Got rear ended last night - more bad news today

[jcthorne]

First up, I was not on my Spyder nor in my GT would have been FAR worse. Sitting at a traffic light in my F250, rear ended by a 20 something black man in a white chevy cruze running on a donut spare and in stocking feet...... Lady in car next to me volunteered as a witness, we all pulled into a parking lot. I got information and insurance from the perpetrator as well as info from the witness. He begged me not to call the police due to his outstanding tickets. I reluctantly agreed. (it was pretty obvious that if I started to call he was going to split, at least I got him to stay long enough to get information).

I called Progressive, his insurance company last night and started a claim. They called me back and let me know the policy had lapsed and was not valid. Now I am dealing with an uninsured motorist claim on my insurance (State Farm) and at least a 250 deductible plus all the fun of dealing with a body shop, rental car etc.

State Farm intends to put the uninsured claim against his drivers licence which will result in a warrant and him loosing his licence unless he pays the claim out of pocket....yea right.

I do have a question for Bob the insurance expert, since this is an uninsured motorist claim and I was not at fault, will the claim count against me and raise my rates?

Ok, I vented enough. I am ok and truck will be fixed.

 

[bruiser]

First, glad you're ok. Speaking from experience with State Farm, it will probably go on your record. My wife was involved in a an accident a few years ago. Neither driver was charged or ticketed. Two thousand in damage to her Impala. State Farm paid the claim. Two months later we got a letter from them that she now had three insurance points on her record and our rates went up $150.00. We had SF for almost forty years with NO accident claims and no tickets. We no longer have SF. JMHO, I would have called the cops anyway.

 

[cuznjohn]

the way geico told me was YOU WERE THERE so some blame is set on you, BUT you will most likely be charged with any fault. but you should always call a cop for something that might be over 250 dollars

 

[Dan McNally]

When someone hits you, and damages your vehicle, call the cops . . . it is now apparent you were dealing with a scum bag who was driving without insurance . . . and begging you not to call the cops because of outstanding tickets was the clue.

We try to be nice, but some folks make it hard to do so.

I'm glad you are OK . . . I hope all works out OK for you!

 

[ekfraz]

accident

Sounds like you were on 1960 ! The same thing happened to my wife but in our case the lady pretended to call her ins. co. but she didn't. it was captured on camera's that the lady backed into my wife but we had to do a subrogation using our insurance then they will have to fight it out.

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Be happy that the other driver did not round up three or four buddies that could swear that you deliberately backed into him and now he suffers from neck and back injuries, and that you left the scene of an injury accident.

Not picking on you but always call the police in an accident, even if he left the scene before the police arrived.

As the old saying goes "No good deed goes unpunished"

Cruzr Joe

 

[ARtraveler]

Every instance I have heard where the other person begs you not to call the police, they are either uninsured, don't have a license, or have warrants outstanding.

Being nice just gets you the 6 foot long golden shaft.

 

[Chupaca]

Oouch..!!

glad you were not hurt. Sorry but insurance claims are always messy...hope you come out clean..!! In a good way..:roflblack:

 

[ekfraz]

accident

Sounds like you were on 1960 ! The same thing happened to my wife but in our case the lady pretended to call her ins. co. but she didn't. it was captured on camera's that the lady backed into my wife but we had to do a subrogation using our insurance then they will have to fight it out.

 

[Oldmanzues]

A guy backed into my wife several years ago, she and another person turned in plate id. they got the guy, no insurene or license. State Farm paid off with no problem, nothing to my insurence. I did have to pay the dectuctable of $100.00. then 2 or 3 yers later I got a check form the guy for my $100. so he could get his license back. Hope thing go okay with this for you from now on

 

[jcthorne]

Suppose I should have called the cops and just watched him leave. I did not mention he had a gun. No, he left it in the car but I saw it. Made me want to politely get this done with and move on. State Farm indicated they would go after his licence. Claim will only be a few hundred for a new bumper, buffing out a few scratches on the tail gate and install the bumper. Plus a rental car if the shop has to keep the truck for a day or so. Will meet with the shop tonight, going to a shop SF recommends and that is allowed to do their own estimates. I have used Champions Collision before. For other than show car work, they are fine.

The accident happened on Hwy 249 feeder road, north bound at the Jones rd light.

Thanks everyone. On my claims record or not, its too late to go back once the claim number is open, so I might as well let them pay for it.

 

[Bob Denman]

New York and Texas insurance rules differ...
It sounds as if your Uninsured Motorist coverage also responds to physical damage claims. :thumbup:
Up here; it only applies for bodily injury... :shocked:
(This is where it gets fun...)
Will it raise your rates?
Most insurance Companies have gone to a "Tiered Rating System". They take everything that has happened with your policy into account, and then the computers figure out what to charge you...
They can do this, and justify it as "Finding the most accurate rating for you, in an attempt to protect their rate structure..."
So; while they won't add a surcharge to your policy for a "Not at Fault" accident, they might re-tier you... :gaah:
They might; New York, and Texas insurance rules vary...


Glad to hear that you're okay! :2thumbs:

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

i keep a disposable camera in my vehicles, i take lots of photo's including plate, driver, window stickers & position of sun
for time of day. pictures of immediate area & intersections nearby. i'm sure bob can back me on this, you can never have
too many photo's. I have had too many people play games after an accident. The only time i do not call police is when the
other drivers signs over a written waiver that they are 100% at fault. if they don't want to sign then i hit 911 on my, i am
not going to lose because someone else wants to lie, been through that before.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Cameras, or even cellphones that can take pictures... :thumbup:
(My cellphone can't! pps

 

[SAPD911]

I hate uninsured drivers and I stick it to them on traffic stops/wrecks. Sucks for the good Samaritans that have insurance and the scumbags who don't on accidents. I cite for every violation I can when the person doesn't have insurance and if they r suspended, I take them directly to jail, no pass go, and no $500, lol. And I tow the car and they get citations. The sad part is, the scums out there use insurance cards that say they are covered but once the claim goes in, they were not covered, ect. We need to totally do away with insurance cards. We have a system that automatically checks but we r not allowed to use it if they present a valid insurance card. End of rant!


OP, GL.

 

[Spyder Tony]

First up, I was not on my Spyder nor in my GT would have been FAR worse. Sitting at a traffic light in my F250, rear ended by a 20 something black man in a white chevy cruze running on a donut spare and in stocking feet...... Lady in car next to me volunteered as a witness, we all pulled into a parking lot. I got information and insurance from the perpetrator as well as info from the witness. He begged me not to call the police due to his outstanding tickets. I reluctantly agreed. (it was pretty obvious that if I started to call he was going to split, at least I got him to stay long enough to get information).

I called Progressive, his insurance company last night and started a claim. They called me back and let me know the policy had lapsed and was not valid. Now I am dealing with an uninsured motorist claim on my insurance (State Farm) and at least a 250 deductible plus all the fun of dealing with a body shop, rental car etc.

State Farm intends to put the uninsured claim against his drivers licence which will result in a warrant and him loosing his licence unless he pays the claim out of pocket....yea right.

I do have a question for Bob the insurance expert, since this is an uninsured motorist claim and I was not at fault, will the claim count against me and raise my rates?

Ok, I vented enough. I am ok and truck will be fixed.

I too was rear ended by three "19ish year old white guys" (not sure what part the driver's race plays in the story...) last year. Same story as yours...no insurance. I let my uninsured motorist policy kick in and cover the damage, drove my rental in teh meantime, and my SUV is right as rain. I carry the policy for such an event...because there are many uninsured motorists on the road. Oh...the only difference in my situation is that I called the police, and they responded promptly...to find that the name the driver had given me was false according to the officer.

 

[jcthorne]

Sorry, I did not mean to imply that race had anything to do with the accident, no more so than the color, make or model of the car that hit me did. Just info painting a visual of what I was facing at the time. Description of the event. Nothing more, nothing less.

Gentleman's licence is being revoked and a warrant for his arrest will be issued soon. Likely will never do me any good but he will be required to make restitution before his licence can be reinstated in Texas. SF is also doing a search of the state databases to see if insurance on the driver OR the car has been put in place on any other policies. They spoke to my witness and seem satisfied now that I was not at fault and its going to be uninsured motorist coverage, not collision. Will take a few days to settle. I'll wait to be sure. I will not proceed with a collision, at fault, claim.

Thanks Bob for the insite on how the strange world of insurance works.

Lesson learned, I should have dialed 911 before I even stopped and got out.

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm glad to hear that there is coverage for this, and that this nit-wit will have several issues to clear up before he gets another license. :thumbup:

 

[SAPD911]

always call the police, always. Never trust someone and their information they hand you.

 

[flamingobabe]

that's a bummer....when someone else is at fault...but you still have to do all the leg work.....good lick....and you say he had a gun...you did the right thing....but agree next time...call 911 before you leave your car...bad deal