How to deal with the other drives adjuster when the car accident is positively not your fault is a simple procedure but you must be aware of the following information so you won't be taken advantage of:
Auto insurance is a “Contract” between a driver and their car insurance company. So, their insured is allegedly responsible for paying you for your damages. In theory, all we have to do is to notify the other party’s insurer of our damages, take the car to a body shop and that insurer will pay your bills.
ALL TOO OFTEN THE ABOVE IS A HUGE “HO-HO” FOLLOWED BY AN EVEN LARGER “HA-HA”
“Why is that”, you ask? Because insurance companies more often than not say, “You must obtain our authorization to proceed with vehicle repairs“!
So, if you assume to take matters into your own hands, you’ll have created an impossible payment problem if the claims adjuster tells you, “Hey man, I never authorized that!”
You must have the insurance company you’re dealing with accept responsibility before proceeding forward.
It’s absolutely crucial that you obtain an authorization in writing from them!
And (while I’m at it here) WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY DAMAGES: The at-fault driver’s insurance company can’t force you to take your motor vehicle to a specific repair facility. Most area's allow auto insurers to recommend auto body shop’s but are not allowed to demand a certain repair shop. That choice is yours.
WHEN THE OTHER DRIVER DOES NOT TELL THE TRUTH
You may have evidence of the other drivers fault yet your claim is denied by their insurance company (because they told a story of how the accident happened that does not agree with yours) and their insurer is standing behind their story all the way so they don’t have to pay your claim.
This is especially true where no official police report was made. This indicates the importance of calling the police to the scene of the accident. In many places if an officer determines the damages are minimal he will not make an accident report. HOWEVER: The body shop estimates your damages might run into thousands of dollars. So, now you ask, “What should I do” ?
The answer to that one is, “You can’t insist and/or make the police write a report”
The best advice, in a situation like that, is to get all the information possible from the other driver, write down the other drivers address and policy information plus whatever contact information from any witness at the scene, and then get your motor vehicle to a repair shop immediately.
Let’s say you took the policeman’s visual estimate that, “Your property damages are minimal” so you drove off from the scene feeling relieved that nothing serious had taken place - - later to discover that it will take over a thousand dollars (perhaps even more) to fix what was alleged by the police to be a “Minor dent”.
HOWEVER: You didn’t think to get a witness’s name and you’re positive the other driver ran a red light, or Stop Sign (whatever they did) to cause the accident.
Now it’s your word against theirs. Not only will their insurance company side against you, but you have NO PROOF that will support your story.
AND, WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE’S “PROPERTY DAMAGES”,THE BOTTOM LINE IS AS FOLLOWS
You absolutely must obtain the other drivers insurance company’s authorization before you proceed to get your vehicle repaired.
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DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article “DEALING WITH THE OTHER DRIVERS ADJUSTER WHEN THE ACCIDENT IS POSITIVELY NOT YOUR FAULT” is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor PERFORMANCE ARTICLES.com make any kind of guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain such services.
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Author:
Dan Baldyga has a lifetime of experience in motor vehicle accidents, personal injury and compensation. Over the years Dan has written several book’s on this subject matter. In his books, Dan reveals insurance industry secrets surrounding these types of claims. All the information necessary for you to deal with and handle the above issues are spelled out within the contents of AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) found on the internet at http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com or http://www.caraccidentclaims.com. This book also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will tell you exactly how many dollars the "Pain and Suffering" you endured are worth
Copyright (c) 2005 By Dan Baldyga. All Rights Reserved
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