CJane
Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MO
I was in an accident on 9/13. No injuries, both vehicles were still drivable, so a call in or walk in report is preferable to calling the sheriff to the scene.
Scenario was that I was driving on the highway (two lane county highway - speed limit 50) between my house and the interstate, on my way to the vet as my dog had been hit by a car and been transported there by the person who hit him.
As I drove past the driveway of the local day care center, someone pulled out and hit my vehicle. Damage to my vehicle is a broken lens on the passenger side turn signal, dent in the front wheel well, crease bumper to bumper along the side, and minor damage to the side of the rear bumper, as well as the side view mirror on that side being folded in against the door/window. Damage to her vehicle is a scraped up, loosened bumper, torn off front license plate frame, and scrape along her hood where my mirror dragged along it.
After verifying that both vehicles were in driving condition, I explained that I could not hang around because I was needed at the vet. We exchanged names/phone numbers/addresses and she claimed she did not have her insurance card in her vehicle.
I left the scene, called the sheriff's department on my way to the vet, and left a message that I needed to file a report.
A deputy returned my call while I was still at the vet, (actually, he called as I was signing the release to have the dog euthanized) and gathered very basic information and asked that I call him back when I was more composed.
After I left the vet, I drove to a parking lot and called the deputy back. He took a full report, verified that I'd done nothing wrong by leaving the scene, and indicated that he'd have to call the woman who hit me to get her information and then the report would likely be available to me in a week.
That evening, the woman and husband showed up at my house. She claimed to have no memory at all of what happened, and he wanted to "assess the damage to the vehicle" and "attempt to piece together what happened". After looking at my truck, he decide that what must have happened is that I took the curve in the highway too wide, swerved over, and hit her as she sat in the driveway.
There are many reasons this is an impossible scenario, other than the fact that I know it didn't happen.
I requested the insurance information, and he claimed that it was not in the vehicle and he'd been unable to find the card at home, so they'd have to call me. He insisted that the accident was my fault and I was very lucky I hadn't injured her while being so careless, and he'd be calling the sheriff and "clearing up" my version of the story. I then asked them to leave as I'd had quite enough of life for the day.
The following day, I called and left her a voice mail, requesting the insurance information, and received no return call.
The Monday after the accident, I called the sheriff's department to see if the report was complete, and it was not. I was told perhaps it would be at the end of the week.
That Tuesday, I again called the woman that hit me and left another voice mail. No return call.
Friday, I called the sheriff's department and again was told the report was not ready, but the woman who answered the phone said that she'd speak with the deputy and try to push him to complete the report.
Today, I was able to pick up the report. There is no insurance information for her on the report (I was really hoping there would be), and the box for "no proof of insurance" is checked - the one for "uninsured" is not. The report indicates that she is at fault because she "failed to yield".
I left her another voice mail tonight, and told her if I didn't hear from her by Monday, I would assume she doesn't have insurance and file a claim with my insurance company as an accident involving an uninsured driver.
I've never had to file any sort of claim with my auto insurance (or anyone elses, for that matter), so I'm uncertain what the process is.
Do you think I'm correct to assume that she doesn't have insurance?
If I file the claim as if she does not have insurance, and it turns out she DOES, have I done anything wrong -- it's not like I haven't attempted to get in touch with her.
She works at the daycare center, and has for years. Would it be crazily out of line to call THERE and leave her a message to please call me?
What's the process involved in filing a claim with HER insurance company if, by some miracle, she calls me back?
Should I be taking different steps?
I was in an accident on 9/13. No injuries, both vehicles were still drivable, so a call in or walk in report is preferable to calling the sheriff to the scene.
Scenario was that I was driving on the highway (two lane county highway - speed limit 50) between my house and the interstate, on my way to the vet as my dog had been hit by a car and been transported there by the person who hit him.
As I drove past the driveway of the local day care center, someone pulled out and hit my vehicle. Damage to my vehicle is a broken lens on the passenger side turn signal, dent in the front wheel well, crease bumper to bumper along the side, and minor damage to the side of the rear bumper, as well as the side view mirror on that side being folded in against the door/window. Damage to her vehicle is a scraped up, loosened bumper, torn off front license plate frame, and scrape along her hood where my mirror dragged along it.
After verifying that both vehicles were in driving condition, I explained that I could not hang around because I was needed at the vet. We exchanged names/phone numbers/addresses and she claimed she did not have her insurance card in her vehicle.
I left the scene, called the sheriff's department on my way to the vet, and left a message that I needed to file a report.
A deputy returned my call while I was still at the vet, (actually, he called as I was signing the release to have the dog euthanized) and gathered very basic information and asked that I call him back when I was more composed.
After I left the vet, I drove to a parking lot and called the deputy back. He took a full report, verified that I'd done nothing wrong by leaving the scene, and indicated that he'd have to call the woman who hit me to get her information and then the report would likely be available to me in a week.
That evening, the woman and husband showed up at my house. She claimed to have no memory at all of what happened, and he wanted to "assess the damage to the vehicle" and "attempt to piece together what happened". After looking at my truck, he decide that what must have happened is that I took the curve in the highway too wide, swerved over, and hit her as she sat in the driveway.
There are many reasons this is an impossible scenario, other than the fact that I know it didn't happen.
I requested the insurance information, and he claimed that it was not in the vehicle and he'd been unable to find the card at home, so they'd have to call me. He insisted that the accident was my fault and I was very lucky I hadn't injured her while being so careless, and he'd be calling the sheriff and "clearing up" my version of the story. I then asked them to leave as I'd had quite enough of life for the day.
The following day, I called and left her a voice mail, requesting the insurance information, and received no return call.
The Monday after the accident, I called the sheriff's department to see if the report was complete, and it was not. I was told perhaps it would be at the end of the week.
That Tuesday, I again called the woman that hit me and left another voice mail. No return call.
Friday, I called the sheriff's department and again was told the report was not ready, but the woman who answered the phone said that she'd speak with the deputy and try to push him to complete the report.
Today, I was able to pick up the report. There is no insurance information for her on the report (I was really hoping there would be), and the box for "no proof of insurance" is checked - the one for "uninsured" is not. The report indicates that she is at fault because she "failed to yield".
I left her another voice mail tonight, and told her if I didn't hear from her by Monday, I would assume she doesn't have insurance and file a claim with my insurance company as an accident involving an uninsured driver.
I've never had to file any sort of claim with my auto insurance (or anyone elses, for that matter), so I'm uncertain what the process is.
Do you think I'm correct to assume that she doesn't have insurance?
If I file the claim as if she does not have insurance, and it turns out she DOES, have I done anything wrong -- it's not like I haven't attempted to get in touch with her.
She works at the daycare center, and has for years. Would it be crazily out of line to call THERE and leave her a message to please call me?
What's the process involved in filing a claim with HER insurance company if, by some miracle, she calls me back?
Should I be taking different steps?