I'm very tempted to be an SC. Need Advice...

[One-Fang]

Uh, as far as I understand the excess (deductible) on insurances, you don't pay if the incident is entirely the fault of the other guy. You only pay that when you are actually responsible for the costs, and your insurance company covers everything over that amount. Since your insurance co should be able to get the full amount from his, you should either not have to pay, or be refunded.

It is definitely worth asking them though. Give your company a call and just ask.

[FenigDurak]

he didn't mention what kind of coverage he has, but if he's only carrying liability on his vehicle, his insurance company won't do anything.

Someone please enlighten me. I thought that if someone had liability insurance, it covered the costs if and only if that person was the cause of said accident. Meaning you're boned if you get hit and run as you haven't paid for full coverage, but if you get hit and the other person doesn't or can't run, you don't have to worry because their insurance covers it.

I'm not up to date on my car insurance policies as I don't have a car.

[Rapscallion]

PJ - your hubby should have been liable for all damage to the front of your car and rear of the car in front. Always stop far enough back so that you don't get shunted into another car if you get hit (sit on the brakes).

Interesting - that's not taken into account over here. If someone slams into the back of me when I'm in a queue and there is resultant damage to the car in front of me, it's down to the numpty who hit me. Does it work differently over there?

Rapscallion

[One-Fang]

I'm not sure 100% but yes that is the general 'common knowledge'. Chains of insurance companies involved in any five car pile-up. It was stressed when I was learning to drive and being tested that you should stop sufficiently back from the car in front to avoid this situation.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

"Well, sir, I was going to give your client the benefit of the doubt for being stressed out after just having hit someone. But now that I see he's actually just an asshole who doesnt' care if he hurts someone...."

IS: No, ma'am, it's not like that at all..."

Me: I'm going the doctor today. I'll send you that bill. My neck and back is pretty sore. Sure hope it's just a little stiffness. Just an FYI, your client didn't seem to care at all if I was hurt or not. He wanted to tell me it was my fault. If I'd known then that he was such an asshole..."

IS: No, MS. Recovering Kinkoid, that's not how it is..."

Me: Weeeell, let's hope it isn't. Talk to you later.

I got a check THAT WEEK.

YES! You rule, RK!

Might be worth it for erik's wife to try that. Remember, it is very difficult to disprove certain kinds of pain.

[friendofjimmyk]

I agree with the posters that say let your insurance company deal with the SF - they are better equipped to do so - i.e. - have the money and the lawyers already there. It's the other dudes fault and there are witnesses to this fact AND a police statement from the guy that it is his fault - and that's all that is needed. They're going to talk to their client to get his story? Hogwash. His story is there. Insurance companies don't play nice and that's what you have yours for.

[tacohuman]

Someone please enlighten me. I thought that if someone had liability insurance, it covered the costs if and only if that person was the cause of said accident. Meaning you're boned if you get hit and run as you haven't paid for full coverage, but if you get hit and the other person doesn't or can't run, you don't have to worry because their insurance covers it.

I'm not up to date on my car insurance policies as I don't have a car.

that was exactly my point...if the op only carries liability on his vehicle, contacting his insurance company, then letting them deal with the insurance company of the guy who hit him, will do no good, as the op's coverage only extends to the damage he is at fault for in an accident.

[starla671]

State Farm

I had to deal with them once when we were hit by one of their customers. Sometimes you have to be tough on them. Just tell them that you are considering retaining a lawyer, that should get some results.

[Crafty1289]

I was involved in an accident in january this year, unfortunately i was the guilty party. The way it normally works here is both parties inform their own insurance companies about the collision. Then the 2 insurers thrash it out, so to speak. And the insurer also arranges pickup and repair of their insured vehicle. The guilty party pays the excess on their policy (mine was £370 due to me being a young driver. when i turn 21, it goes down to £150)

I was also involved in a collision in october last year, which wasn't my fault, much more major. ended up blocking a junction on a country road late at night, called the police for assistance, or else there would have been another accident - neither cars had functioning hazard lights after the smash. The police towed both cars to their yard, and the insurers picked them up from there. Mine was written off - i got £3000 for a new car. I paid my excess, but got it back from the other insurer. The guy was being pissy about it, saying it was my fault etc. Then the police started proceedings against him due to careless driving, and I forwarded copies of my letter from the police to the solicitors and the insurers, and nobody's heard from the guy since. Guilty or what?!!

The 3rd party insurer has agreed to honour any claim of mine due to the evidence from the police, and my nice MS paint drawings of how the accident actually happened.

[marcus]

If you have full cover then your insurance will do the dirty admin work in getting the other guys insurance.
If you only have liability then you have to chase these things yourself unless you have a legal assistance plan.
The upside is that any insurance company who gives you a hard time in the face of fact, as in your case, will get into trouble themselves.

[Lace Neil Singer]

A few years back, a guy knocked me off my moped. Despite the fact that he took all the blame from the accident and didn't oppose a claim, it still took about a year to process it. The reason? He only wanted to fork out a grand, which wouldn't even cover the moped, which had to be written off. In the end, I settled for 5 grand which covered injuries, bike, leathers and the stress I went thru having to take 3 months off work in the middle of a heatwave and unable to do anything.

[Auto]

that was exactly my point...if the op only carries liability on his vehicle, contacting his insurance company, then letting them deal with the insurance company of the guy who hit him, will do no good, as the op's coverage only extends to the damage he is at fault for in an accident.

Hold on a second.

Every driver is supposed to carry liability insurance in case he/she is at fault in an accident.

Even if a driver lacks comprehensive coverage to protect his own vehicle, he may have uninsured driver insurance if he ends up in an accident with someone who is ignoring the law and driving without insurance. (A big problem in California because many illegal aliens do have auto insurance of any kind.)

The other driver's liability insurance should cover the original poster's expense to fix her vehicle. Bu thte original poster should still contact her own insurance company. Let them handle everything. One insurance company talking to another is the easiest way to get this resolved. No need for her to hunt down the other driver who is doing everything possible to avoid being contacted.

[erik316wttn]

UPDATE: I took it to my insurance company this morning and am going to let them deal with it, after being informed by State Farm that the culprit "no longer lives at the address given on the police report."

[MadMike]

Every driver is supposed to carry liability insurance in case he/she is at fault in an accident.

I could be wrong, but I think there are a few states where it is not required.

[Auto]

I could be wrong, but I think there are a few states where it is not required.

I think you're wrong. God, I hope you're wrong.

But in reality, I'll bet there are many many drivers out there who don't carry liability insurance, the law be damned.