I had no insurance at the time but in this state I am not held liable for that. I now have insurance but the other company is ignoring me. I was injured a little and my car was totaled. Any advice?
2007-01-05 21:14:07 · 5 answers · asked by J B 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
File a complaint with Washington State Insurance Department. If they don't have one, contact the state's attorney general and file a complaint there.
You may have to do an Internet search, but find out who is the president of the insurance company in question and contact him direct. Use the phrase "bad faith" when communicating with him.
Usually law suits are limited to property damage and a pain and suffering amount. If you can show bad faith on the part of the insurance company, you can sue for an unlimited amount.
A similar thing happened to me with Hartford Insurance. I chased after them for a year and forced them to compulsory arbitration and was awarded 100% of my claim.
2007-01-05 23:00:30 · answer #1 · answered by regerugged 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am very sorry about your accident. The fact that you didn't have insurance, while unfortunate, doesn't change the fact that this wasn't your fault. You have the same rights to fair, equitable, and prompt settling of your claim as any other person.
Honestly, the lawyer thing and and the Dept of Insurance thing are really lengthy, expensive methods of resolving this issue. What you need to do is call the adjuster at the insurance. If you can't reach him, ask for a supervisor in claims. If you can't reach him, ask for a manager. Tell them from the get-go you are filing a DOI complaint if they don't get you someone NOW.
The unfortunate thing by NOW is that it's Saturday, and most adjusters and managers work Monday-Friday. But try, the worst they can do is get a very stern message to someone who will need to call you back on Monday!
****Attorneys in WA will take your case if they feel they are going to get a significant amount of money (haha, I suppose that's in ANY state, but in WA it's always 1/3 of your settlement, plus fees.) You're going to need every dime you are to get if your car was a total loss...
2007-01-06 03:50:29 · answer #2 · answered by Hoorayforthat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either grab a lawyer or goto small claims court
Also, file a compliaint with the BBB and WA insurance regulators.
2007-01-05 22:05:11 · answer #3 · answered by PeppermintandPopcorn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See an attorney who will sue for damages for you. The damage payout will include your legal fees.
2007-01-05 21:22:38 · answer #4 · answered by SEO 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sue the for damages for some crazy high amount and they will settle for the amount you want, get a lawyer that doesn't charge until you get paid
2007-01-05 21:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by jokerswild 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋