years ago, I had an accident that was my fault (backing out of a spot and looking behind me to see if anyone was coming - forgot about that concrete post next to my honda and crunched the right front passenger door panel). My rates didn't go up. Now perhaps that was because it was my first claim in those 27 years. But they didn't go up.

 

[tasha99]

I know this because when I swerved to miss a raccoon in the road and ended up with some body damage to my Saturn, and called to find out what I should do (ended up just paying out of pocket, I carried a $1k deductible at the time), my rates didn't go up. And when some bratty teenager decided to take his mom's car joyriding in the snow/ice and wiped out my Focus, my rates didn't go up. And when some other genius woman decided putting her car in neutral on a slight hill and rolling back into my Amigo would be a good idea, my rates didn't go up,

I have USAA too, and once changed lanes to miss a moose but was unsuccessful. $3500 worth of damage, a $500 deductible, and they didn't change my rates. I went on my comprehensive since it was an animal.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Didn't read the entire thread but I am confused about what the problem is. Turn the claim with all the accurate info as to who caused damage into YOUR insurance company - they should have a entire department that will go after the person that caused the damage for the money, they don't want it coming out of their pocket either, you don't have to do anything else. It wasn't your daughter's fault, your insurance should not go up.

 

[writermommy6]

How much is your deductible? Would the difference be worth the hassle of the claim? Also is the damage cosmetic or did it cause mechanical problems to it? If it's just cosmetic then nothing has to be fixed right away.

Should dad or the brother pay for it? In a perfect world yes. But it sounds as if that's a reach. I would let DD hound him for the money. If neither of the "men" decide to pony up the money then perhaps it will show your DD their true colors.

Sorry this happened.

 

[Hannathy]

I don't understand why you are paying the $600 for her hitting something. If she is old enough to drive she is old enough to take care of her mistakes.

There is no way I would turn $600 into my insurance especially with a young driver, teen or early 20's.My guess is A lot of people saying my insurance didn't go up are older drivers with probably long time association with their insurance, this is a young driver and maybe it won't go up this time but if she happens to have anything else in the near future look out! her rates will go up and she may have trouble even getting insurance. Plus with the deductibles today you aren't going to get that much back.

Is it an older car? what coverage do you have on it?