WWYD insurance claim???

[paysensmom]

A lady ran her cart into the back of my parked van. She would have walked away but my hubby decided to stay in the van with the kids while I grabbed a few things at the grocery store. He walked over to her car and asked her if she was really just going to walk away. Any how, he got their insurance card and wrote everything down. As soon as I got out of this store and put the veggies in the back of the van I saw the four inch dent and crack in my back gate. Hubby gave me the info and I called her insurance company right then. The ins. Company called me yesterday and told me they left her a message but couldn't proceed with the claim (home owners since they have car and home at the same place, thank goodness!) until she calls back. What if she doesn't call back? What should I do? Do I need to contact an attorney???

 

[silmarg]

boy that stinks...

i think you need a police report.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You are at the mercy of the other person.
2) You should have driven to the police station and made a report.
3) You still might have time.
4) Without it, you are stuck unless she owns up to it.

 

[clh2]

Sorry - is that REALLY something that needs a police report, or even worth a call to the insurance company?

Sometimes - stuff just happens...and shopping carts IMO - fall into that category.

 

[Arabelle]

A wind blown cart would be "one of those things." however damaging someone's car and walking away is so far beyond that. Sometimes we have to make amends for our accidents even though they are accidents.

 

[Mkebound]

You need to call YOUR insurance company, let them know what happened.

It's there job to bill the other insurance company to pay for your repairs.

 

[Judique]

You need to call YOUR insurance company, let them know what happened.

It's there job to bill the other insurance company to pay for your repairs.

What other insurance company? She ran a shopping cart into the van. She wasn't driving her car into the van.

Sounds like small claims court to me, or use your own insurance to get it fixed and go from there.

 

[paysensmom]

You need to call YOUR insurance company, let them know what happened.

It's there job to bill the other insurance company to pay for your repairs.

I did call our insurance company. They said to call theirs, so I did.

 

[paysensmom]

Sorry - is that REALLY something that needs a police report, or even worth a call to the insurance company?

Sometimes - stuff just happens...and shopping carts IMO - fall into that category.

We didn't think it warranted a police report, but she ran her cart into our parked van. She is responsible for the damages. My husband said the van shook when she hit it. He didn't see what happened but guessed that she was too lazy to put the cart away and walked part way to the collector and shoved it, but missed. We were parked beside it. This repair is going to be expensive and why shouldn't the person who caused the damage be responsible for it?

 

[livndisney]

We didn't think it warranted a police report, but she ran her cart into our parked van. She is responsible for the damages. My husband said the van shook when she hit it. He didn't see what happened but guessed that she was too lazy to put the cart away and walked part way to the collector and shoved it, but missed. We were parked beside it. This repair is going to be expensive and why shouldn't the person who caused the damage be responsible for it?

Good luck! A woman ran into my car (foot slipped off the brake at a stop sign), police told me nothing they could do since it was private property (Target parking lot). Insurance company said nothing they could do without a police report.

 

[allison443]

What other insurance company? She ran a shopping cart into the van. She wasn't driving her car into the van.

Sounds like small claims court to me, or use your own insurance to get it fixed and go from there.

I think OP said the claim is going through the woman's homeowner's policy (which is the same insurance carrier as her auto policy).

I agree OP may end up going to small claims court.

 

[bumbershoot]

What other insurance company? She ran a shopping cart into the van. She wasn't driving her car into the van.

Sounds like small claims court to me, or use your own insurance to get it fixed and go from there.

A boy ran into my stopped car with his bicycle. His parents' home owners insurance paid for the damages.

So I definitely think that this case could go to something like that.



However, I've never known of a police officer to be willing to come to a private parking lot - whether that's a grocery store lot or the lot of my parents' townhouse development - for something like this, making a police report *impossible*. In my case, there was absolutely no problem with this, the homeowners insurance did NOT need a police report.


And I do suppose they need to talk with the owner...thankfully the bicycle-boy's parents were known slightly to my stepdad, and he called to tell them what was going on, and he didn't balk. And when a Suburban driver backed into my parked (and empty) Beetle, I got home and on the phone to insurance before she got home, and they had called and spoken with her unsuspecting husband before she got home as well. But we happened to have the same insurance company so I suppose that made it slightly easier.

While you wait, you might find a good and honest bodywork shop and get some estimates. Just so you're prepared.

 

[mantaz]

Now see, I think the person should be responsible. Car repairs are not cheap. I had someone use my car's front driverside front quarter panel as a stopping block for their car. They drove off. I didn't notice till the next day. Nice dent right behind my tire. Cost for repair over $600. I shouldn't be responsible for that. I also had somebody park so close to my car they left a quarter size green dent in my car when they opened their car door into mine. DH didn't notice it although I had to move my car for him to get in! had I noticed it, I would have called the police and walked myself right back in the resturant. They should be held responsible for their lazy/careless actions. Police can come and take a report on private property, they just can't ticket the at fault party.

 

[auger]

Years ago, as I was driving past a golf course, my van was struck by a man's misguided golf ball.
I turned around and went back to the course, waiting for him at the end of the hole he was playing.
He gave me his ins info without any problem , admitting he knew he had hit my van.
He did the same thing to me that this woman is doing to you. WOuldn't allow his ins co to file the claim.
My ins got involved tring to get coop from the other co.
Didn't help.
I had to file a claim against the man in small claims court.
The judge ruled in my favor (without really thinking twice about it), mainly because the man had admitted to me that he had hit the van, and because he had given me his ins information, in essence, admitting his guilt.

So no, you probably do not have to have a police report.
If she continues to ignore the ins co, file a claim against her.
I had to pay like $35 upfront.
But because he was found at fault, he had to pay damages a well as costs.
So I got my $$ back.
BTW, they made him write me a check for the full amount before leaving court.

 

[mom2my3kids]

good luck you should of probably made a police report at the scene..She can try to say she didnt do it..I feel for you but insurance companies are horrible to work with..

 

[Eljay]

Cellphone cameras folks!
When something like this happens, pull out your camera and snap away, starting with the license plate of the offender. I recently took pictures of the other guys plate, the damage to my bumper, the 2 cars together and his insurance card, in his hand!

There was no denying anything on his part and he knew I had him.
I called his insurance company and mine and everything went without a hitch.

 

[starry_solo]

Go to the local police station and file a report. That's what you can do. Then provide it to your insurance company. Doubtful that the police would have come if you had called them (that or you would have waited hours for them to respond since it's not an emergency).

Then, provide the police report # to your insurance company.

 

[paysensmom]

I called the police department today and they said they wouldnt do a police report. They told me that unless it is intentional, they don't do that. Espcecially in a parking lot.

I called the grocery store and they argeed to let me come look at their surveillance tape. I know the time ish that it happened.

I called her insurance company again and they said they are waiting on her to respond and that they have also sent her a letter. I guess if I don't hear anything by next Tuesday I open a small claims dispute. I will have her insurance information that my husband copied down from the card her husband gave mine. I will also have a copy of or have access too a copy of the video showing her running into my van. So, hopefully that will be enough. I am just bummed that there are people in this world who do not do the right thing.

 

[Maddle]

This is pretty outrageous.

Does this mean if I hit your car, and give you my insurance info.....all I have to do is not answer the phone when my insurance company calls to check it out? What a deal!

It seems to me SHE should have to say, "no, that's not my fault." After all, how do they think you got her insurance information in the first place?

 

[Jeff_G]

I would get a couple of estimates from different body shops for the repair, I would then give it a week or two calling their insurance company every few days for status. I would then inform the insurance company of your intentions to file a law suite against their client.