Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ucla-cs.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwrba!cepu!ucla-cs!brett From: brett@ucla-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto,net.legal Subject: Re: what to do after auto accident? Message-ID: <5270@ucla-cs.ARPA> Date: Tue, 7-May-85 22:51:33 EDT Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.5270 Posted: Tue May 7 22:51:33 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 11-May-85 00:06:03 EDT References: <604@abnji.UUCP> <504@hou2b.UUCP> Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Lines: 73 Xref: watmath net.auto:6782 net.legal:1671 > Many, many years ago, when I was still young and gullible, my PARKED > car was hit by someone who rounded a corner wide. (I was >50ft from > the corner.) She immediately left the scene. Fortunately, a witness > got her license plate. I found out from the police who she was and > confronted her. To make a long story short, her insurance company > gave me a hard time and a runaround. At one point her agent said that > she was being pretty nice about the whole thing, so don't push. > I wish I had been quick enough to think to remind him that I was nice > not to have her prosecuted for leaving the scene. I bet I'd have > gotten quick results then. I had a hit and run on my RX7, similar to your situation. It was a H-and-R. At my insurance company's instructions, I rented a car and they paid for it. They suggested I waive damages on the rental. So I did. I parked the rental on the street out front and some creep, borrow- ing his friend's car hit the rental car. It wasnt a bad bash, about $500 or $600 I'd imagine. It just looked really ugly. I called the guy and told him (the owner) about the accident the night it occurred and he thanked me and was nice. He said a friend was using the car. I called him several days later, for some reason, but basically I wanted to get State farm to pay the claim as quickly as possible. State Farm was nice, but they said they would investigate and get back to me. I called the guy (the owner of the car that hit me) and he was antagonistic and claimed the "car was stolen". You see the accident involved three cars: mine, the owners and the person the driver hit head-on, who was taken to the hospital. Once again, my rental was parked. Well, I called the agent at State Farm told him this, and they said they'd investigate. Meanwhile, the rental place collected 100.00 from me (my deductable in case I had to file another claim....you pay the rental outfit the deductable and my insurance company would pay them IF I CAUSED THE ACCIDENT). Since I didnt cause the accident it was logical for State Farm to pay me back my deductable and pay the rental agency the remainder. Unfortunately, the case dragged for a three or more weeks, so I filed the claim thru my insurance company. Especially with the owner claiming the car was stolen. You see if the car is stolen State Farm doesnt have to pay the claim off (at least that's what the State Farm agent said). When you file a claim thru your company it's still considered a claim... whether it's your fault or not, whether they get the money from State Farm or not. The process of insurance companies getting money from one anothers insured is called "subrogation". Eventually my company Aetna did subrogate the case against State Farm. Aenta called me and agreed the owner of the vehicle that hit my rental was lying. Unfortunately, I learned from this fiasco filing for subrogation is considered a claim, thus my claims were considered a total of two claims. My insurance company made threats to discontinue the policy when it came to renewel (they sent out a discontinue notice at renewel time, I had three previous claims, mostly minor stuff) My agent called up and smoothed things out. As it turns out, they raised the deductable another 100.00. The lesson: try to get the money direct. Subrogation should be used as a second choice. Subrogation may be counted as a claim against you. It's advisable NOT TO WAIVE the damage waiver on your rental. If a jerk hits you, you have two claims. -- Brett Fleisch University of California Los Angeles 3804 Boelter Hall Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: (213) 825-2756, (213) 474-5317 brett@ucla-cs.ARPA or ...!{cepu, ihnp4, trwspp, ucbvax}!ucla-cs!brett -------------------------------------------------------------------------