Question about Auto Insurance and car accidents.

I was just out running errands and was in a car accident. I was stopped at a red light, and the car approaching behind me must have been distracted - he braked hard, and the truck behind him hit him, pushed him into me and I was pushed into the car in front of me.

No one was hurt - but my car insurance seems to be pushing me to go through them, because it is 'convenient'. I would rather go through the truck, who got the Citation, because then I wouldn't have to wait to recoup my deductible.

They have called me twice ALREADY (the accident occured at 2:10 p.m.) to try to convince me to do this. What is in it for them? I find it hard to believe they are working so hard to make me make this decision because it is in my best interest.

Anyone?

They will determine liability and take care of your interests. That's what you pay them for.

They want you to accept a fixed settlement. But you may have medical complications later.

Let them sweat it. What you are describing is standard practice in the industry. They want to get the case settled, and do not have YOUR best interests in mind.

If you have any doubt, consult an attorney. Consultations are generally free. Personal Injury lawyers spend a lot of time convincing their injured clients' own insurance companies to pay up.

Do not settle with any company for at least 6 months to a yr. They will ask, but wait and see how you are, as health problems take this long to stabilize at all. If it is new, you will probably need to file with your insurance co, who will then file for payment from the hittors insurance company. File a claim with yours, let them deal with going after the truck's company. Don't settle, but file with yours.

Insurance companies exist to make money. Period. Your company will want their company to pay and will go after them. File with yours to get the process started. Their company will just blow you off or write you off or try to get you to settle for less.

If I go with my company - I pay the $500 deductible and wait 6 mos to a year to see if I get it back. I pay no deductible with the Cited driver's insurance. The Cited driver was driving a business vehicle.

I don't think you should have to pay any deductible, though waiting on other person's insurance to pay is normal. If other person's insurance is paying, called third party. Tell your ins co to bill them directly for deductible payment, that this is what you pay them for and they need to do the work. I don't think you should have to pay, but then I don't know Fla insurance stuff, live in WA, land of libruls and moderately decent insurance companies. Just don't sign away anything final. Good luck there.

her insurance company.

I was stopped to make a left turn; my left turn signal was on. She was talking on a cell phone and slammed into me. Fortunately, it was a twenty-five mile speed limit and she did try to break just before she hit me.

There were no injuries, but she did $700.00 damage to my bumper (Astro Vans have GREAT bumpers!).

I had two estimate done and took them to her insurance office along with the police report and they sent a check to pay for the repairs.

I informed my insurance company of the accident, but did not go through them.


On edit: I'm a Florida resident. The no-fault laws do not mean that you are required to go through your insurance company.

I think I am going to go through their insurance.

I had an accident there in Sept. I was rear-ended and pushed into the car in front of me. The guy who hit me got the ticket. I was told I *had* to go through my own insurance. Here's all they paid:

Car damage -- $8000 minus $250 deductible
Medical -- 80% after $250 deductible
Lost Income -- 60% of lost wages

They did not cover the $800 I had to pay to get my vehicle transported from FL to CO (I was moving 1 week after the accident). They didn't cover my rental car for the six weeks I had to have one, while waiting for my truck to be repaired.

I still have over $3000 in medical bills that are my responsibility that I have to pay. I can't sue the guy who hit me. In FL, you can only do that if you have catastrophic medical injuries (lost limb, in a wheelchair, etc). At least, that is what I found after researching it with some FL lawyers.

I am waiting for my DH to get home to discuss it with him.

The reason is that insurance companies have a way of getting the information about a claim wrong in their records. You would be surprised at how many times an accident that was clearly not your fault becomes an "at fault" accident in their records if they pay a claim, even when the payment is recovered from the other insurance company. On the other hand, most insurance companies are very good about paying off the claims of someone their client hit - for good reason - the damaged party is less likely to sue if they treat them well. If the other insurance company is accepting the liability there is really no reason to involve your insurance company at all - particularly if you are quite sure you weren't injured.

I was feeling really pressured by them - I think I will just let the machine pick up when the are on the Caller ID for now, and think this through for a couple days.

If you both have the same insurance company, the company might be trying to reduce its payout.

This is why it's so important to have an insurance agent you trust. I pay a little more, but my agent always does what's best for ME, not the company.

and said the info would be in the police report. We didn't exchange information because the officer took our licenses, insurance and registration.

(i didn't bump into anyone)

I avoided contacting my insurance as I didn't want them to have even a not-at-fault entry on my record. I dealt solely with the other drivers' insurance which slowed things down a bit as they tossed back-and-forth who was responsible at what %. But, since you bumped into someone else, you obviously have to (and already have) notified them. I'd go thru the insurance of the person who hit you as much as possible so the dollar claim on your record stays as small as possible (best for future rate decisions)

in NYS, we are a "no fault" state. This means that if you get in to an accident, each car is insured and this insurance is used to pay for the damage. You can always sue if needed in NYS.

to all of a sudden have whip lash. my insurance takes care of me. i hand it to them. they take care of it and i am done. unless it makes payment go up and i dont see why it would. ask them. if not let them do