Insurance Gurus - Get in Here - Need a Little Help

I'll be quick:

• Wife's Explorer backed into in parking lot at work (College/University if it matters)
• RF door damaged badly enough that it will not open, may have also got the RR door
• Snowing and dark
• Other driver left the scene (hit and run)
• 2 witnesses - got a plate, but does not match the vehicle description (maybe why they left?)
• Police Called and report taken on-site, will call witneses later.
• BTW - I live in Ontario, Canada.

Here is the rub - I immediately called my insurance company and they immediately said that it will be a Collision claim. I understood that if you are hit while parked that it should be Comprehensive. I will get hit with a $1000 deductible and not sure how claim history will be affected.

Pissed -

If you're hit by another vehicle, it' collision. Circumstances don't matter.

I am not an insurance expert but I have been hit twice over the years in a parking lot in similar circumstances. Car was parked, I came out and the damage was done. Once the driver's door was damaged and the other time a tail light was cracked. Here in Michigan, a no fault state the deductible was waived and it didn't cost me anything. Still I had to go through the hassle of getting it fixed and dealing with the repair shops who promised completion one day only to receive it days later. Interesting, but not surprising in both our cases that the culprits never want to assume blame.

ddavidv wrote: If you're hit by another vehicle, it' collision. Circumstances don't matter.

Yup. There's possibility your deductible could be waived, but you have to check your policy for that. But it's collision. COMP is deer hit, flood, fire, theft most commonly.

BTDT … it's collision … you can try negotiating over the deductible …

as Klayfish pointed out, this isn't comp. nor is it under/un-insured since there's no knowledge about the other car

Actually, it could be uninsured property damage claim, if such thing exists in your state. Some states do it, others don't. That may have a lower deductible than your collision...if you carry that coverage.

I do have uninsured motorist coverage and deductible for it is only $300. They are waiving half of my Collision deductible but not all.

No I have to find the E36 M3 head who did this. If I do I can get all of the deductible waived. Time to go drive the parking lots (I work at the same site - chances are the person will return!).

Thanks for everyone's comments - they echoed exactly what my Ins. Co. said, so at least I know I am not getting done over.

I love this place!

If you find the other person and IF they have insurance, it should go on theirs. Then you won't have the claim against you or have to worry about a deductible.

That driver should be getting dental insurance so he can replace all the teeth he might swallow!

Around here, somebody has to pay the deductible. They don't care- If you can't pin the rap on somebody with legitimate insurance, you eat it.

Well good news - My wife and both decided to occasionally cruise the parking lot at work and sure enough about 4 pm today, she finds a vehicle matching the description and it has a broken rear bumper with some nice dark grey paint that matches our Exploder.

Police called and it's in their hands right now. Hopefully they get the person to admit what they did!!!

Book 'em, Danno.

Deductibles in my state are paid only if you are deemed more than %50 at fault in an accident / claim. Since you were parked (I assume legally) then you have no fault and would not pay a deductible if it happened in MA

dean1484 wrote: Deductibles in my state are paid only if you are deemed more than %50 at fault in an accident / claim. Since you were parked (I assume legally) then you have no fault and would not pay a deductible if it happened in MA

Unless something has changed recently, this is not correct. A carrier can chose to waive it, but typically doesn't. There are a small number of states that have uninsured property damage policies where the deductible can be waived under limited situations, but not for collision.

In reply to Datsun1500:

I don't have a name or an insurance company. We found the suspected vehicle, but the police have to contact them. I have no way of getting the owner information with just a plate #.

I contacted the desk sergeant today and the investigating officer is off until Monday. Parts are on order at the body shop. Over $4K of damage to our vehicle. Complete RF door replacement.

. . . 27 days and counting waiting for the Police Officer to even call the vehicle owner and witnesses. She has been off on holidays. I even went to the station and asked that it be assigned to another officer. (Oh and BTW my brother is a Police Officer and used to be an actual member of this police force.) That request was turned down.

I have given her pictures of the damage on our vehicle, the suspect vehicle and the plate of the suspect vehicle. I also have a picture of the VIN number of the suspect vehicle.

I'm not impressed!

My next call will be to the Inspector, or Chief, both of whom I know personally.

Klayfish wrote:

dean1484 wrote: Deductibles in my state are paid only if you are deemed more than %50 at fault in an accident / claim. Since you were parked (I assume legally) then you have no fault and would not pay a deductible if it happened in MA

Unless something has changed recently, this is not correct. A carrier can chose to waive it, but typically doesn't. There are a small number of states that have uninsured property damage policies where the deductible can be waived under limited situations, but not for collision.

Ok I should clarify this is how my policy works. I had this conversation with my agent a while back. It may not be a MA law / policy.

Just noticed that you live in the place between Alaska and me (Canada) so my ins mojo is of no use.

NGTD wrote: . . . 27 days and counting waiting for the Police Officer to even call the vehicle owner and witnesses. She has been off on holidays. I even went to the station and asked that it be assigned to another officer. (Oh and BTW my brother is a Police Officer and used to be an actual member of this police force.) That request was turned down. I have given her pictures of the damage on our vehicle, the suspect vehicle and the plate of the suspect vehicle. I also have a picture of the VIN number of the suspect vehicle. I'm not impressed! My next call will be to the Inspector, or Chief, both of whom I know personally.

It is a slippery slop but on the one hand a carefully placed letter to say the mayor the chief of police and maybe the local FOX new outlet. However if you ever get pulled over.. . .

On the other hand. Maybe a call your insurance company? Maybe they can push things along. Maybe there is more to the story with the other party than you know and they are deliberately delaying things. I would ask for an appointment with the chief and see what he has to say. They may have more pressing things like assaults, or worse to deal with.

I would take the "be nice" approach first before leaning on people.

what does your brother suggest?

My brother said that I need to let it run it's course. Senior officer's rarely get involved with changing the investigating officer after it has been started. He thinks they made a mistake not letting the 2nd officer involved follow-up immediately but it's too late to change that.

Funny thing is about 15 min after posting - the investigating officer calls me.

They tell me that they have spoken to the owner of the other vehicle and they denied it occurred, so as far as they are concerned it will remain a Leaving the Scene. I wasn't happy and I made them aware of that. They have agreed to do some additional follow-up.

I am going to forward all of the information to my insurance company for follow-up. I think there is more than enough information to pursue this through civil channels. I also now have the VIN from the vehicle and I can get the owner's name through that, so I guess my last resort would be small claims court.

NGTD wrote: I am going to forward all of the information to my insurance company for follow-up. I think there is more than enough information to pursue this through civil channels. I also now have the VIN from the vehicle and I can get the owner's name through that, so I guess my last resort would be small claims court.

If you've done what you can to make a police report, yes, give the info to your insurance company and walk away. Let them decide if they can pursue the other party, because if they feel there's a chance to recover, they will try. If your insurance is paying your claim, you don't have anything to file in small claims...except perhaps your deductible. Chances of winning that are quite small.

I never updated this thread. After a number of frustrating conversations with the local police. this:

Never led to any charges.

However the good news is that the body shop did a great job fixing it, and my insurance company waived the FULL deductible.

Have you thought about keying the offending vehicle? Waiting until it's been repaired and keying it again?

In reply to jimbob_racing:

Although I do despise hit-and-run drivers, no, since this occurred at my place of employment, it's not worth losing my job over something like this.

I truly hope Karma is real and that the slime who did this pays in some other way.

On the other hand, my insurance company turned out to be very good to deal with.