Gettin Maddddd - Small Accident

[Mark R]

This is your wife's fault 110%.


She hit a parked car, it really doesn't matter (much) that his mirror was sticking out. There's no way his insurance is just going to pay out on it, you'll have to take him (them) to court, with pics, and hope the judge decides in your favor (unlikely).

This is correct. If you hit a stationary vehicle - it is always the driver's fault.

The parked vehicle may have been parked carelessly - but it doesn't matter how badly parked a vehicle is - a stationary obstruction is always avoidable, if a car is being driven in a manner appropriate to the conditions.

The point is that the collision as described is 100% your wife's fault. That's not to say that the truck owner shouldn't get cited for illegal parking - he should. But, a careful driver would always have been able to avoid the mirror - and that's the important bit.

 

[Blieb]

Necro-update ... this was a vent thread for me ... forgot to update it.

A month or so after all this went down ... our insurance provider called us up and appologized and stated that we were not at fault. They finally read the report and listened to what happened. A few days later we got a letter in the mail stating that we were 0% at fault.

I was never reimbursed for repairs, it was only $350 or so - under our deductible. Insurance is useless if repairs cost less than your deductible.

Also, my wife hasn't hit anything since

 

[Blieb]

One of the reps told my wife that she should have slammed on the brakes so she could get rear ended, so it wouldn't be her fault. He said another option was to swerve out of the lane and hit the tow-truck that was driving next to her.

I called them and went batshit crazy about this advice to a person driving with a 1 year old child in the car.

 

[eplebnista]

Thanks for the update!

 

[amdhunter]

You don't have to give ANY information after an accident. That's why you pay insurance.

 

[Blieb]

You don't have to give ANY information after an accident. That's why you pay insurance.

You should at least have to give your insurance information! Somehow his wasn't on record with DMV. I couldn't renew my tag or license without proof of insurance, which they promptly entered in the system.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

One of the reps told my wife that she should have slammed on the brakes so she could get rear ended, so it wouldn't be her fault. He said another option was to swerve out of the lane and hit the tow-truck that was driving next to her.

I called them and went batshit crazy about this advice to a person driving with a 1 year old child in the car.

Like we told you before... She hit a stationary object. She should've slammed on the brakes, then get rear ended, then that person's insurance would've paid damages.

In your case nothing was paid because she was 100% at fault.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Necro-update ... this was a vent thread for me ... forgot to update it.

A month or so after all this went down ... our insurance provider called us up and appologized and stated that we were not at fault. They finally read the report and listened to what happened. A few days later we got a letter in the mail stating that we were 0% at fault.

I was never reimbursed for repairs, it was only $350 or so - under our deductible. Insurance is useless if repairs cost less than your deductible.

Also, my wife hasn't hit anything since

Incorrect. If the other driver was at fault, their insurance should have reimbursed you. Sounds like neither parties were considered at fault.

 

[twinrider1]

I hit Warren Zevon's mirror once. In the alley behind the venue, my mirror clipped his. I replaced it, and he put me on the guest list for that night's show. I had heard he was an excitable boy, but he took it quite calmly. His hair was perfect.

 

[Blieb]

Incorrect. If the other driver was at fault, their insurance should have reimbursed you. Sounds like neither parties were considered at fault.

The longer version is ... after I got the letter from my insurance stating that we were not at fault ... I called the other insurance company. Since they were already told that we were at fault, they refused to update their records or discuss reimbursement.

I have fought with insurance companies before ... this one wasn't worth it to me. Our name was cleared, that was enough in this case.

 

[slag]

ignore.. didn't see the original date of the post