More proof that no good deed goes unpunished

[Randallw]

Atrocities said:

Something as simple as a fender bender has to be blown all out of proportion because State Farm and Farmers have to assign % blaim when there is none.

May I inteject. So in the US you have insurance companies with names like State Farm and Farmers . I suppose they're for Farm workers etc. Here in Australia we just have companies such as Australian Mutual Motor Insurance and Automobile Club Insurance.

[Raging Deadstar]

Dam Atrocities... I agree you have some of the worst luck. I can't even begin to imagine whats going to happen next Maybe In a few years you'll get an equal ammount of good luck hit you?

If I were Judge for this case:
* I would make both insurance companies pay half of whatever TOTAL costs were included up front. And watch the Madness as they try and get the money back out of each other afterwards.
* Once that entertainment is complete I would have to ask the jury on one of two punishments for those guilty insurance company members:
1. Burnt at the Stake.
2. Sent to a State Prison, don't drop the soap...

I think the woman who hit you should also get a $100 bonus, For being honest, also fronted by the Insurance Company, just so you can tell them "That honesty does pay" and watch their heads explode

[dogscoff]

Surely as a customer you have some clout with your insurance company. Phone and demand that they fight your corner, and tell them you refuse to accept any culpability. Tell them you're willing to go to court if necessary. Tell them that if they don't start earning their premiums you're taking your business elsewhere. Then, when they laugh in your face, go onto the internet and find out the name of the company's biggest big boss, and write a scathing letter addressed to him/her personally.

Of course none of this will work, since imho capitalism and the free market are as big a con as democracy, in which the little people are placated with myths about their collective power to control and hold accountable the massive, self-perpetuating organisations that control and regulate every tiny aspect of their behaviour.

Oops, did I just rant that out loud? Sorry.

[geoschmo]

Since he wasn't driving at the time of the accident, I doubt he's going to any love from his own insurance company. Your automobile insurance company doesn't really cover your car, it covers you as a driver of your car.

While what is happeneing to you sucks on a personal level, it's understandable to a point. (Note that I'm not saying it's right, just understandable.) Any time there is an property damage accident in which noone was cited, the insurance company will try to make the claim that it's a "no-fault" accident and share the cost with the other side. If you had been driving at the time she hit you your own insurance company would foot part of the bill. Since you weren't they aren't going to touch it. But just because they won't doesn't mean that her company is going to want to pay the whole thing.

Your numero uno big mistake was not insisting she stay until the police arrive and fill out an accident report. Most likely she would have been citred and then her insurance company would have no wiggle room. As long as you were parked on a public thouroughfare she would have most likely been cited anyway.

If you were parked on your uncles property they probably wouldn't have cited her. But if you were parked on your uncles property then probably his homeowners insurance will help pay the damages. Of course depending on what kind of policy he has this may be really bad for him. Even if you paid the deductable out of your own pocket his insurance co might pay off and then decide to drop him as high-risk. If you think car insurance companies are bad, try dealing with those crooks.

So the big lesson for everyone is, if there's an accident, even if noone is injured, DON'T LEAVE. Call the police and wait. If the other guy wants to leave, tell him no. If he starts to leave anyway, make sure you get his plate number and be real obvious about it. Hit-Skip is not a nice thing to have on your record.

I doubt it would help At, but you might give a call to the police department and ask them if there's any chance of getting a police report filed after the fact. Most won't, but some will. If you can get a citation issued against her that will end your problem. Otherwise, get a lawyer and go after her insurance company. Chances are they'll settle this one. You won't end up whole in the end, but if the damage is significant, it would be worth it to get some back.

Geoschmo

[rdouglass]

I know this is an "after the fact" kind of thing, but that's the idea of Comprehensive coverage. What that does is your insurance company pays the bill THEN they fight the other company for the percentages and such. I've been in a situation almost exactly like that; my insurance paid the full bill and then duked it out with the other driver's company.

I might be sticking my neck out but I work for an insurance company (on the computer side) and may have some insight. (Ducks and covers as things come flying at me... )

Having said that, it's not necessarily that the insurance company is the problem but how they compensate their claims adjusters. Claims adjusters generally are compensated for keeping their claim amounts as low as possible. (Hey, I need a bigger check this month so let's see who I can stiff - it DOES happen folks.) And insurance is one of the most regulated industries in the country so just about everything they do is wrapped up in legal "red tape". Write to your political representatives and tell them you wish that claim compensation stuff would be stopped to prevent this kind of crap. See, I'm convinced that if the claims adjusters were just paid a straight salary, it would reduce most of this "your fault, his fault" stuff anyways.

As a side note, where I live in Maine, a parked vehicle is NEVER at fault; the moving vehicle ALWAYS is. Some of that stuff might be the legal system and not the insurance company. Either way AT, I feel for you. Dealing with those issues always sucks and you NEVER get compensated for any of the crap you have to put up with - even if they pay all the bills.

[tesco samoa]

I suggest you attempt to work it out with your insurance agent personally.

IF not then file a grievence against the insurance company ( how you do that in your state i have no clue , perhaps an insurance budsman. )

I would also ask the person who backed into your car if they would like to settle without the insurance company.



IF those three steps fail then you should seek legal action against your insurance company.

Also check your policy to make sure your covered for 100% for what happened.

[Gandalf Parker]

Ive always been told that if you dont make everyone stay where they are until the police can come look at it and file a report, that you might be stuck with however the insurance companies want to view it. If anyone wants to leave before that then get them to sign something agreeing to your view of the accident (yes I was at fault)

[Atrocities]

An update.

I just talked to someone else at State Farm, a far mor friendly person than yestarday, and she told me that the only, and I quote, "ONLY" reason I was told that they, being State Farm, considered me at fault, even partially, was because they, the lady I talked to Last night, had talked to the insurreds Daughter, not the inssured, and that the facts that she had been given were inaccurate. Based upon that, she determined that I was at fault fully or partially.

I asked how they came by this revolation, that they had talked to the wrong person, and she said that a second call was placed to their insured after my phone call to them and an interview of my witness. I mentioned a witness when I reported the loss, so I would suspect that the claim case worker had pulled an Ooops, and had forgot to talk to my witness. After my call, she discovered this oversight and decided to cover her bases. A good thing she did.

Any ways, I think the issue of liability has been reconciled to my benefit, thank God.

At least now I can get the shop to start work on my truck. Oddly the women at State Farm told me in a defeated tone of voice that they had to obtain permission to go onto the property of the shop I took my truck to. I guess the shop I chose was not one of their preferred shops. Oooops.

[Atrocities]

I should write a book about all the rotten crap that has happened to me since 2000. I did something in 2000 that just sent my luck plumitting to the depths of hell. What that was I have no frelling idea.

[sachmo]

Atrocities said:
I should write a book about all the rotten crap that has happened to me since 2000. I did something in 2000 that just sent my luck plumitting to the depths of hell. What that was I have no frelling idea.

But just wait until that karma comes back around, AT. You're gonna want to start playing the lottery one of these days, bud.