OT: Somebody ran into my car. 10 days to turn in estimate to Insurance???

cwegescheide · #1 12/29/2007, 08:46 PM

So I had some friends come down from New York a couple weeks ago and I let them use my car. They were at a gas station and somebody backed into it. Didn't do A LOT of damage, estimates I got were about 500 bucks. So thats not anything major. Anyways my friends were told they had to turn in the accident with estimates within 10 days. Ever heard of anything like that?

I work out of town a lot and its difficult to get things like this done. I had to take a day off to get this stuff done Monday. The guy said he'd rather pay for it than turn into insurance. No biggie. Of course I've called twice now and he has not returned my phone call. I'm just aggrivated now.

I'm not really upset about it because I've been thinking about getting my car repainted anyways. Its a 2000 Prelude and they don't make them any more. I really like my car and the only new cars I like are too darn expensive so I decided to just restore mine. Then this happened...

I think my next phone call will be to this jerks Insurance company. So have you guys heard of a 10 day limit on turning in a claim? I DO have a police report..

Thanks,
Chris

CichlidMan@<3 · #2 12/29/2007, 09:04 PM

If the estimate is only 500 bucks, I would just fix it yourself. You do a claim on it and your insurance will go up.

cwegescheide · #3 12/29/2007, 09:55 PM

How will my insurance go up when he hit me? I'm not calling my insurance company..

Hey 500 bux is 500$...

BlitzK · #4 12/30/2007, 07:24 AM

Have you tried contacting the person directly and see if they'll pay?

Any accidents (Collision claims) you have is always looked upon negatively by insurance companies, even if it's not your fault. Your premiums may not rise (it might), but it is still there for them to see. Florida is a no-fault state.

Even if you can get the person involved in the accident to pay you ~$300, I'd do that rather than file a claim for the $500.

forddna · #5 12/30/2007, 01:25 PM

I agree with BlitzK. If the other person can afford to, they would probably rather work out a deal with you than have a claim on their insurance. Same for you.

20yrs90gal · #6 12/30/2007, 01:39 PM

Call the guy, leave a message telling him if you don't hear from him in 24 hours you will contact his insurance, faxing a copy of the police report to the insurance company the same day.

You have to be very direct, same thing happened to me. Found out the guy who hit me didn't have insurance the time of the accident, but rushed out and bought insurance after the accident. I only got him to pay once he knew I was contacting his insurance and faxing the police report to the insurance company. (fortunately for me, his insurance just lapsed and he relisted with the same company so the police report and the copy of the insurance card I got helped me out)

Unfortunately you can't trust all people on their word these days. He's avoiding you for one reason- - $500. Tell him he can cut a check to you, or your repair shop directly, but give him very short leash.

PS: I did call my agent and explained the situation, they said it would not affect my insurance unless my insurance had to pay (this was in NJ). They are the ones that encouraged me to go through his company/him. It's all about the $$ -

Sk8r · #7 12/30/2007, 01:43 PM

I think the same: call him, tell him he has to pay up [your 10 days will reasonably be 10 BUSINESS days, I'd hope] by Wednesday, [gives him time to get to bank when bank will be open] or the claim goes in. And tell him you want a cashier's check and you will give him a signed receipt for it, to wit: "I, name, have received 500.00 as payment in full for damages from accident to my car on [date]." That will about do it to protect him. The fact it's a cashier's check [or cash] will protect you against a bad check.

There are actually 3 insurance companies involved: his, yours, and your friends' company---which should pay it, since it insures them, if you cannot get it out of this guy, but you cannot wait around.