Can we sue for damages aside from insurance?

[Sigboi]

WA State

Hi, my brother's car was hit and run by another vehicle last night. He works at a nursing home in Lynnwood, WA, and at around 9:40pm, his coworker heard a huge crash and went out and saw his car crunched, but did not see the other driver. My brother came out and called police. Luckily, his car is white, and the other vehicle's plate number was imprinted into the bumper! Car was mangled, thankfully no one was inside.

The police found the guy, and luckily, he has insurance. I wanted to ask, what sort of damages can we seek from the other party besides what his insurance will pay out? If it happened just 20 minutes later, 10pm, my brother would have been in the car. I believe that the guy was probably drunk, as if he had a license and insurance, there would be no reason to run.

Thank you!

 

[Zigner]

WA State

Hi, my brother's car was hit and run by another vehicle last night. He works at a nursing home in Lynnwood, WA, and at around 9:40pm, his coworker heard a huge crash and went out and saw his car crunched, but did not see the other driver. My brother came out and called police. Luckily, his car is white, and the other vehicle's plate number was imprinted into the bumper! Car was mangled, thankfully no one was inside.

The police found the guy, and luckily, he has insurance. I wanted to ask, what sort of damages can we seek from the other party besides what his insurance will pay out? If it happened just 20 minutes later, 10pm, my brother would have been in the car. I believe that the guy was probably drunk, as if he had a license and insurance, there would be no reason to run.

Thank you!

"We" can't seek anything. This is your brother's situation to deal with.

Your brother can see compensation for the actual value of his vehicle. Tell him to file a claim with the guy's insurance.

 

[Sigboi]

"We" can't seek anything. This is your brother's situation to deal with.

Your brother can see compensation for the actual value of his vehicle. Tell him to file a claim with the guy's insurance.

Yes, it is his situation, but my brother, he's still a kid, and we deal with any situations as a family hence the "we".

The main thing I'm worried about is the other insurance company not reimbursing the market value of the car. It's an older sport couple, and kbb shows the car being worth $1500 (private party), $2400 (dealer) but in our area, for $1500, it's a junker or damaged version, whereas the clean ones (like my brother's is) are going for $3-4k or even more.

I pulled a market comparison of all the like models in the market for sale by dealers and private owners, and averaging them, I get just over $3k. Any ideas of how to negotiate with the insurance people, who are sure to lowball?

 

[Zigner]

Yes, it is his situation, but my brother, he's still a kid, and we deal with any situations as a family hence the "we".

The main thing I'm worried about is the other insurance company not reimbursing the market value of the car. It's an older sport couple, and kbb shows the car being worth $1500 (private party), $2400 (dealer) but in our area, for $1500, it's a junker or damaged version, whereas the clean ones (like my brother's is) are going for $3-4k or even more.

I pulled a market comparison of all the like models in the market for sale by dealers and private owners, and averaging them, I get just over $3k. Any ideas of how to negotiate with the insurance people, who are sure to lowball?

Is your brother a minor?

 

[Sigboi]

Is your brother a minor?

No, he's 20, but he's the youngest and as such he's the baby in the family. The car is in our mom's name, and he is insured on that car.

 

[ecmst12]

Then your mother is the only one who is able to negotiate for the settlement of her car.