Car Accident: What's Next?
- Thread starter Queen_Dopplepopolis
- Start date
Queen_Dopplepopolis
First Post
We have Farm Bureau... I am not clear on the specifics (the husband and I are covered under his parent's plan). However, I am pretty certain we have full coverage.Joshua Dyal said:
We live in VA. The accident was my fault - I rear-ended the enormous Lincoln Navigator with my little Ford Escape...
Desdichado
Hero
I'm not familiar with Farm Bureau, but if you have full coverage then, yeah, you only have to pay the deductable to get your car fixed. In Texas, when I lived there, whoever was at fault in the accident had their insurance pay for the repairs to the victim's vehicle. In Michigan, however, where I live now, it is a "no fault" state, so everyone's repairs are made on their own insurance.
I'm not sure if it really makes any difference to you, in this case, although it would if it was the other guy's fault who hit you.
Either way, expect your premiums to increase as well. Although if you're on your in-laws plan, maybe you won't even notice that. It does take a while. Insurance companies, naturally, are in the business of trying not to pay. Essentially it's like gambling; they're betting that you won't be in an accident, and you're betting that you will.
And when you are in one, there's usually at least one, if not several rounds of appraisals that need to be done. We've collected on auto insurance a couple of times, three times when someone hit either my wife or I, and once when a hailstorm put a bunch of dents in my car. Each time, what ended up happening was that there was a selection of body shops that we could go to, and only those approved body shops were covered. In some cases, they get an estimate done and they pay you that amount, and you have to go out and find someone that will match the estimate, or eat the difference yourself. In general, the appraisors are pretty thorough; they're not actively trying to cheat you, but they want to make sure that they're not being overly generous either.
This probably isn't an option in your case, but we decided we could live with the little hailstone dents -- they're still in the car I drive to work everyday, and we just pocketed that cash.
I'm not sure if it really makes any difference to you, in this case, although it would if it was the other guy's fault who hit you.
Either way, expect your premiums to increase as well. Although if you're on your in-laws plan, maybe you won't even notice that. It does take a while. Insurance companies, naturally, are in the business of trying not to pay. Essentially it's like gambling; they're betting that you won't be in an accident, and you're betting that you will.
And when you are in one, there's usually at least one, if not several rounds of appraisals that need to be done. We've collected on auto insurance a couple of times, three times when someone hit either my wife or I, and once when a hailstorm put a bunch of dents in my car. Each time, what ended up happening was that there was a selection of body shops that we could go to, and only those approved body shops were covered. In some cases, they get an estimate done and they pay you that amount, and you have to go out and find someone that will match the estimate, or eat the difference yourself. In general, the appraisors are pretty thorough; they're not actively trying to cheat you, but they want to make sure that they're not being overly generous either.
This probably isn't an option in your case, but we decided we could live with the little hailstone dents -- they're still in the car I drive to work everyday, and we just pocketed that cash.
Last edited:
kyloss
First Post
My 2 cent(creds coppers or what not)
Having worked in insurance for about a year and it being realy slow at work I am going to put out a short list of what covers what invery basic terms.
1.Full coverage-means you are carrying collision and comprehensive(sometimes known as other than collision
2. Collision- Covers just that-collisions with other objects vehicles or in the case of motorcycles-the ground-ie falling over. Generaly policies are either acv-ACTUAL CASH VALUE-basicaly blue book value but varies by state and carrier, or stated value. Also no that most any comprehensive claim counts as an accident, which can raise your rates.
3. comprehensive- covers things not collision and can varry slightly from carrier to carrier, but generaly covers fire, theft, vandalism, and acts of nature-meaning not only things like hail but also hitting an animal like a deer. Most carriers will raise your rates if you make a claim but not all will consider other carriers claims paid out in your rates but some due.
4. The higher your deductable the lower your payments but depending on the vehicle it may not make a huge difference
5.Rate increases for claims generaly do not hit until your next renewal, and if you have multiple policies it may not hit your others on the next renewal because they dont always run your MVR every year but they will run them.
6. The MAIN Purpose of Auto insurance is Liability coverage-for any active policy you have to carry liability insurance unless it is a storage policy. This Covers where you are at fault in the accident and covers the other persons injuries or property damage. IF no one else is involved the accident is your fault. even if it is bad road conditions etc, from the insurance side of things some one is always at fault.
7. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage covers you when your hit by some not carying insurance or not carrying enough insurance, ie less then your underinsured motorist limits. this also covers hit and run, also there is UMPD- uninsured motorist property damage- a claim on this doesnot raise your rates, however comprehesive and collision pay out regardless of fault so this may be a redudant coverage and in some state you can not have both at the same time. Just a warning on this coverage-it is usualy optional to have but mandatory to be offered and if you dont reject it it should be on there. And in some state it can be VERY expensive.
8. You may have noticed something missing-coverage for your injuries-your policy generaly does not cover your injuries except under un and under insured when the other person is at fault and pip and medical payment coverage which generaly dont cover very much. Your injuries generaly fall under your medical insurance when you are at fault. This varies by state and carrier and vehicle but generaly if your at fault yo pay for yourself.
9. Disclaimer -Claims adjuster decide much and things very with every claim. I am not an expert in every state/carrier etc but this has been my experience.
Having worked in insurance for about a year and it being realy slow at work I am going to put out a short list of what covers what invery basic terms.
1.Full coverage-means you are carrying collision and comprehensive(sometimes known as other than collision
2. Collision- Covers just that-collisions with other objects vehicles or in the case of motorcycles-the ground-ie falling over. Generaly policies are either acv-ACTUAL CASH VALUE-basicaly blue book value but varies by state and carrier, or stated value. Also no that most any comprehensive claim counts as an accident, which can raise your rates.
3. comprehensive- covers things not collision and can varry slightly from carrier to carrier, but generaly covers fire, theft, vandalism, and acts of nature-meaning not only things like hail but also hitting an animal like a deer. Most carriers will raise your rates if you make a claim but not all will consider other carriers claims paid out in your rates but some due.
4. The higher your deductable the lower your payments but depending on the vehicle it may not make a huge difference
5.Rate increases for claims generaly do not hit until your next renewal, and if you have multiple policies it may not hit your others on the next renewal because they dont always run your MVR every year but they will run them.
6. The MAIN Purpose of Auto insurance is Liability coverage-for any active policy you have to carry liability insurance unless it is a storage policy. This Covers where you are at fault in the accident and covers the other persons injuries or property damage. IF no one else is involved the accident is your fault. even if it is bad road conditions etc, from the insurance side of things some one is always at fault.
7. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage covers you when your hit by some not carying insurance or not carrying enough insurance, ie less then your underinsured motorist limits. this also covers hit and run, also there is UMPD- uninsured motorist property damage- a claim on this doesnot raise your rates, however comprehesive and collision pay out regardless of fault so this may be a redudant coverage and in some state you can not have both at the same time. Just a warning on this coverage-it is usualy optional to have but mandatory to be offered and if you dont reject it it should be on there. And in some state it can be VERY expensive.
8. You may have noticed something missing-coverage for your injuries-your policy generaly does not cover your injuries except under un and under insured when the other person is at fault and pip and medical payment coverage which generaly dont cover very much. Your injuries generaly fall under your medical insurance when you are at fault. This varies by state and carrier and vehicle but generaly if your at fault yo pay for yourself.
9. Disclaimer -Claims adjuster decide much and things very with every claim. I am not an expert in every state/carrier etc but this has been my experience.
Mystery Man
First Post
speaking as a rearend-ee....
The day after I was rear ended on the interstate I had 5 lawyers and at least 8 chiropractors call me. I passed on all of them. (I wasn't hurt having my seatbelt on kept me from winding up in the back seat in a ball, she hit me hard!) Be very cautious and cover your bases since ambulance chasing lawyers will do what they can to get the victims to sue you. Incidentally the damage done to my car was just over 5 grand!!
Expect your insurance rates to skyrocket.
This is why I am never less than 5 car lengths behind anyone.
The day after I was rear ended on the interstate I had 5 lawyers and at least 8 chiropractors call me. I passed on all of them. (I wasn't hurt having my seatbelt on kept me from winding up in the back seat in a ball, she hit me hard!) Be very cautious and cover your bases since ambulance chasing lawyers will do what they can to get the victims to sue you. Incidentally the damage done to my car was just over 5 grand!!
Expect your insurance rates to skyrocket.
This is why I am never less than 5 car lengths behind anyone.
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