In what amount of time must an Insurance Claim be filed?

[WHSLacrossekid]

I hit someone like 2 months ago, and today they decide to contact me. Anyone know the laws/rules?

 

[amnesiac]

Unless your insurance company is run out of a thatch hut in Zimbabwe, chances are THEY HAVE A FREAKING PHONE.

 

[Pepsi90919]

this is not the anandtech insurance co.

 

[Ameesh]

call the police and turn yourself in, you are going to federal pound me in the ass prison.

 

[EXman]

Different states/and companies have different policies/requirements I'd give the Insurance Co's name and what state you live in for more help here. 2 months is not that long ...

good luck

 

[WHSLacrossekid]

I have GMAC but I'm not filing the claim. I live in PA

 

[Lola]

Claims should be made in a "timely" manner. Meaning, as soon as possible.
This person may have made the claim a while ago, and durring the past 2 months, his/her insurance co. might have been repairing his car adn taking care of the claim... now they are getting to the point of contacting you...
then again, he could have just not felt like it and decided to call now. this makes things very sketchy so you might MIGHT have a case if you start an investigation by calling your ins. co and asking an adjuster why it took so long for them to contact you.

Meh.... no real straight answer.
There is a crazy customer that called in an injury claim about 9 months after it actually occured...

 

[WHSLacrossekid]

Well no, she doesn't even know whether or not she wants to go through insurance so she still hasn't reported anything!

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: WHSLacrossekid
Well no, she doesn't even know whether or not she wants to go through insurance so she still hasn't reported anything!

Okkkkaaaayyy..well..... why did she call you? i mean, what did she have to say to you??? If she is calling people, she should be calling her ins. company. how much damage was done to yours and her cars?

 

[WHSLacrossekid]

She wants to settle outside of insurance I guess. $500 to hers, I never got a quote for mine, b/c I could careless

 

[Woodie]

She can sue you for damages for up to 2 years (in most areas)...however, the strength of her case goes down dramatically, the longer she waits.

Your insurance company (the carrier with a policy in effect at the time of the incident) is still responsible for paying whatever damages she's awarded (provided it's the right kind of coverage). However, they are more likely to fight it after so long, because her case is not as strong. Basically, she might have screwed herself already.

If the damage/bills/etc was paid for by her insurance company, then THEY might come after you, since they may claim it was YOUR fault. That's called subrogation, and it's the Ins Co's way of getting back the money they paid out, since it was not the fault of their insureds. It's really the process of suing you, and seeing what they can get, either from you, or from your carrier.

 

[trek]

I had 180 days to file my claim.