by Guest » Sun Feb 10, 2008 09:01 pm
I was driving home at 3:30am yesterday and lost control on some ice and collided with a curb and a sign post. I was near my home and was able to drive the car home (damage to the undercarriage and the right door). I have filed my police accident report (there is a few thousand dollars worth of damage because a side airbag deployed and the exhaust and connected parts were damaged by the curb). I was NOT drinking at the time or at all on Friday.
My question is how does the claims process work with regards to this? Will they assume I was drunk solely because of the time of day(the police officer seemed to have this mentality and repeated questioned me about it)? if so how much will they investigate it? As I was coming back from a friend's house whom i do not know too well, and her friends even less, will I be asked to track them down?
My question is how does the claims process work with regards to this? Will they assume I was drunk solely because of the time of day(the police officer seemed to have this mentality and repeated questioned me about it)? if so how much will they investigate it? As I was coming back from a friend's house whom i do not know too well, and her friends even less, will I be asked to track them down?
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:18 am Post Subject:
they should take your version of the story, they can't really just say it and it be so anyway. They would need blood tests or testimony of the police officer that you spoke to. What do you think that he will put in his report? I would think in any case that they would need blood alcohol or a breathilizer to turn down a claim, they can't just assume it to be so and then not pay the claim. Just my thoughts on the situation.
Why are you questioning this anyway, is it because of the police officer asking you?
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 01:08 pm Post Subject:
Good morning Stan and welcome...
Brother paranoia will distroy ya! ha ha...really you'll be fine...
Will they assume I was drunk solely because of the time of day(? if
They may wonder, were I the adjuster I may privately think....yep another one got a way with it! ha ha...so how much will they investigate it? As I was coming back from a friend's house whom i do not know too well, and her friends even less, will I be asked to track them down
Not much if at all....because of a couple of reasons...first they are way to busy to dig too much since you haven't hurt another person....and doesn't matter if everyone at the party says you were drunk,,,,no one can prove it right? And the biggest reason is it doesn't make any difference you have coverage anyway..even if you were drunk and hauled to jail they still would pay to fix your car...(assuming you have collision coverage) and the sign or whatever else you damaged....so why dig? Unless of course you signed something re: drunk driving I know there are some companies that for a while had exculsions which lowered the premium which stated in essense that you (the insured) and we (the company) agree to not pay for any alch. related accidents (insured driver)...what do you mean by this?
the police officer seemed to have this mentality and repeated questioned me about it)
No offense, (and I could be wrong) but I've been a mama and an adjuster for a long long time, and I can smell it on ya ! :wink: I think you are having a big ole bout of conscience, remorse, and well fear here...consider yourself lucky, and please please please learn from this ok? You escaped by the the skin of your teeth ''this time''...
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 05:30 pm Post Subject:
Thanks for the advice, I have just never had to deal with the police or insurance before as I have been lucky enough to never have been in an accident while in the driver's seat, and wasn't sure what to expect. Thanks again.
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 07:20 pm Post Subject:
goodnatured said:
I would think in any case that they would need blood alcohol or a breathilizer to turn down a claim, they can't just assume it to be so and then not pay the claim. Just my thoughts on the situation.
It is almost impossible for an insurer to deny a claim due to alcohol and the DUII laws (DUI in some states). Rarely, and I mean EXTREMELY rarely, there will be a drug and alcohol exclusion attached to an auto insurance policy, but in most states this can't happen due to laws and rules. The accident would be covered regardless of the insured's inebriated state, unless there was a felony involved. As an example- say the insured was drunk and tried to elude the police who were trying to pull him over, and then the insured got into an accident. This would more than likely be denied due to the felony traffic infraction of "attempting to elude a police officer." Other than the commission of some felony attached to the wreck- you're covered.
The bad news is that this will be considered a "single-vehicle" accident, and insurers don't usually look kindly at these situation. They normally involve alcohol (don't worry- they got nothing on ya!), driving too fast for conditions, wreckless or careless driving, or driver inattention.
Good luck with this thing, and let us know if there's anything else!
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:51 am Post Subject:
You should feel much better now right? Hope you do anyway, thank you for coming here and posting this on the forum, hope that you will have better luck in the future.
As Lori says, if there was a little alcohol involved, (I am a momma too), take this as a warning, things could have been so much worse. If not, we are in no way accusing here, so let it go in one ear and out the other.
Goodluck, hope you get back on track soon with your car repairs and all.
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