Please read ---- I'm getting screwed big time.

Need some insurance advice......

A little while ago I woke up at 0145am to a smashing sound in the parking lot. I ran out and low and behold, someone had smashed my front end of the mustang (I was backed in) and drove off. 2 guys ran out before I could get there and they looked at the front of my car and ran off to their apartment. I ran out and knocked on their door, they said they heard something but didn't see any damage. I told them I saw one of them walk up to the front of my car and then saw both of them jet to their home, they played stupid. So I'm pissed off and the next day my wife finds a note on our windshield and it says, "sorry I hit your car", they left the name of the insurance company, a 1-800 number, and their policy number. So I call Allstate to file a claim and they tell me tough luck. Because I couldn't get any information about the driver at the time of the accident I was out of luck. I told them it was a hit and run, then someone left a note a day later. They said that was a valid and current policy number but they would not file a claim against their client and they told me they also won't contact them to verify anything that happened.

So after getting pissed and calming back down, I filed an insurance claim with my insurance, State Farm, to go after this guy and Allstate. About a week later and no phone call, I called only to find out State Farm had "exhausted all their options" and I would have to pay my deductible and suck it up. Same story, Allstate would not work with them, and would not give any info about their client.

So now I'm royally pissed. And I need some advice on what to do. My insurance company said the police usually don't follow up with hit and runs without license plate numbers. So what the hell do I do? I've gotten 2 estimates, both for about $3500. I am still in college and really don't have the money for a deductible right now. I really want to get this guy but I don't know how. If anyone has any ideas please, please speak up!!!!

 

You should be able to call the office of your state insurance commisioner and they will gladly help you. I would call the bluff on this guys insurance first and tell them you have already spoken with the commisioner and he said to give them one more chance to work it out before he gets involved. Ins. Companies don't want the commisioner on thier ass.....

 

Um....I don't want to be a jerk, but this wasn't your fault. In VA hit and run is a pretty serious offense. You shouldn't have to pay for this, and since the company that the guy chose to get insured with won't pay the they should have to. You should get the police involved and since you have all of his insurance info the should be able to find them pretty easily. I know it might be kinda mean to do, but hey why should you have to pay for his mistake. This is probably what I would do if I were in your shoes. This is just my 2 cents. Let us know how it turns out.

 

x2. Get the police involved.

 

x3. But, I'm not sure if cops can do anything at this point. I know that in PA, if you want police report, you must report the accident with-in 5 days, after that, its too late. But i would still give them a call. Also, from personal experience, i know that Allstate are the biggest assholes, they are not trying to protect their client, they are trying not to pay any money out. They treat me like shit when i was a client of theirs, and they treat me the same way when i wasn't. Thank god i have a REALLY good attorney, and i suggest you talk to one in your area.

1. Call the cops, and try to make accident report.
2. Ask your friends if they know a good lawyer.
3. Meet with lawyer.

In your situation you got nothing to loose. Lawyer does not get any money if he doesn't win the case, so he will fight good for you.

I had a collision with one of the Allstate clients, my car was total loss, and i had injuries. Cars blue book value was $4500, and around $1500 in medical bills. Allstate tried to make me liable for the accident, I got a lawyer......a month later i got a $20000 check from Allstate.

 

If you have the policy number then you need to tell the insurance company to give you a name so you can report the hit and run. Tell the insurance company you first want to contact the person to work it out. If not...keep the note and take it to the police as a hit and run. They can track him down and arrest him. A policy number is specific to the person, not the insurance company.

 

Call the police, hit and run is a crime and police should investigate the crime. Tell the the chain of events and they should help you out. Good luck getting it taken care of!

 

did you buy your ins through an agent ? if you did they shou;d be able to help you. i learned an expensive lesson buying insurance from a non person...

 

Well....I got hit and run with my Dodge Magnum R/T last year...I was lucky a witness got the guys licence plate number and make of the car...and after I reported to the police...they tracked down the guy and they found the evidence on his car "Red Paint".

Some things you may want to do to find this guy:

Check your parkade and find a car with some evidence of your car paint.
Check out any local autobody shops in your area and talk to manager's to see if any one's brought in a vehicle with any damage and color paint from your car.
Place an ad in the local paper with a picture of your car and damage with date of incident and add a reward...you may get someone to talk.
LONG SHOT: Any prints on the note could maybe track the person who wrote the note?
Approach the 2 guys that ran from the scene....but bring a cop and get him to ask a few questions...and place a scare and they my confess.

Other than that....if you don't get any help I think you are going to have buck up the cash for your insurance deductible. Talk with your insurance company and insure they don't raise your rates after this as it clearly was not your fault. If they increase....time to walk and find another insurance company.

 

Confronting those guys with cops is a very good idea.

As for insurance, here is how it works.
When its hit and run, and there is no-one to blame (guilty party not found), it will be "at fault" accident. "At fault" accident = your fault. If the damage of the car exceeds the "payment cap", then your insurance goes up 30% or something like that.

"Insurance cap" - is a "threshold" of how much insurance will pay out before raising your rates. Usually its up to $1000 plus whatever your deductible is.