hit and run

[worthspending]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Indiana

- vehicle one runs a stop sign
- vehicle one hits vehicle two in drivers side rear
- vehicle two fish tails a bit, then, appears to speed up instead of hitting the brakes
- vehicle two crosses traffic and hits vehicle three almost head on and both vehicles end up in an empty lot
- vehicle one flees the scene
- vehicle two receives one ticket for invalid or missing registration
- vehicle two has insurance
- no witnesses
- 5,000.00 damage to vehicle three
- driver of vehicle three is on a learner's permit and was not found at fault on scene
- no tickets issued to driver of vehicle three
- driver of vehicle three sustained neck injury. appointment with specialist tomorrow
- vehicle three has valid insurance. PLPD - no collision
- I already provided a recorded statement of the events over the phone to my insurance adjuster

I'm own vehicle three and suffered minor injuries of a couple bumps on the knees. My insurance adjuster said I have no option to get my vehicle fixed stating that vehicle two will claim no fault, push the blame on vehicle one and wiggle out of it. Here is the best part. My insurance adjuster actually said: "We are on your side and I will work with the local police to try and get this guy..." (vehicle one). I could barely keep from laughing at that one.

Family, friends, and everyone else within ear shot of a conversation is an instant expert on this entire issue. I can't help but believe that the reality of this event will be me left holding the bag and the only real chance I have of getting my vehicle fixed is some type of negotiation with vehicle two insurance. I have no money to hire a lawyer.

What would be my best option?

 

[swalsh411]

By choosing to not have full insurance you accepted the risk of this happening.

The insurance for vehicle #2 doesn't owe you a dime as their driver was not at fault.

Your recourse would be to sue the driver of car #1 or his insurance. (if you ever find him)

 

[ecmst12]

Yup, vehicle one caused the entire accident and is very likely uninsured anyway. If you are lucky someone got the tag number so he can at least be identified, but I don't see any fault in V2's actions. Collision coverage or uninsured motorist coverage (for injuries and property damage if available) would be helpful for you to have...I'm guessing you don't have either.

By the way, you never sue the insurance company, they didn't cause the accident. You always sue the driver and/or owner of the at fault vehicle.

 

[worthspending]

I don't have collision, however, my policy does have uninsured motorists coverage.

 

[davew128]

I don't have collision, however, my policy does have uninsured motorists coverage.

Which doesn't help you SINCE THE PERSON WITHOUT COVERAGE DIDN'T CAUSE THE ACCIDENT.

 

[Zigner]

Which doesn't help you SINCE THE PERSON WITHOUT COVERAGE DIDN'T CAUSE THE ACCIDENT.

That may be a bit premature. It's entirely possible that the person who DID cause the accident is uninsured.

 

[ecmst12]

And it's also possible that if the driver who caused the accident isn't able to be identified, your insurance will be able to treat it as an uninsured motorist claim. But you'd have to check if your UM coverage includes property damage, or just injuries.

 

[worthspending]

Thanks for all of the comments as they are very helpful. Now, I have some info I can use when discussing the matter with all of the experts on car accidents. Sorry, I meant to say my family and friends... lol

if driver two would have simply stepped on the brake instead of the gas, then, driver three would have made the 911 call, been a witness, possibly even gotten the tag number and still have a vehicle.

 

[Zigner]

Thanks for all of the comments as they are very helpful. Now, I have some info I can use when discussing the matter with all of the experts on car accidents. Sorry, I meant to say my family and friends... lol

if driver two would have simply stepped on the brake instead of the gas, then, driver three would have made the 911 call, been a witness, possibly even gotten the tag number and still have a vehicle.

This is NOT driver two's fault. You have no idea of the dynamics that occur within a vehicle after an impact such as you have described.

 

[ecmst12]

There is definitely no way for you to know if there's anything driver 2 could have done to avoid the accident, and even if there was, it's not a situation where he CONTRIBUTED to the accident. He hit you because someone else hit him first.