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My 2002 Cavalier was crushed by 2 18 wheelers last week - almost was killed. The 18 wheeler that caused the accident, stopped and then drove off - not before getting the name on the truck. The truck is from a pretty big local trucking company. I tracked down the contact people and called them. Their insurance company started an investigation which is still pending. These trucks have very distinctive color scheme on cab which paint on my car shows.
Their insurance company contacted me and also my insurnace company. Also there are criminal penalties for driving away from an accident in Texas. I figured that very soon their insurance company would be calling me to settle.
I get a call yesterday from my insurance company, saying they would like to pay my claim (my car is totaled) and that they will settle with the other insurance company if they are able to?
Question, why in the world would I want to sign away my rights to my insurance company when I'm expecting to be paid for my property, time, criminal act, etc when they hit me. If I allow this with my insurance company, I will have to pay my deductable and probably be paid somewhere close to book value which is probably is less than what I owe on the car - I bought the car new. Is this one way my insurnace company is looking to make money on the deal? I do not plan on settling with my insurance company....Looking for advise.
Thanks,
Bob
An ounce of prevention provides a pound of cure!
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Originally posted by btrautman:
My 2002 Cavalier was crushed by 2 18 wheelers last week - almost was killed. The 18 wheeler that caused the accident, stopped and then drove off - not before getting the name on the truck. The truck is from a pretty big local trucking company. I tracked down the contact people and called them. Their insurance company started an investigation which is still pending. These trucks have very distinctive color scheme on cab which paint on my car shows.
Their insurance company contacted me and also my insurnace company. Also there are criminal penalties for driving away from an accident in Texas. I figured that very soon their insurance company would be calling me to settle.
I get a call yesterday from my insurance company, saying they would like to pay my claim (my car is totaled) and that they will settle with the other insurance company if they are able to?
Question, why in the world would I want to sign away my rights to my insurance company when I'm expecting to be paid for my property, time, criminal act, etc when they hit me. If I allow this with my insurance company, I will have to pay my deductable and probably be paid somewhere close to book value which is probably is less than what I owe on the car - I bought the car new. Is this one way my insurnace company is looking to make money on the deal? I do not plan on settling with my insurance company....Looking for advise.
Thanks,
Bob
Get a lawyer is the best thing you can do. Sue the truckers insurance companies for tons of money, were you injured by and chance even slighty gets millions out of those bastard insurance companies.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27
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Sue, Sue. I would think there insurance companies will try and settle give you the value of your can maybe a little more.
There is no point paying your insurance company, and in turn haveing them raise your rates because of it.
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I agree with what HITMANinMI said about a lawyer.
AND IT'S A GOOD THING THE MONGOLOID QUOTED THE ENTIRE POST WHEN HE WAS THE FIRST TO REPLY!!
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He doesn't need millions of dollars. All he should get is the cost of his car, his deductable paid and a little extra for his time. Suing for millions is what drives up the insurance rates for everybody.
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Originally posted by PackRat:
He doesn't need millions of dollars. All he should get is the cost of his car, his deductable paid and a little extra for his time. Suing for millions is what drives up the insurance rates for everybody.
agreed with the not sueing for millions, but, he is definently entitled, to all the time he wasted with figuring out who did it, messing with the insurrance companies. Finding a lawyer, paying the lawyer (that spendy). Then on top of that, he still has his car, the lawyer should request punishment for the driver, jail time, or lose of truckers liscense. Then, you should go to a back doctor, and get xrays and make sure your in 100% condition, if your not, then you need to go to a back doctor until your are. As in my case few years ago. I had just finished getting back into good shape with my back. I was just on the edge where it never really hurt, but work needed to be done to keep it in good shape. Well, some guy hit me in my car, and smash the hell out of my saturn, i ended up going to back doctor for almost 2 years, before i got back into good condition. Overall, I got $7000k, after all expenses.
95 SES Sold
99 SE Sport Sold
99 SVT T-Red Tan Interior. K&N, Magnecors, 19' Theorys, And some audio stuff.
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Originally posted by auiotour:
...I got $7000k
Is that... seven mil??
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I'll admit though that insurance companies can be bastards. For example, my cousin (yes THAT one infuryum) got into a wreck in Albuquerque that totaled her 2000 Pontiac Sunfire. She had to slow down for a man making an illegal u-turn, was hit from behind by a pickup that wasn't pay attention, which pushed her car into the back of the car making the illegal turn. The man making the u-turn had no insurance and when the police sorted it all out, they cited him for making an illegal u-turn, having no insurance and they cited the man in the pickup for failure to maintain control of his vehicle.
Here's where the fight comes in. My cousin was without a car, and being under 21, had no chance of getting a rental so her mom lent her a car, a 1999 Nissan Altima. The pickup owners insurance company (located in Louisiana, with accents to prove it) didn't want to cover the entire cost of a rental. They also only wanted to pay my cousin the value of her car the day it was wrecked, not the pay-off. Their reasoning was that the difference should be collected from the other driver, since they considered him partially responsible. My uncle contacted a lawyer that sent them a letter, reminding them that the other driver wasn't found at-fault for the accident, merely charged with making an illegal u-turn and having no insurance and could easily file a lawsuit of his own. In the end, they ended up coughing up the money for 6 months for a rental, the payoff on the car, and the ambulance/hospital fees.
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Well, the criminal side and your civil side are completely unrelated.
Your local authorities and the district attorney's office will handle the criminal act of leaving the scene of the accident, if you press charges.
I'm not a believer in running to a lawyer for every single thing that happens. Definitely go to a doctor to get a complete once-over to make sure you're OK, even if you only seem to have minor surface injuries. Then see what offer you get as a settlement. If it covers the fair value of your car, the doctor's visit(s) (assuming you are not in a no-fault state, where everyone covers their own medical expenses), the time lost from work, any additional expenses you incurred, does not close the case from additional medical claims (again if not in a no-fault state), and does not contain a gag order... then take it and walk away that you were compensated.
I hate to say it, but you are only entitled to the value of the car, not the payoff.
However, if they start screwing with you in any way, or will not agree to any above item, then get a lawyer involved.
Brad "Diva": 2004 Mazda 6s 5-door, Volcanic Red
Rex: 1988 Mazda RX-7 Vert, Harbor Blue.
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I love the term "value of your car" which usually means loan value, etc. I have auto insurance to protect me both physically as well as my personal auto. I purchased my car new from the dealer. I guess book value is now around 7k, I owe 9. When I bought the car, I negotiated over 3k off the price of the car and put 1k down. I have insurance to protect my investment in my property. That investement is either whatever I own on the car or the fair market value --- whichever is MORE!! If I go out to my a auto parts, I pay retail, I don't have access to "true" wholesale prices from the manufacturer (neither does anyone in texas unless the are a registered dealer) So why should I be paid wholesale or loan value, that is not MY investment.
I had to track down this company. I had to tontact the upper management at this company to make them listen - my adjuster called and they told her sorry, no license plate number we can't help you....bye.......
Once I "communicated" with upper management, they started looking into it and the next thing I knew their insurnace company was calling me!!!!
Of course now, I have to go out and purchase another car! Hmmm, maybe I'll just get a bicyle!, Hell the insurance is cheap enough!
Like they say, if you are given a lemon....make some lemonade! Ah, unless it's a Contour with atx problems!!!
Thanks,
Bob
An ounce of prevention provides a pound of cure!
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