attn: insurance agents/attorneys. ? about car accident and what to do.

[SPOT MY 6]

Hopefully one of you have been in this particular situation and have suggestions for me.

My g/f got in an accident yesteday. She was sitting still (because an ambulance was comming) and was hit from behind by some non-english speaking immigrant that does not have a driver's license. A police officer witnessed the accident and knows that the other driver is at fault.

They arrested this lady and took her to jail. The vehicle she was driving had an insurance card in it, but the policy number says "pending". The issue date and experiation date are legitimate. This means that she may or may not have coverage on the vehicle. We won't know until tomorrow (monday).

What I need to know is if she (my g/f) should put in a claim with her own insurance and let them handle it, or if she should have an estimate done and pay for it on her own, then hire an attorney and take this lady to court for re-imbursement and then some (for injury, medical bills, missing work because she was in the hospital, etc.) to avoid having an "incident" on her driving record.

What is the best way to go about this whole situation? Thanks a lot for any suggestions.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Tell her to use her insurance company thats what she is paying for... If it was a real minor accident Id say to try and work it out or sue, but when theres injury etc involved, absolutely call your company and get them to help...

 

[SPOT MY 6]

Thank you for your reply.

I suppose I should have been more specific about the accident. There is no "major" injury involved. She has minor frontal neck pain and her head hurts. She was looked at and released last night.

The damage is minor. Needs a rear 1/4, bumper and cover, etc. Probably $2,000.00 is my guess.

 

[GNSCOTT]

I'll be willing to bet the estimate is closer to $4k.

 

[SPOT MY 6]

You're probably right. Its a 98 Camaro. Doesn't look bad, but Im sure its not cheap to fix.

 

[87blackbuick]

i would not turn it in under her insurance. it is still a claim on here insurance. i also agree with GNSCOTT about the amount that the estimate will be closer to $4000

 

[Rogue Leader]

Im telling ya though.... Definitely go through insurance... if she has a recurring injury she could be screwed... Better to go the right way than to risk it... or otherwise she could end up stuck with some major medical bills or who knows what... Better to have your insurance company, its money and lawyers on your side....

oh and thats definitely $4k+

 

[DCVING 6]

Filly,
sorry to hear about what happened bud. Not sure if you picked a place to get if fixed yet or not but...
Lincolnway Body Shop
22002 South Howell Dr.
New Lenox, IL 60451
(815) 485-6691

We need something to do. I haven't worked in 3 weeks.

 

[DKREDT]

Use her ins company, but make sure they are aware of the other lady's responsibility. They will pay initially on your policy, but they will seek reimbursement from the other lady's policy or assets... if she has either.

 

[Pitbozz]

Have your g/f cover her @ss and go through her insurance. Let your g/f's insurance deal with suing or going after the other lady. You don't know what kind of medical problems could spring up on down the road.

 

[DCEPTCN]

Her insurance company will be the best place to start, they can afford far better attorneys. My boss's wife was recently a juror in this case:

A single mother of two was working her night (second) job at about 3 am driving a truck for a nearby produce company. An immigrant (illegal) was out for a drive that morning drunk, without a license, in a truck that did not belong to him and without insurance. He sideswiped her and wasted our country's money and time by sueing the woman, claiming that the accident had aggravated his diabetes and had shortened his life expectancy as well as making it impossible for him to work again. Long story short, he won the case and took 2 million dollars in American cash back home with him to Mexico. It makes me want to puke.

 

[1987 GN]

Originally posted by DCEPTCN
Her insurance company will be the best place to start, they can afford far better attorneys. My boss's wife was recently a juror in this case:

A single mother of two was working her night (second) job at about 3 am driving a truck for a nearby produce company. An immigrant (illegal) was out for a drive that morning drunk, without a license, in a truck that did not belong to him and without insurance. He sideswiped her and wasted our country's money and time by sueing the woman, claiming that the accident had aggravated his diabetes and had shortened his life expectancy as well as making it impossible for him to work again. Long story short, he won the case and took 2 million dollars in American cash back home with him to Mexico. It makes me want to puke.

Why did your boss's wife allow that to happen if she was one of the jurors? Sounds like she did not agree with the guy, why did she side with the illegal?

 

[DCEPTCN]

Originally posted by 1987 GN
Why did your boss's wife allow that to happen if she was one of the jurors? Sounds like she did not agree with the guy, why did she side with the illegal?

She didn't, they had to assemble a new jury, and the results are known because of the newspaper.