I was driving without auto insurance, and scratched the backside of the front car. It was small scratch. (I need to be close to the car in order to look at the small scratch.) Now they charge me $1,156 for the damage, and her insurance company even hires the collecting agent to force me to pay. I do not know her car brand, her name, her cellular phone, and anything about her. They even did not show any detail information of the payment. I want to protect myself and Now what I can do? Should I hire laywer?
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2006-09-09 21:46:21 · 13 answers · asked by choi 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
Well, first of all, if your state requires you to have auto insurance ( as some states don't ) you should not have been on the road in the first place. now, as for the damage, im under the impression that the police are not involved, because you never mentioned it. You really do not need to hire a lawyer unless it gets really nasty. I have never heard of a insurance company hiring a collection agency, something sounds fishy about that in itself, The person's car that you damaged cannot remain anonumyus. There has to be some kind of identifing factors there for you to be billed for the damages, and a collectioin company cannont force you to do anything, if they make any kind of threat to try to force you to pay, they have violated federal law. Just call the person's insurance company and tell them that you want to see the damage estimate, if they refuse to show you that then you tell them that you are not showing them any money. If it goes to court, just tell the judge that they have not been cooperative and has not showed you any damage estimate.
2006-09-09 22:38:22 · answer #1 · answered by bobby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's fishy. The person whose car you damaged cannot be anonymous. they have to provide at least some form of identification and especially have to show you the estimate of the damages if you are to pay anything. Demand to be sent a copy of the estimate. If they refuse, take it to small claims court. They can't just throw any random number at you and force you to pay, that's extortion.
You could hire a lawyer, but you will have to not only pay them, but you will still have to pay the damages. So it's not worth it, just represent yourself in court and tell the judge that the plaintiff is refusing to cooperate with you and is refusing to show an estimate for damages that you are expected to pay.
2006-09-10 04:56:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you should have done was taken down HER information at the time of accident.
Since you're uninsured, you're pretty much screwed (see, wouldn't it have been cheaper in the long run to have had that insurance?).
My best advice for your future: insure your car and leave a disposable camera in the glovebox for any future accidents. That way you have proof of the immediate damage. Oh, and don't forget to take down the other person's info next time...
2006-09-10 04:51:30 · answer #3 · answered by prayinfroggy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being penny wise has apparently resulted in a "pound foolish" result. I would pay the $1,156 and hope they do not turn me over to the Department of Motor Vehicles (which may pull your license). I would also buy auto insurance ASAP or...take the bus.
2006-09-10 04:52:10 · answer #4 · answered by An Unhappy Yahoo User 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Normally, the way you protect yourself is to have insurance. If you live in a state that does not require it, then your "protection" is one of two things. 1. Don't damage someone's property. 2. If you do, you have the money to pay for it.
Pretty simple. You break it, you buy it. Have insurance if you want protection.
2006-09-10 04:50:29 · answer #5 · answered by Kain 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
best to save the lawyer fees and just pay the bill , it is illegal to drive without insurance in most states
2006-09-10 04:50:26 · answer #6 · answered by foothill4fun 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
contact them and ask for a written estimate for the damage and if you think its too much offer to get an estimate from someone you think if fair and offer to pay what they say
2006-09-10 04:49:44 · answer #7 · answered by Jaime 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
don't hire a lawyer just pay them because a lawyer would be more expensive
2006-09-10 10:10:44 · answer #8 · answered by EVY 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really should not be driving a car at all
2006-09-10 04:51:25 · answer #9 · answered by swenson0 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
by law i think they have to show you proff of the repars costs yes get a laywer
2006-09-10 04:50:19 · answer #10 · answered by B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋