Justin,
I was involved in a collision with an uninsured motorist two
years ago in Virginia. Because of weather conditions there
would have been no fault to either party, but the other guy
left the scene before the police arrived. I had his license
number, used that and a cooperative police officer to track him
down and find out he was uninsured. That plus that fact that
he left was enough to convince my insurance company (State
Farm) to classify the accident as a hit-and-run. State Farm
paid my deductible and my insurance hasn't changed (perfect
record for 10 years now.) The accident doesn't appear on my
policy. I don't know if this is due to Virginia's uninsured motorist
laws or State Farm; I suspect that my agent (who went out of
his way to make me happy) had a lot to do with it.
My advice: take the liars to court, and get your agent on your side.
He wants your business.
At 03:57 PM 03/06/98 -0800, Justin Wagner wrote:
>
>I'm looking for some opinions here...
>
>You may recall, my car was backed into a few days ago. (It was parallel
>parked on the street, and the driver of a van, walked right by my car,
>seeing it was there... got in her van... and backed right into me.
>Obviously, just not thinking, and careless mistake.)
>
>You may also recall... the father of the driver claiming "YOU GET
>NOTHING, YOU HIT ME"... and after giving me minimal "insurance"
>information, ordered his daughter away...which led to me calling the
>police, etc. etc.
>
>Anyways...
>
>Turns out... They do not have current insurance.
>
>I called the driver, she is now taking her father's line, "I didn't hit
>you"...
>
>And the van had been full of their entire family... I have no doubt...
>that they will all now take that line, if asked to bear witness... I'm
>sure their father has taught them all well how to be liars.
>
>The question is...
>
>I have insurance, he doesn't.
>
>I had asked for $300.00 to settle the damage, but I'm sure it will be
>over $500.00 if I were to get an estimate.
>
>If I notify DMV of the accident... and report that it is over $500.00 in
>damage, she will lose her license for a year... regardless of any court
>decision regarding "fault"... BUT...
>
>If I make that report... MY insurance company will see it... and
>probably (in my experience) raise my insurance in the future. (I have a
>clean record, but let's just imagine that I got a speeding ticket or
>something later this year...to add to this.)
>
>I could also simply go straight to my own insurance company... where I
>do have coverage if the other driver is not insured... (I don't have
>comprehensive, otherwise.) ...but, once again... this will only lead to
>higher insurance costs in the future... (one way or another...)
>
>I was planning to paint my car later in the year anyways... I feel like
>I should just take a bite... and let this thing go... let her karma
>follow her... rather than stress myself... risk higher insurance
>costs... and... risk possible harassment from their family... (as I
>wouldn't be surprised if these people... who have no honor nor
>integrity, might just seek to reprisals for whatever I, the evil
>american dog, may do...
>
>comments?
>
>
>--Justin
>
>
Cliff Hansen
chansen@exis.net
1966 TR-4A CTC 64615L (Anxious to be done with front end work)
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