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First car accident... need advice

816 233 April 30, 2012 at 02:25 PM
This Saturday I was in an accident that destroyed my Scion XD. I LOVED that car. Was getting about 35MPG in the city and I gad done a BUNCH of upgrades to it. Only 24K miles on it.

Here's what happened:

I was driving through a main road on my way home from work when I 17 year old kid decided to turn right in front of me in a Caravan. It wasn't at an intersection, he was trying to turn into a business from his yellow lane and I guess he didn't see me coming, so I slammed into him a 40MPH. He got cited, I didn't and it obviously was his fault since he should have waited for me to come through. Oh well, there goes my car.......

Few questions:

Now that I submitted the claim through his insurance, they told I need to simply wait since the other driver has not given a statement yet. No rental car. Is this normal? They mentioned that the other person needs to admit liability first.

Also, by what guidelines can I expect my compensation to be for my car? I know insurances have their own 'sources', but I don't want to be screwed. My car was at [I]least[I] worth 14K and it's paid off. Also, I should be compensated for my 2 days off work and medical bills, right?

I never been in a car accident.... so I don't know what my next steps would be.

TIA
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User115051
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zhelder
04-30-2012 at 02:36 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:36 PM.
Sorry you're going through this, OP. Do you have a copy of the police report? Send it to your insurance company and tell them what the other company is telling you. If your case is legitimate, they should help you collect your claim.
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DrewBard
04-30-2012 at 02:37 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:37 PM.
It depends on your insurance and what you have covered. it would be best to talk to your agent. As medical coverage and rental cars are extra things. If you have that coverage, you will get covered for it. If you don't have that coverage, then you won't.

The car value will be "Fair Market Value,' so about close to Blue Book. Right now wait for your insurance company, and keep following up with them. You shouldn't need to deal with the other parties insurance company, should need to be dealing with yours and let them deal with the other party.
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User115051
04-30-2012 at 02:44 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:44 PM.
Quote from zhelder :
Sorry you're going through this, OP. Do you have a copy of the police report? Send it to your insurance company and tell them what the other company is telling you. If your case is legitimate, they should help you collect your claim.
I have a 'crash report' from the police, but they said I need to wait about 2 weeks for the actual accident report. I have State Farm and they said that I go through them with the claim that I would have to pay the $500 deductible. If I go through the other driver's (liberty Mutual) I would not have to pay anything.
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User115051
04-30-2012 at 02:47 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:47 PM.
Quote from TheSawg :
It depends on your insurance and what you have covered. it would be best to talk to your agent. As medical coverage and rental cars are extra things. If you have that coverage, you will get covered for it. If you don't have that coverage, then you won't.

The car value will be "Fair Market Value,' so about close to Blue Book. Right now wait for your insurance company, and keep following up with them. You shouldn't need to deal with the other parties insurance company, should need to be dealing with yours and let them deal with the other party.
I have 'full coverage' that includes medical, but no car rental. I also thought I didn't have to deals with the other driver's insurance, but that is what State Farm suggested in order to avoid paying the $500 deductible. It sucks because it was not my fault, but I seem to be punished for it by having no car rental and having to pay a $500 deductible so that I can get some sort of compensation from my own insurance.
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zhelder
04-30-2012 at 02:48 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:48 PM.
Quote from Suntot :
I have a 'crash report' from the police, but they said I need to wait about 2 weeks for the actual accident report. I have State Farm and they said that I go through them with the claim that I would have to pay the $500 deductible. If I go through the other driver's (liberty Mutual) I would not have to pay anything.

Two weeks sounds excessive. It may vary in different parts of the country, but police reports for car accidents are usually ready in my area within a few days, even in the tougher towns.

You only pay the deductible if the accident was your fault, and you're filing a claim through your collision insurance (the insurance to pay for accidents that are your fault). If the other driver is liable, then you shouldn't be paying anything. His insurance company should be paying you the damages from his liability insurance.
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handyguy
04-30-2012 at 02:50 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:50 PM.
Don't settle early, in Calif ins. has 40 days to settle

You get fair market value, that is find one on a lot that is like yours, then you get to add whatever you put on it & then you get dmv fees & taxes. Of course they won't mention this to you but I know how it's done ;-)
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User115051
04-30-2012 at 02:50 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:50 PM.
By the way, do they take any upgrades to the car into consideration when coming up with a 'fair market value'?

Also, I know it depends, but usually how long has the process taken for some of you. Weeks, months?

I really need to get another car...
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KPS
04-30-2012 at 02:51 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:51 PM.
Quote from Suntot :
I have 'full coverage' that includes medical, but no car rental. I also thought I didn't have to deals with the other driver's insurance, but that is what State Farm suggested in order to avoid paying the $500 deductible. It sucks because it was not my fault, but I seem to be punished for it by having no car rental and having to pay a $500 deductible so that I can get some sort of compensation from my own insurance.
You shouldn't have to pay your deductible. Do you have an agent you can talk to at State Farm (as opposed to calling the claims #)? They might be able to explain things a bit more clearly? We have State Farm and our agent is awesome. She explains everything so well...

Since you're not at fault, you do have to deal with the other person's insurance (but State Farm can/should do that for you). That's just how it works. Sorry this happened to you. Frown
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Last edited by KPS April 30, 2012 at 02:55 PM.
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Zoe Moon
04-30-2012 at 02:52 PM.
04-30-2012 at 02:52 PM.
Quote from Suntot :
This Saturday I was in an accident that destroyed my Scion XD. I LOVED that car. Was getting about 35MPG in the city and I gad done a BUNCH of upgrades to it. Only 24K miles on it.

Here's what happened:

I was driving through a main road on my way home from work when I 17 year old kid decided to turn right in front of me in a Caravan. It wasn't at an intersection, he was trying to turn into a business from his yellow lane and I guess he didn't see me coming, so I slammed into him a 40MPH. He got cited, I didn't and it obviously was his fault since he should have waited for me to come through. Oh well, there goes my car.......

Few questions:

Now that I submitted the claim through his insurance, they told I need to simply wait since the other driver has not given a statement yet. No rental car. Is this normal? They mentioned that the other person needs to admit liability first.

Also, by what guidelines can I expect my compensation to be for my car? I know insurances have their own 'sources', but I don't want to be screwed. My car was at [I]least[I] worth 14K and it's paid off. Also, I should be compensated for my 2 days off work and medical bills, right?

I never been in a car accident.... so I don't know what my next steps would be.

TIA
Quote from Suntot :
I have a 'crash report' from the police, but they said I need to wait about 2 weeks for the actual accident report. I have State Farm and they said that I go through them with the claim that I would have to pay the $500 deductible. If I go through the other driver's (liberty Mutual) I would not have to pay anything.
QPLR.


Just wait for his statement. Why pay $500 when you don't have to pay anything if you wait. And yes, they have to pay time missed at work (if it's due to injuries) and medical bills if he's at fault.
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thikthird
04-30-2012 at 03:00 PM.
04-30-2012 at 03:00 PM.
it usually doesn't take that long. every accident i've been in (3) has been settled within a week. the higher the money they're paying you, the slower it may go though, as the insurance companies will take longer to find out who's liable. the police report should seal the deal for you though.
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DrewBard
04-30-2012 at 03:17 PM.
04-30-2012 at 03:17 PM.
With State Farm in Arizona for my at fault accident, I filed a claim with them, and six days later I had a check.
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Zemblanity
04-30-2012 at 03:32 PM.
04-30-2012 at 03:32 PM.
Sorry about that OP.

First of all, you need a police report for all that you say that happened.


Second, contact your insurance folks and explain them if they can follow up abt this claim.
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User115051
04-30-2012 at 03:36 PM.
04-30-2012 at 03:36 PM.
Quote from TheSawg :
With State Farm in Arizona for my at fault accident, I filed a claim with them, and six days later I had a check.
I am in AZ too. Did they give you what you thought was reasonable? Or was it less?
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DrewBard
04-30-2012 at 03:37 PM.
04-30-2012 at 03:37 PM.
Quote from Suntot :
I am in AZ too. Did they give you what you thought was reasonable? Or was it less?
It was more then what I paid originally for the car (A 2 year old Fit I got a heck of a deal on).
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