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My car was hit from behind by another vehicle.Tthe damage to my car is small potatoes just under 2 grand. The driver admitted fault to the Police and filled out a self report to that effect. I also filled out a written police report and submitted both to the insurance company.
Unfortunately for me the cop was a nice guy and did not cite him.The cop did offer to talk to the adjuster.
Now his insurance is not admitting liability until I submit to a recorded Q&A session with their attorney.
I saw a few episodes of Matlock and kind of feel this may not be in my best interest. I did this for another insurance company a few years ago and then they lowballed the repair and I had zero leverage at that point.I grudgingly took what they gave me even though it was a couple hundred bucks less than my lowest of three estimates. It still bothers me that I was snookered.
His insurance said it was a requirement and that I was subject to their investigation so there would be no determination until I did the interview. He suggested I go though my insurance if I didn't want to do the interview. That kinda rubbed me the wrong way... ah... no kinda about it, that made me mad as heck.
I really just want my car fixed but I'm stubborn as a mule too. How long can they drag this "investigation" out? It was a hit from behind we don't need Charlie Chan to figure this out. Do I really have to do this interview.What would you do? 2 grand with no injury doesn't seem like enough for a lawyer.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 15,015 Likes: 147
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 15,015 Likes: 147 |
NEVER talk to an insurance company without council, especially one that is not even your own.
Tell your insurance company what is being asked and see if they will handle the other company's request, otherwise talk to a lawyer.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Legend
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Legend
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,149 |
Wow,...step back off the edge (?) and let your insurance company handle it. They have a legal department for this,...
What's your deductible ? You already have to eat that cost as well.
Sorry about the bad luck,...
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 42,794 Likes: 158 |
Quote:
Wow,...step back off the edge (?) and let your insurance company handle it. They have a legal department for this,...
What's your deductible ? You already have to eat that cost as well.
Sorry about the bad luck,...
it does kinda suck for Moe.. OooRah hit the nail on the head,, turn it into your insurance company,, let them deal with it. and they will, because if the other insurance company doesn't pay, they will have to. it's in thier best interest to help you out.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Thanks,LOL Your probably right but I talked to my agent and he said it would count as a claim against me and I may have to pay a higher premium. It just frosts me that they can get away with stuff like this. Like I said i'm a little stubborn. 
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I have a $500 dec but at this point its not so much the money its the contest of good vs evil.. What if I made them a dollar offer to settle?Like I said this case is cut and dried. they hit me in the back. They probably want me to say I'm fine but I don't want to give up that leverage until I get a damage amount I'm OK with. If they'd say OK 2 grand you sign off, give interview, thats fine with me. I just don't want, OK we are liable here's $1500 either.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Legend
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Legend
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,149 |
Quote:
Thanks,LOL Your probably right but I talked to my agent and he said it would count as a claim against me and I may have to pay a higher premium. It just frosts me that they can get away with stuff like this. Like I said i'm a little stubborn.
You're right though, even If your insurance can convincingly win the battle and recover most of the entire cost from the other, there is a dollar amount attached to that process, and they WILL pass it back to you in the form of a higher premium.
It does suck,...whereas the whole process "should be" -- "Hey my client hit you in the rump,...what can we do to make this right ?" And they then should be jacking up the moron's premium, not yours.
I won't even get into the fact that we "have to" have insurance, in some states by law,.and then get screwed when we need it,.... 
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 42,794 Likes: 158 |
man that just sucks.. I didn't know your own insurance company would do that do ya if it wasn't your fault. that's horrible.
man, I guess the only thing to do is hire an attorney... damn, that really sucks for you Moe..
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,119 Likes: 1046
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,119 Likes: 1046 |
Quote:
My car was hit from behind by another vehicle.Tthe damage to my car is small potatoes just under 2 grand. The driver admitted fault to the Police and filled out a self report to that effect. I also filled out a written police report and submitted both to the insurance company.
Unfortunately for me the cop was a nice guy and did not cite him.The cop did offer to talk to the adjuster.
I'd be getting an attorney and seeing this through. There clearly should have been a citation. Did you actually hear him admit fault to the police? You could develop headaches down the road as a result of this accident, the other driver could claim problems also. I'd get this resolved. A hit from behind is a slam dunk for a citation...I've been on both sides of this issue.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Dawg Talker
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OP
Dawg Talker
Joined: Sep 2006
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Quote:
Quote:
My car was hit from behind by another vehicle.Tthe damage to my car is small potatoes just under 2 grand. The driver admitted fault to the Police and filled out a self report to that effect. I also filled out a written police report and submitted both to the insurance company.
Unfortunately for me the cop was a nice guy and did not cite him.The cop did offer to talk to the adjuster.
I'd be getting an attorney and seeing this through. There clearly should have been a citation. Did you actually hear him admit fault to the police? You could develop headaches down the road as a result of this accident, the other driver could claim problems also. I'd get this resolved. A hit from behind is a slam dunk for a citation...I've been on both sides of this issue.
The guy admitted it to the police officer and wrote it in his self statement to the police. He seems like a really nice guy.This is all on the insurance company. I talked to the Police Officers Lt and he said they could still call him in and give him a ticket if I wanted. I really hate to do that to the guy. He was upstanding enough to admit fault in writing not to mention it sucks to have an accident and then get a fine too. Looks like the whole mess hinges on me submitting to their interrogation. I just makes me angry that I can be damaged and an insurance company can ignore an obvious claim unless I do everything they say.
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Dawg Talker
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Quote:
man that just sucks.. I didn't know your own insurance company would do that do ya if it wasn't your fault. that's horrible.
man, I guess the only thing to do is hire an attorney... damn, that really sucks for you Moe..
Apparently when they quote their rates they consider even not at fault accidents. I had a drunk run into me at 11 AM in the morning last March so thats 2 non fault accidents in a year and I'd pay more. I don't blame Insurance companies for protecting themselves but this is rediculous.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 15,015 Likes: 147 |
Well if you really don't want to involve your insurance company or hire a lawyer, get a copy of the other drivers statement and send it to his insurance company and say "this is all you need to know, anything else and I will have to have my lawyer contact you."
And see what happens.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 42,794 Likes: 158 |
I'm just having a hard time understanding how your insurance company can hold an accident that you aren't at fault for against you,
What, do that have a "wrong time, wrong place" policy?
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Posts: 658
All Pro
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All Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
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I'm sorry to hear about your severe headaches and neck/back pain.
Maybe their insurance company can recommend a good doctor to document your pain and suffering. Or they can pay your claim for 2 grand.
Thomas - The Tank Engine
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Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 30,815 Likes: 515 |
Quote:
I'm sorry to hear about your severe headaches and neck/back pain.
Maybe their insurance company can recommend a good doctor to document your pain and suffering. Or they can pay your claim for 2 grand.
Correct.
And further - if I got rear ended and the driver that hit me admitted as much, and I talked to my agent and he talked to the company - and they weren't willing to take it over, I'd be pissed.
IF the guy rear ended him, AND admitted fault - well, hey, I pay my premiums for a reason. If MY insurance company is threatening to raise my rates over someone else's fault - I'd get a new insurance company.
They pay their lawyers for situations like this. The insurance company needs to man up.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,266 Likes: 2
Dawg Talker
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OP
Dawg Talker
Joined: Sep 2006
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Quote:
Well if you really don't want to involve your insurance company or hire a lawyer, get a copy of the other drivers statement and send it to his insurance company and say "this is all you need to know, anything else and I will have to have my lawyer contact you."
And see what happens.
That was my thought too. Here is his response.
You are seeking coverage under our Safco customers policy.As such you are subject to our claims investigation at this time I would like a statement from you which would be recorded simply to give you an opportunity to speak to what happened and give me a clear understanding of what happened from all parties involved.
The recorded statement goes into much more detail than that of your written statement and is recorded to have a permanent record of the loss from you directly.
You may file a claim with your own insurance company if you feel anything I'm asking is unreasonable.
If you seek legal counsel please have your attorney send me a letter of representation.
At this time I'm still investigating the loss and the investigation requires a recorded statement from you Once concluded I can let you know which way the file will go.
Nice of the weasel to give me permission to file a claim with my own insurance company.
Thanks to everyone for the support.
I really was shocked that this went down this way but the weasel tells me Safeco does this recorded statement thing on every claim. Much as I hate to do it It looks like I'll have to get a lawyer. I'm way to stubborn to let these guys push me around for something as clear cut as this. Now the challenge will be to find an attorney to take such a piddly case even if it is a slam dunk. 
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,149
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,149 |
Quote:
I'm just having a hard time understanding how your insurance company can hold an accident that you aren't at fault for against you,
What, do that have a "wrong time, wrong place" policy?
I'm sure this doesn't happen with every company, but I know for a fact it has happened to me. And I have what I consider to be one of the best insurers in the country,...
Unfortunately, both times I've been "not-at-fault" the other driver had no insurance. You really get the green weenie in those situations, because there is no recoverability,...i.e. squeezing blood from a turnip, so to speak.
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The way it was described to me was they have a whole laundry list of things they use to calculate the risk factors.Things like credit score,.at fault and non at fault accidents, certain claim related type demographics etc The better you do, the better price they'll give you. Apparently 2 non at fault accidents in a year knocks you down a peg into green weenie territory.
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Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
Joined: Sep 2006
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Your rate is going to go up regardless if you have them assist you or not. As you mentioned, any accident counts against you with insurance companies, not just the ones you are at fault for.
You pay your insurance company for these types of things. Are your rates going to go up if they help you? Yes. Are your rates going to go up if they don't help you? Yes.
Its a no win situation for you, so have them do their part and help you out.
Also, I thought in Ohio they operate on an at fault basis. Meaning if you are not at fault, the other person has to pay everything, including the deductible.
“It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” -Steve Jobs.
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