Gah, this has me pissed the **** off... A couple of weeks ago I was in the far right lane just after merging from 494 north onto 694 East. Some woman who was in the far left lane on 94, merging into 694 moved across two lanes and right into my front left fender. Not a bad crash, but about $1800 in damage. The fender had to be replaced, bumper fixed in a tiny spot and repainted, and the door repainted. So we pull over. The woman gives me some insurance info. I wanted a police report but she said she wouldn't stay for that because she had to get her son to a band thing (Her son was actually in the car). I can't exactly force her to stay so whatever. Well I called the troopers to get someone to come out and write a report, but they said no, they wouldn't come out because it wasn't a major crash... I filed the claim with my insurance instead of contacting her to take care of it that way (Which was the right decision it looks like). I got the car fixed and have been waiting to hear what's happening. I had to pay my $500 deductible and was waiting to find out when I would get it back. I talked to my claims handler on Tuesday and they hadn't been able to get a hold of the woman, and had just been contacted by the other insurance company and told that the policy hasn't been active for over a year. So now they're going to go after her with a collection agency, but I doubt that'll do anything. If she doesn't have insurance, somehow I think she won't pay a collection agency. So how the hell does someone get to drive around illegally without insurance, crashing into people, and get off without any kind punishment since the police wouldn't come out. But I have to eat $500. (Although, I don't know what would have happened if the cops had left and she had already left). So yeah, it has me pissed the hell off, and it seems like I'm just ****ed and she gets to drive around and hit someone else. Do I have any other (viable) options? If the insurance companies collection agency doesn't get anything, I don't know what small claims court would accomplish. Also, I just wanted to vent a bit.
When the dude from WI hit me, I wouldn't get out of my car until the cops got there. That way if he left (after I wrote his licence plate # down) it would be a hit and run. Always always always get cops involved unless its a cash money situation.
Me: I called 911, explained the situation, no injuries and neither car was disabled Them: We'll have a trooper call you About 5 minutes later... Trooper called, I told him what happened, and he said they don't come out for minor incidents like that.
Wow. I got in my accident, dialed 911, and an officer (she was very cute, actually) was there within 10 minutes. She interviewed both parties, heard the dude that hit me say "I saw him coming, and i thought I could make it" and then didn't even ask to see my insurance card because he just admitted full fault. But still, if there is X amount of damage, some insurance companies require an accident report to pay out monies.
My brother is an IP lawyer out in CA and it was the first thing he asked me about. Said it's becoming a big problem out there. My insurance company was annoyed, but OK with it. Said it has been happening more and more.
This happened to my daughter last fall. Gal hit her, gave her false insurance info. We had full coverage so our insurance company paid for our damage MINUS our $500 deductable. The insurance company went after the other gal...havent heard a word since. Cops werent all that interested in pursuing. I know exactly how you feel.
Wow, both of these stories are ****ed. It's hard to believe that the other party in both of these cases couldn't be at least tagged for no insurance by the police. That alone should make them involved. Yeah, this might be some way of at least helping this not happen again. Just not sure how seriously the police take this type of thing...
This is a big issue down here with all the uninsured motorists. My insurance premiums went up because of the higher incidence of claims due to uninsured parties, and since they're not legal citizens you can't really get anything out of them in court. I'm not opposed to immigration, when done legally, but it's this kind of thing that pisses me off. Honestly you have to let your insurance company fight that out for you. It's mostly their money involved anyway. I used to carry very low deductibles because I never really had enough sitting around to pay one should the need arise, but now I'm back to $500 since I have more than that at any given time waiting for emergencies like that. Unfortunately you may just have to eat the $500 because honestly the time and effort you put into trying to get that amount or more back just might not be worth it.
And the worst part is us people paying for our insurance are paying higher premiums because of people like her that don't pay theirs, even if we don't get in accidents.
Cops wouldn't issue her a ticket or anything? You'd think someone could lose their license out of it, and the foreigners brought to jail.. GG America.
THAT IS BRILLIANT, My wife works at a chiropractic clinic, and she hears about this all the time. people can be such leaches. Some people you just wanna smack across the head. I feel for the OP, right now $1,800 is alot of money. Also, just a though, .... could you persue this.... what was the estimated value of damnage to her car? Would that damage plus yours be enough to consider this a hit and run since she did not wait for the police to show? would that change anything? :biggrin:
When I got hit I called 911 and told them the same things and a cop was there in 5 min. You should say you think you may have a neck injury or something. Always get a police report for any accident, regardless of how little the damage may be.
That only works if the police will come out and write a report. But what about if they flat out say no? Both the dispatcher and the trooper said the same thing. Dispatcher said they won't send someone out, but will have a trooper call me. Trooper said flat out that they won't come out for an incident like this. Also, I'm only out $500. State Farm is out the other $1300. For their part they've been very good about the whole thing and not given me any trouble about the lack of a report. It must happen fairly often since both my agent and the claims handler were familiar with the situation.
I have never heard of police not coming to an accident. What city was this in? Also you insurance is ok with it but I would be willing to bet they will increase your rates for this.
It was in Maple Grove, but it was on 694, so I believe that falls under the state troopers. According to my claims handler, since they have only my statement to go on, and since the other party refuses to talk to them, they have determined that she was 100% at fault and are filing this is a non-surchargeable loss. (I think that's the term she used). And that means that it should not change my rates. In my case, I have a 10 year accident free discount, and with State Farm that comes with one "accident forgiveness" thing. So even if I was at fault it wouldn't change my rates. But I'm sure as hell not wasting that on a minor fender-bender that was someone elses fault. /rant.
I'd make a formal complaint with the state patrol, their inaction led directly to this lady getting away with hitting you while uninsured.
Do you have her address? Track her down and go beat the crap out of her car with a bat, that will make you feel better...
I was at work, and someone backed into my car a little bit back. No report, cameras, or anything. Filed a report, and they had it fixed within that week. all handled and done with no questions or problems at all. Don't know how other insurance companys are though. Never called the cops either.
In this whole thing, I made one really really really big mistake. I'm not sure how I overlooked it, but I did, and that's all on me. I forgot to get her license plate number. I spent today working with the information I have trying to track her down. The day started with talking to my local PD about how to handle it and the desk officer I talked to also recommended to go to the state patrol and "demand to talk to a supervisor." He also said (and I already knew this) that it would be easier if I can get her license plate number. So far what I've been able to figure out is that some or all of the information was totally bogus. Apparently the policy did used to exist, but because of privacy rules the other insurance company can't give me any more information (no surprise). Through internet research and people searches I've got a few leads. The address on her policy thing doesn't seem to match the kind of car she was driving, but who knows. The phone number she gave me is linked to another address as a land line which is also the number for a house cleaning "company" aka person. This is the number State Farm has been calling, but no one ever answers the phone. Same result when I called, and the answering machine is full. By searching for the name on her policy, neither of those addresses match. But there are two people listed under that name in the twin cities according to whitepages and intelius. One is in Minneapolis and one is in Maple Grove, Less than a mile from the exit she was getting off at. This one looks the most promising, but the units (I'm not sure if they're apartments or or townhouses, or whatever) are attached and each have a garage. My hope is to come across the car so I can get the plate info. If I can't, I'll still go to the state patrol and maybe they'll be kind enough to look things up by her name and vehicle make. This would all be so much easier if I hadn't been a ******* at the time. I've got nothing to do for the next three weeks, so this little project could help to blow some time. Honestly I'm not expecting anything to come out of it, but what the hell, it'll keep me busy. EDIT: The more I think about it though, I'll probably just drop the whole thing. It's not worth my personal sanity.
He was bull****ting you. What county were you in? In Hennepin County the 911 calls are dispatched by the Sherrrifs office, which takes 911 calls fairly seriously, even for minor crashes. What might have happend was all the officers and deputy's in the area were busy. So they pawned it off to a state trooper, that might also have been busy and gave you that schpeel. Next time, call back to 911 and tell them the officer refuses to come out. Tell them the women just toook off when you told her you were calling the cops. I dont want to give you a told ya so routine or rub anything in here, I'm just trying to give you advice for next time. Hopfully there is not a next time. But the police have to respond to every call no matter what.
Did you let the police know yet that she is uninsured? They will take it more seriously in order to prevent her from doing it again, I'm guessing. I can empathize with you on feeling like a bonehead about not getting the license plate. Last fall, I put down my motorcycle to avoid a guy turning out in front of me. I was sooo pissed and cussing at him as he drove away confused, that I forgot to get his license plate number, and so did the one witness. $3200 in repair bills for my shoulder, ankle, and bike (no medical coverage on my motorcycle insurance at the time).
