OT: Hit and Run

[RU4life3]

First time really going through something like this, but I figure this board has been a good resource of random information.

Was contacted this morning by hoboken police saying someone did a hit and run on my car. Somehow, they were able to get the information of the driver who did this. Cop mentioned about 2-3 business days for things to process, and that the driver will probably get charged with fleeing the scene.

My question is, is there any way to avoid paying a deductible? If the police have the other driver's information, would I be able to get said info from them, and have the responsible party basically handle this thing through their provider? As opposed to be filing a claim through my provider, and then paying a deductible through repairs.

 

[RU4Real]

Since he hit you, assuming he has insurance (the lack of which may explain the "run" portion of "hit and run"), all you have to do is contact his insurance company with the information the police gave you and they'll take care of the whole thing. No charge to you.

 

[mikebal9]

Not true really. I've been dealing with this since April 14th when I was rear ended on my way to the spring game. You can hope they'll reimburse you for the deductible, but you'll be paying it up front. They even quoted me the statutes when I asked these questions of my insurance and that of the girl at fault.

 

[mikeinsec127]

If the have the info for the driver and vehicle, then they should have insurance information also. All of that information should be on the accident report (NJTR-1). The insurance information is just 2 numbers. One is the policy number and the other is the company code. When you go get the accident report, ask if there is an additional incident report for the call. If they do those reports for hit-and-runs, it should contain information on HOW they identified the other driver and/or describe damage to the other vehicle.

 

[RU4Real]

Not true really. I've been dealing with this since April 14th when I was rear ended on my way to the spring game. You can hope they'll reimburse you for the deductible, but you'll be paying it up front. They even quoted me the statutes when I asked these questions of my insurance and that of the girl at fault.

I've been hit precisely twice and both times the other insurance company contacted me and walked me through their process for getting my car repaired no cost to me.

On one other occasion my oldest daughter backed into some woman's car while leaving a friend's driveway. She was unable to find the owner of the other vehicle, so she left a note. The woman called back (very thankful for the note) and provided all of her information. I called my insurance company, which immediately took the matter in hand, contacted the other driver and arranged for the full repair of her vehicle at no cost to her.

in other words, you got dicked around.

 

[DJ Spanky]

See if your insurance company has a process that they use to recover the deductible amount for you.

 

[mikershoein]

if you were not driving, you are completely at "no fault". Other drivers insurance company are the ones that insured the criminal, they will be on the hook for everything, whether up front or thru reimbursement.

 

[e5fdny]

Hit by a Geico customer two years ago on my birthday. After we tracked him down it was painless...paid the whole thing no questions asked and provided rental while mine was getting fixed.

My insurance, State Farm, is a family friend so...no issues there either. No deductible and no out of pocket.

 

[RUBubba]

I've been an insurance agent for 25+ years. Some of the information listed is accurate, some is close to accurate...

If you go through your carrier, yes, you will have to pay your deductible when you get your car repaired. They will go through a process called subrogation to recover it. Being that your car was hit while parked, the other company will pay it pretty quick.

If you go through the other guys carrier, you won't have to pay the deductible, but you are not going through your company, the company you pay to handle things, so it "can" be a little more of a nuisance. In this case though, being that your car was hit while parked unoccupied and there is a police report, they should be pretty quick to pay.

Its also possible the other driver didn't have any insurance and that is why they took off (may have also been drunk).

 

[RU4life3]

Thanks all! Very helpful information as I move forward with this. Hopefully it isn't too painful of a process.

One other question, in your experiences, how long do accident reports take to generate? Should I wait 3-5 days or so before going to the station and picking something up?

 

[Tango Two]

Thanks all! Very helpful information as I move forward with this. Hopefully it isn't too painful of a process.

One other question, in your experiences, how long do accident reports take to generate? Should I wait 3-5 days or so before going to the station and picking something up?

Might be online:

http://www.crashdocs.org/

 

[RUBubba]

3-5 days is normal. Can be longer if there are "circumstances"...

 

[Shelby65]

this could become extremely aggravating if the other driver did not have, or does not provide, valid insurance. your own company will also screw you over if possible.

I got hit by a guy who gave the cop an insurance card which seemed valid but afterward it was determined by my agent that the policy was cancelled after the card was mailed to the other driver. A common scheme. Pay, get card, cancel. And the other driver would not answer calls or mail afterward requesting proof of valid insurance.

Insurance policies cover for 'uninsured driver' claims but my company (hint: "she sounds hideous") would not pay for repairs because I was unable to prove the other driver didn't actually have insurance. Company policy is that policyholder must prove this...but how could I ?

Needed to get a lawyer involved to make my own company pay the "uninsured driver" claim...and it took probably 4 months.

 

[ClassOf02v.2]

I've been an insurance agent for 25+ years. Some of the information listed is accurate, some is close to accurate...

If you go through your carrier, yes, you will have to pay your deductible when you get your car repaired. They will go through a process called subrogation to recover it. Being that your car was hit while parked, the other company will pay it pretty quick.

If you go through the other guys carrier, you won't have to pay the deductible, but you are not going through your company, the company you pay to handle things, so it "can" be a little more of a nuisance. In this case though, being that your car was hit while parked unoccupied and there is a police report, they should be pretty quick to pay.

Its also possible the other driver didn't have any insurance and that is why they took off (may have also been drunk).

Gave ya a like from one insurance professional to another.

Listen to this guy -- this is the proper advice.

 

[RUforester72]

Similar situation , the guy was uninsured. Cops did a great job he was in jail by the time the police report was given to me. I was contacted by our DA who suggested I request restitution, which was the deductible. After a year I got a check for $200.

 

[RUbacker]

First time really going through something like this, but I figure this board has been a good resource of random information.

Was contacted this morning by hoboken police saying someone did a hit and run on my car. Somehow, they were able to get the information of the driver who did this. Cop mentioned about 2-3 business days for things to process, and that the driver will probably get charged with fleeing the scene.

My question is, is there any way to avoid paying a deductible? If the police have the other driver's information, would I be able to get said info from them, and have the responsible party basically handle this thing through their provider? As opposed to be filing a claim through my provider, and then paying a deductible through repairs.

I’m noticing more hit and runs on parked cars. No one takes responsibility they just bolt. Had 3 of my employees in our parking lot get hit. Not one took responsibility .

 

[KeithK7624]

Don’t you just tell the auto body guy your deductible is $500 and they jack up the bill by $500 when sending to the insurance company?

 

[mikebal9]

I've been an insurance agent for 25+ years. Some of the information listed is accurate, some is close to accurate...

If you go through your carrier, yes, you will have to pay your deductible when you get your car repaired. They will go through a process called subrogation to recover it. Being that your car was hit while parked, the other company will pay it pretty quick.

If you go through the other guys carrier, you won't have to pay the deductible, but you are not going through your company, the company you pay to handle things, so it "can" be a little more of a nuisance. In this case though, being that your car was hit while parked unoccupied and there is a police report, they should be pretty quick to pay.

Its also possible the other driver didn't have any insurance and that is why they took off (may have also been drunk).

I am in abrogation purgatory right now. It's frustrating and slooooow.

 

[RUBubba]

I am in abrogation purgatory right now. It's frustrating and slooooow.

It can be, that's for sure. Depends on the details of the accident. The process CAN take up to three years, but in this case, the vehicle was hit while parked, so it should be pretty quick.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Don’t you just tell the auto body guy your deductible is $500 and they jack up the bill by $500 when sending to the insurance company?

that's where the Insurance Adjuster comes in. No. They aren't that stupid.

 

[RUSK97]

I've been an insurance agent for 25+ years. Some of the information listed is accurate, some is close to accurate...

If you go through your carrier, yes, you will have to pay your deductible when you get your car repaired. They will go through a process called subrogation to recover it. Being that your car was hit while parked, the other company will pay it pretty quick.

If you go through the other guys carrier, you won't have to pay the deductible, but you are not going through your company, the company you pay to handle things, so it "can" be a little more of a nuisance. In this case though, being that your car was hit while parked unoccupied and there is a police report, they should be pretty quick to pay.

Its also possible the other driver didn't have any insurance and that is why they took off (may have also been drunk).

So if you go through the other guy’s insurance and they pay it 100%, would your insurance still likely jack your premium regardless? How about if you change carriers? Would the new carrier typically dock you for having filed a claim even if it’s not your insurance?

 

[1873]

Actual correct information on a inter tube string? WTF? This is what YOUR insurance company & agent is supposed to handle. As stated, the deductible may or may not ever appear. At least it's tax deductible loss. Surprisingly sometimes you'll be treated better by THEIR company. After the dust settles a great opportunity to dump a ****** agent/company.

 

[ashokan]

I was hit and run (NY) while parked (second time). The license plate of the hitting car popped off and allowed for tracking. The driver was an illegal with no license but he was driving someone else's car and they were covered by Allstate. I called Allstate, submitted a copy of the police accident report, and they completed a generous estimate for repairs and gave me a check. It was pretty easy peasy. I also made quick report to my insurance carrier (Liberty Mutual) and nothing bad came from that

 

[RULoyal]

I’m noticing more hit and runs on parked cars. No one takes responsibility they just bolt. Had 3 of my employees in our parking lot get hit. Not one took responsibility .

A few years ago I came out of work and there was a crease and paint scrape on the passenger side of my car from the rear door to bumper. No note. Luckily the company has video surveillance in the parking lot. Turns out it was long time administrative assistant. She was backing out of the space next to me and cut the wheel too much. She said she didn’t notice anything unusual when backing out. Turned out there was also an eye witness who was pretty far away and heard a loud noise and saw my vehicle rock. Didn’t notice anything unusual- yeah right. She wrote me check.

 

[RUBubba]

So if you go through the other guy’s insurance and they pay it 100%, would your insurance still likely jack your premium regardless? How about if you change carriers? Would the new carrier typically dock you for having filed a claim even if it’s not your insurance?

Different carriers weigh claims differently. Some count a claim, whether anything paid or not, regardless of fault, etc. Others only count an accident that was your fault with a payout over $1000. Many will not charge for a hit while parked unoccupied.

 

[RUbacker]

A few years ago I came out of work and there was a crease and paint scrape on the passenger side of my car from the rear door to bumper. No note. Luckily the company has video surveillance in the parking lot. Turns out it was long time administrative assistant. She was backing out of the space next to me and cut the wheel too much. She said she didn’t notice anything unusual when backing out. Turned out there was also an eye witness who was pretty far away and heard a loud noise and saw my vehicle rock. Didn’t notice anything unusual- yeah right. She wrote me check.

Actually one of the hits the person left a piece of paper on the windshield so it appeared to any witnesses that they were doing the right thing by leaving a note with info. Well it turns out the note was just s blank piece of paper . What pos does this ? Sad that we have people like this living among us.

 

[DHajekRC84]

a few years ago I saw a guy hit a parked car in the flemington lot, then back out and move his car near mine to hide it (he didn't see me waiting in car) and then he went into Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

I went into store and confronted him and asked who was going to leave the note, him or me? (I shoved one into the car thru the window just in case)...then again the person who's car got hit never contacted me to say thanks. (insert eye roll)

 

[fischy5000]

Different carriers weigh claims differently. Some count a claim, whether anything paid or not, regardless of fault, etc. Others only count an accident that was your fault with a payout over $1000. Many will not charge for a hit while parked unoccupied.

random question and sorry to stray from the main topic (dont have a car so dont know if its same as home insurance)----if you hit someone and have to pay to get their car fixed and also have to get your own car fixed, does that actually count as filing 2 claims? (ex- in condo...water leak goes into apt below---one claim to fix your unit and its a 2nd/separate claim to fix the downstairs unit)

 

[RUBubba]

those would both be considered one loss

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

I got hit in line at West Point by an Army wife at a Rutgers-Army game. USAA handled the whole thing.