collision compensation

by Guest » Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:58 am
Guest

Hi my car was rear ended in an car accident during bad weather resulting in a dent in the bumper, because of the weather the police officers claimed it was a no fault accident and to proceed through my insurance company for repairs. My insurance company subsequently informed me that since I didn't have collision coverage they couldnt help me. After being informed of this I added collision to my coverage and my car was hit again in a hit and run in the same place as before except now the bumper is hanging from the car. Would it be problematic to file this claim through my insurance company?

Total Comments: 5

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 01:28 am Post Subject:

Oh boy insurancefanatic, if it weren't for bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all would ya? man oh man what a mess..

because of the weather the police officers claimed it was a no fault accident and to proceed through my insurance company for repairs.

First of all the cop was dead wrong, and you should've filed a claim against the person that rearended you i can all but gaurantee they would've paid the claim...i've been at this over 20 years and am the first to tell you that the police report has next to zero to do with liability determination. weather conditions or not, all motorists cannot go faster than they can stop short of hitting something...too bad...you could've been paid by that carrier...oh well spilled milk now...

My insurance company subsequently informed me that since I didn't have collision coverage they couldnt help me.

And what this ''helpful'' insurance professional should have then told you was to file it with the at fault driver...but again too late now..

After being informed of this I added collision to my coverage

ok, now here's where you lose me...you KNEW you only had liability coverage when you bought the policy so why add it now? what is the yr/make/model and mileage? did you add comprehensive as well? What deductibles did you chose? What liability limits do you carry? Do you have other vehicles insured with this carrier too? How long have you been insured with this carrier? And when exactly did you add this coverage (date) and when did this second accident occur? and did anyone from your company see the car between the two accidents?

and my car was hit again in a hit and run in the same place as before except now the bumper is hanging from the car.

man what a stroke of bad luck, and the ONLY damage to your car is the bumper cover? were you driving or was it parked? did you file a police report? were there any witnesses?

Would it be problematic to file this claim through my insurance company?

Answer the above questions and we'd be in a better position to answer that...

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 02:23 am Post Subject:

something...too bad...you could've been paid by that carrier...oh well spilled milk now...

I'd not say it's too late. Sounds like the police took a report. As such, there is a record of the accident and as long as the Statute of Limitations has not expired, the OP should be able to file a claim with the other carrier.

ok, now here's where you lose me

I don't think I am... the OP thought they had coverage for 1st party damages. When they found out they did not, they added it.

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 02:25 am Post Subject:

I added the collision coverage so that I wouldn't have to pay for any future damages in the case of another accident. My car is a 2001 mitsubishi eclipse gs with about 70000 miles on it. I do have comprehensive coverage on my policy as well. The only deductible on my insurance policy is a $300 collision deductible. I have no other vehicles insured with the carrier as I am a student but the rest of my families vehicles are insured with my insurance carrier as well. I added the coverage on January 19th and the 2nd accident occured on the 23rd. No one from my car insurance company saw the car between the two incidents. The damage is not only the rear bumper but there is also a slight dent in the drivers side rear quarter panel. My car was parked and I did file a police report unfortunately their were no witnesses.

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 09:19 am Post Subject:

I added the collision coverage so that I wouldn't have to pay for any future damages in the case of another accident.



You would still be required to pay the deductible on the collision. However, Its a wise thing to do to avoid bearing huge costs on repairs in the future. Have you spoken to the insurance company yet about the second accident? I guess you would receive coverage from the insurer since the collision coverage is at place. Further, you may also be able to file claim under the UMPD if you have the uninsured coverage.

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:14 pm Post Subject:

I'd not say it's too late. Sounds like the police took a report. As such, there is a record of the accident and as long as the Statute of Limitations has not expired, the OP should be able to file a claim with the other carrier

Todd this accident damaged the cover

resulting in a dent in the bumper

which was likely repairable, and certainly driveable but accident #2 will likely cause replacement of the cover

same place as before except now the bumper is hanging from the car.




I think you will be fine on this with your carrier, if there is some concern that you are trying to commit fraud, the adjuster can contact the cop, (after reading the police report for accident #1) and see if he/she remembers if the cover was hanging off the car or just minor damage, most likely the report (again acc #1) would have indicated the cover was hanging off rather than minimal damage...how much time between accident number 1 and number 2? This part could also benefit you

there is also a slight dent in the drivers side rear quarter panel.

depending on the time between the two accidents...this time of year (in cold climates) surface rusts starts fairly quickly...however if the two losses were within a short period of time no one would be able to tell one from the other..one other thing i know you said it was hit in the same area...but was it EXACTLY the same? Was accident #1 more toward the center of the cover maybe, and is that damage still there and evident? If so that too will help....At any rate I see no issue with your carrier covering this, they most likely (or they should) question you a little closer given the chain of events, but then pay the claim just fine...You say it was parked, was it in a parking lot that just might have surv. cameras?

Please do let us know if you have any other questions that might come up or any other way that we might be of assistance to you.

Oh almost forgot, if you haven't you need to call that claim into your company right a way...

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