had an accident, needs help

nn2000

Senior member
May 9, 2003
227
0
71
This was a car accident from my father, but now he experienced some difficulty claiming the loss and needs help. So here is what happened: last December the guy hit my father?s car in the rear on freeway, it was 100% fault from the guy and police report confirmed that. My dad contacted the insurance company of the other guy after then. And in March the insurance company replied that the insured?s policy ends last July (the accident was in last December) and the insured did not renew his policy. Therefore the insurance company has no coverage available for the loss. Now what can my father do to claim the loss? My father has only liability for his car.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
22
81
Yup, hate to say it but your only recourse here is to find a lawyer and file a lawsuit against the other driver. Though I am very, very curious why it took three months for the insurance to get figured out and then another 3 months for you to ask this question. You may be running into issues due to not acting promptly on this.

ZV
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,558
20
81
Lawyer up and sue him. Plus let the police know that your father was hit by an uninsured driver.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Yup, hate to say it but your only recourse here is to find a lawyer and file a lawsuit against the other driver. Though I am very, very curious why it took three months for the insurance to get figured out and then another 3 months for you to ask this question. You may be running into issues due to not acting promptly on this.

ZV
yeah, like wtf.

 

amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,332
249
106
Eh. he was insured at the time of the accident; His insurance company is still responsible. Why is your father contacting his insurance company anyway? You pay for insurance so that YOUR insurance company will take care of dealing with the other insurance company. Call your insurance company and let them know wtf is going on, it doesn't matter if you pay only liability, they HAVE to go after the other company on your behalf.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
I'm not quite buying that he wasn't insured. The cop would have seen that on his insurance card and the insurance company should have answered much more quickly. Something is fishy.
 

nn2000

Senior member
May 9, 2003
227
0
71
Originally posted by: Bignate603
I'm not quite buying that he wasn't insured. The cop would have seen that on his insurance card and the insurance company should have answered much more quickly. Something is fishy.

probably the other party showed the police the expired insurance card and the police didn't notice
 

nn2000

Senior member
May 9, 2003
227
0
71
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
uninsured driver, sue him!

anyone give some step-by-step how to do this? Shall I go to the court directly for lawsuit or shall I look for a lawyer?
 

dud

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,635
73
91
The accident happened in December ... but your father didn't find out until March? This doesn't make sense. Claims are usually settled in days, sometimes weeks but not months.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: nn2000
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
uninsured driver, sue him!

anyone give some step-by-step how to do this? Shall I go to the court directly for lawsuit or shall I look for a lawyer?

How much is owed?

1. medical
2. Car damage
3. Any missed work?

Add all that up. If it is less then the max amount for small claims then you father does not need a lawyer. If it adds up to a little over then file 2 claims 1 for the car damage and then another medical/loss wages.
If its a lot more then you will need a lawyer if you have nev er filed court papers.
 

nn2000

Senior member
May 9, 2003
227
0
71
Originally posted by: dud
The accident happened in December ... but your father didn't find out until March? This doesn't make sense. Claims are usually settled in days, sometimes weeks but not months.

second language translation delay involved here
 

nn2000

Senior member
May 9, 2003
227
0
71
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
How much is owed?

1. medical
2. Car damage
3. Any missed work?

Add all that up. If it is less then the max amount for small claims then you father does not need a lawyer. If it adds up to a little over then file 2 claims 1 for the car damage and then another medical/loss wages.
If its a lot more then you will need a lawyer if you have nev er filed court papers.


How much is the max amount for small claims? My father is in Los Angeles, where to go to file claims? Which infomation is required when filing?
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: nn2000
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
How much is owed?

1. medical
2. Car damage
3. Any missed work?

Add all that up. If it is less then the max amount for small claims then you father does not need a lawyer. If it adds up to a little over then file 2 claims 1 for the car damage and then another medical/loss wages.
If its a lot more then you will need a lawyer if you have nev er filed court papers.


How much is the max amount for small claims? My father is in Los Angeles, where to go to file claims? Which infomation is required when filing?


LA Small claims FAQ
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,824
2,611
136
Tell your father to contact a local attorney to get some reliable advice. Free legal advice over the internet from nonprofessionals is, at best, worthless.
 

Mide

Golden Member
Mar 27, 2008
1,547
0
71
Originally posted by: amdhunter
Eh. he was insured at the time of the accident; His insurance company is still responsible. Why is your father contacting his insurance company anyway? You pay for insurance so that YOUR insurance company will take care of dealing with the other insurance company. Call your insurance company and let them know wtf is going on, it doesn't matter if you pay only liability, they HAVE to go after the other company on your behalf.

+1
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
101
the problem with suing uninsured drivers is this. If they cannot afford insurance, they probably dont have jack crap for money anyway, so good luck in getting anything from them.