by fireyone » Wed Mar 19, 2008 02:42 pm
My brother was leaving a Nascar event in another state late at night. A car sideswiped his NEW truck and cause considerable damage. It was witnessed by a police officer who gave my brother all his contact info so that the insurance company could contact him if they needed. Although both witnessed it neither was able to get the license plate number due to the traffic. When he contacted his insurance company the next day and told them all of the above they said it didn't matter he would still be responsible for paying the deductible since he didn't get the plate number. How can that be when he had witnesses and no way of getting the plate number? I'm sure there is some reason or clause in the policy making this right but to me it sounds unfair.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:14 pm Post Subject:
I am not sure what event it was..they have so many and I am not a big fan. The state was Tennessee. They did recontact the insurance company and they said that her husband misunderstood. They stated that what they said was "pending the information they receive fro the other witness (police officer) is what will determine if their rates will go up".. I think they mean if the other witness verifies that my brother was not at fault. MAkes you wonder what if their wasn't any witnesses. My brother has had zero claims on his policy and never had any type of accident since getting his license at 18.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:39 pm Post Subject:
If there had been zero witnesses it would've been up to the company/adjuster how they coded it, the companies I have worked for ALWAYS give the insured the benefit of the doubt...that indeed it was a hit and run....unless there is a pattern of many of these types of claims....you may be surprised how many people turn in a claim like this when the insured vehicle clearly sideswiped a pole or some such thing....
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:58 pm Post Subject:
Oh Lori beleive me I do have an idea. You wouldn't believe this area. I see that happening sooo many times and it is one of those things that put me STRAIGHT through the roof. Someone leaves a bar way too drunk hits a guiderail...throws a deer onto the car (for hair and proof) and calls in a claim..pockets the money and doesn't fix the car. And people wonder why everyones rates are going up. Same thing with collecting social security..finds a doc willing to give them a disability rating and collects benefits and works under the table. Makes me wonder if there are many HONEST people left out there.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 01:07 pm Post Subject:
Makes me wonder if there are many HONEST people left out there.
I agree, I have weeks like that, when I think I'll lose my mind if I have to deal with another ''creative claims reporting'' claim...it's so frustrating, most of the time we have to pay it, and the thing is, generally what REALLY happened is covered, just that it is chargeable or a lower deductible, many carriers now though are getting a little tougher on these ''if-y'' claims...I always report them to upper management, but then it is their decision whether or not to continue the investigation or just pay it.....many times I'll call an insured and say, 'ok now don't answer me until I've finished talking...are you SURE you hit a deer? because you have coverage under your collision coverage to pay for this damage, and I've looked/inspected thousands of deer hits, and there is ALWAYS some evidence I can find...however all I see on your vehicle is yellow paint transfer like from a parking lot post....so think really hard, 'maybe' you swerved to miss the deer and hit something else instead and never made contact with the deer, is that probably/likely what happened? If not and you are just CERTAIN you hit a deer then I have no choice but to refer this claim to SIU (Special Investigation Unit)....99 out of 100 if given an 'out' will come clean with, 'well, you know I bet I missed the deer'....course there never was a deer at all...it get's rather depressing some times....like you said thinking there are no more honest people in the world...then there are the great insured's that just turn the claim in honestly and say, 'you know what, I wasn't paying attention and just flat hit that sign''....It's a crazy world...Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 01:14 pm Post Subject:
Sure is crazy out there. I can only imagine how frustrating your job must be. I once heard that if you swerve to miss a deer and not actually hit it but something else instead (road sign, tree) sometimes it isn't covered. They say its actually better off for you if you hit the deer. I can't even recall where I heard this. I know I couldn't purposely hit anything. My husband often gets mad when I swerve to miss a bird or chipmunk. I just tell him its my natural reaction.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 01:17 pm Post Subject:
They say its actually better off for you if you hit the deer.
Claims wise it is, because it's under comp rather than collision and comp losses (mostly) will not/can not generate a rate increase....but if you have collision coverage it is covered (whatever you hit while swerving)....My husband often gets mad when I swerve to miss a bird or chipmunk. I just tell him its my natural reaction.
It is a natural instinct, however I've handled too many claims where people were seriously injured or killed doing this very thing.....Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 01:26 pm Post Subject:
Ok I see the difference. I am one of those people who would say what I hit and be truthful. I know what you mean also about getting seriously injured when swerving. I try to get myself not to do it but like you said natural reaction just kicks in. I haven't been doing alot of driving since last summer. Only if the roads are completely clear and its not raining or anything. I have been slowly working on this but I am having problems getting past the accident and trusting my arm to not give out while driving. I'll get there , just taking a little more time then I wanted it to.
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 09:46 am Post Subject:
To me it is like tramping on a bug, if I did not hear the crunching under my feet it would be different, hate that noise.
Fireyone, I think it is natural reaction not to want to hurt something or damage your vehicle, I have a freind that we refer to as hippy chick, she has problems with toads and frogs, now I am not swearing for them, she is a flower child who wouldn't kill a fly that was landing on her nose for the last hour.
You need to keep driving, even though your fear is there, you will get better with time, so don't avoid it if necessary. I wish you luck, hang in there and stick with it.
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 05:16 pm Post Subject:
That made me shiverrr. I hate that sound too. I am with your friend except I do kill flies. Can't stand when i am trying to sleep and they use sonar to find you in the dark. Its like an airforce..they keep buzzing by no matter how much you swat at them. I try not to avoid driving. I just find myself sooo jittery especially in new or busy places.
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