Uninsured Driver and Insurance

[rjundi]

My lovely state with "Live Free or Die" motto does not require auto insurance.

Our parked vehicle got hit and likely $1000-$1500 in decent damage to the side panel on a wagon and bumper scratches. Apparently the driver drove in really fast according to two nice witnesses who stayed around. The uninsured driver did too. She stated she'll pay the damages. Wife got her information but would not give hers.

I don't want to hassle with trying to collect from someone and call my insurance.

I understand I pay my ($500) deductible and insurer tries to collect. But I wonder how hard the insurer really tries to collect. They have some pull if driver does not pay you get suspend their driver privileges. Also if damage >$1000 states requires driver to have insurance for 3 years.

Anyone ever hit this situation? Did you get your deductible back?

 

[rick9009]

Yes but only after they got the money from the liable person.... 3 years later.

 

[The_Jeff]

Read your policy; if you have an accident you wish to report you often only have 48 hours to do so.

Do you want to risk higher rates for them to pay you then go after the responsible party?

Would you be happy getting an initial estimate in the morning from a body shop, then hitting the responsible person up for a check? If you don't get paid by noon, call the insurance?

(If you get a check, walk into the issuing bank and cash it right off.)

 

[The Critic]

There's probably more than $1500 in damage. Also a lot of body shop work ends up with supplements as they uncover more damage as the work proceeds.

I would call your insurer and let them handle it.

 

[65cuda]

I know in my case the police caught the person, but they didn't do anything to require him to pay for the damage to our car. Their logic? Can't get money out of a rock. Go file in small claims court. Which only gets you a judgement and you are still stuck with trying to collect. If you have the full coverage then you have the choice of making the claim and hope that the insurance company can get the money out of the person, which might be a big maybe or taking the bite in the wallet and pay for it yourself and not have a claim on your record. Don't think that there is a good answer. Basically if you think they can collect file if you think the person is the rock pay for it yourself it isn't too much and if it is file and take the hit.

 

[Silk]

Surely that's why you have insurance? Your car gets smacked up,doesn't matter who is responsable the insurance company pays to get your car fixed.You pay your excess and all is done.Or do you want someone else to pay the excess.I presume ''deductable'' is what we call excess...like you pay a couple of hundred,and the insurance company picks up the rest.Or in your country is being insured not really being insured if the other party isn't? Sounds like they are ripping you off.

 

[John_K]

Really? I thought all 50 states required insurance.

My wife got hit a few years by an uninsured driver. Our insurance, Erie, went after him and got our deductible back in a matter of weeks. YMMV.

John

 

[JHZR2]

No insurance necessary???!?? That would be nice for keeping costs low with multiple cars like I have. Just gt a home umbrella liability policy and all is well. I may need to take up residence up there!

I think it depends upon the risk/reward. If you need $1500 in damages, it may only be worth it for them to spend 10 hours on the issue before they are better off paying, selling it to collections, and writing it off. If it is big bucks, then they will spend more.

The issue is what does it open you up to. Can your insurer (if you have one) find you more at risk because of where the car gets parked? Will they raise your rates because of something not your fault?

On another note, what happens if an uninsured driver causes an accident out of state?

 

[daves87rs]

Best to file a claim...unless you can fix it yourself.

 

[The_Jeff]

NH has a "financial responsibility" law and it sounds like if the hitter is not financially responsible they get hit with paying insurance for a few years. (SR22?)

Used to be everyone from Mass would go get NH plates when they had enough of paying insurance.

Do not assume the hitter is a "rock" from whom you cannot get cash. They have means, like crying to daddy, when backed into a corner.

 

[Cutehumor]

In TN, you didn't have to have car insurance until about mid 2000's. when I worked at direct car insurance, a person from NC got hit by one of our TN folks whose policy expired. She was not happy when I said that the guy who hit you, his policy expired for nonpayment.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

My experience has been six to eight months before getting my deductible back. One situation was in Florida but with Virginia insurance involved and one was local Kansas/Missouri, which was much easier and quicker on the settlement.

Lack of/lackadaisical enforcement of financial responsibility laws in general is why I continue to carry collision insurance. I have a low deductible and I can turn the problem over to someone else to deal with, rather than waste time with deadbeats or insurance companies whose prime purpose is to wiggle out of paying, regardless of the merits of the situation.

 

[rjundi]

We called insurance. They stated if she truly does not/vehicle have insurance then we are covered by uninsured policy and no deductible. If there is an insurance on her part we pay deductible and may or may not get deductible back.

We can still call and ask for compensation. But if she hesitates the insurance will take over instantly.

I have a feeling she may not have a license or facing exessive insurance based on eljefino post.

 

[bladecutter]

File it through your insurance company under uninsured motorist policy. That way, you don't get charged a deductible, and your rates won't go up, unless you have several other claims on your recent record.

If they do charge you a deductible, get the woman to pay that, since it sounds like she is willing to own up to her mistake.

Not having uninsured/underinsured in a state that doesn't have required insurance, or borders a state that doesn't require insurance is quite risky, in my opinion. Or, being in or next to a state with really low required minimums. Its safer to have that policy in place, and hope you never have need to use it, than to wish you had it when you get to your car, and your front fenders are in your trunk.

BC.

 

[rjundi]

I got the estimate from insurance done $1200. I also got a local body shop recommended who mainly does wholesale work and they stated $700 cash.

So my wife will ask for the $700 from the uninsured(single mother borrow money from fiancee blah blah blah). If they hesitate or do not pay in full I simply call insurance and get a $1200 check and no affect on rates supposedly.

Thus far seems like nothing to lose either way.

 

[calvin1]

Originally Posted By: Silk
Surely that's why you have insurance? Your car gets smacked up,doesn't matter who is responsable the insurance company pays to get your car fixed.You pay your excess and all is done.Or do you want someone else to pay the excess.I presume ''deductable'' is what we call excess...like you pay a couple of hundred,and the insurance company picks up the rest.Or in your country is being insured not really being insured if the other party isn't? Sounds like they are ripping you off.
+1 Just file the claim and get on with it. There's no scenario here where you are going to come out ahead so you might as well get the benefit of the insurance you've been paying for.