Last week my car got rear ended on freeway near San Jose Ca. I am still waiting for the insurance people to get it fixed. There are some major dents at the back and bumper got pushed in. Also the trunk cover got pushed out. I can lock it but still there is some gap when I close it. I am not sure if there is any internal damage.
I only have this one car and I am totally dependent on this. Other option is to take two trains and one bus each way for work. I am not sure if I should be driving it or not. Will insurance company give me trouble if the car gets worse because of driving after the accident?
2007-02-02 05:36:37 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
Check with your insurance company. You may be entitled to drive a rental car while yours in being fixed, which would solve your problem.
2007-02-02 05:44:58 · answer #1 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok.. its prob. no big deal to drive it but like someone suggested, take some photos to establish its present condition.
but....
Sounds like the bigger picture is to get your car repaired and back in your hands.
Since the responsibility seems pretty clear, you should be contacting YOUR insurance company and having them press your claim for you.
You should find out if you can drop your car off at the body shop where you will have it done and be covered for a rental car while it waits for the insurance company and repairs. If pressed the other insurance will usually give you credit towards a rental for a reasonable period. If they take their time in getting an authorization you may be able to extend that.
Keep the following guidelines in mind..(as it relates to the physical damage)
1) You are entitled to be made WHOLE... that means the car back to what it was not better....not worse.... in a timely manner.
2) You are likely entitled to reasonable incidental expenses. Obviously a few days of rental car would be covered while a few months would not. In between is what you need to find out about.
If there is a safety issue involved in driving the car that may also change matters.
3) Your ultimate recourse is against the person that hit you... not his insurance company unless your insurance contract has a different agreement. This means that you are going to sue HIM for whatever has not made you 'whole'.
4) You must be keeping very good records from now on if you expect to be repaid for something. Find out from your insurance company what is compensable and what is not so that you do not waste your time on the wrong thing.
5) Keep in mind that unless your insurance contract says differently, you are not bound by the insurance company. If you have the resources you can start your own repairs or rentals and present them as a claim after the fact. You DO need to keep them informed and give them a resonable opportunity to inspect the vehicle before you begin repairs. If they later deny the claim then you go back to step 2
good luck
2007-02-02 09:10:23 · answer #2 · answered by ca_surveyor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insurance companies don't fix cars, body shops do. If you have an estimate from either the body shop or the insurance company, the inspector would have told you if the car is safe to drive or not. If you don't have an estimate, take the car to the shop of your choice, get one, and specifically ask the shop if the car is safe to drive. Without having inspected the car this question can not be answered, especially given the information you have provided.
If your car IS NOT SAFELY driveable than you should be in a rental car and your car at a shop with parts on order & your authorization for repairs to start.
If your car IS SAFELY driveable, than YOU need to get your vehicle repairs underway.
The insurance company only pays for accident related damage...if your car is not safe to drive and you're driving it, and the damages get worse because you haven't mitigated your damages then they have the legal right NOT to pay for something that you had a legal duty to prevent from happening to begin with.
2007-02-02 14:52:22 · answer #3 · answered by bundysmom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of these answers are terrible answers. If you are not injured there is no reason to contact an attorney. They take 30-40% of the settlement. Call the other persons insurance and turn in a claim. It takes longer when you go thru the other company because they will not make any payments until they are sure their insured is at fault for the accident. If you vehicle is not driveable and you have collision coverage on your own insurance policy that would be the best way to handle the claim. Your company will pay for the damages to your vehicle right away and then they will subrogate against the other insurance company. When they subrogate, they will ask for the money they paid out back along with your deductible. When they get it, they will reimburse you for the deductible. Good luck
2016-05-24 05:33:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your turn signals work and there are no other safety issues you should be fine. The only problem you might have is if it were to rain and damage the inside of the trunk. If you feel it is unsafe, then you will need to ask for approval to rent a car now instead of when it's in the shop for repairs. The insurance people don't fix it, they estimate the damages and then you take it to a shop for repairs based on that estimate.
2007-02-02 10:21:59 · answer #5 · answered by Chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There shouldn't be much risk of further damage unless you get rear ended again (based on your description). To be on the safe side, taking the vehicle to a body shop or a mechanic for an inspection would be a good idea. And don't sit and wait for the insurance company - keep calling and following up with them. It's the only way to get the problem resolved quickly.
2007-02-02 05:49:34 · answer #6 · answered by behrmark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have it checked out by a mechanic to make sure you aren't doing further damage by driving it. The other guys insurance company "should" pay for a rent car until yours is fixed.
2007-02-02 05:44:08 · answer #7 · answered by kj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm assuming the other person's insurance is to pay this claim since they hit you? If so, call the adjuster and tell him you don't feel safe driving your car and ask him to authorize you to get a rental. Problem solved!!!
2007-02-02 06:05:57 · answer #8 · answered by Beth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like it's driveable, and not a big deal to drive it.
But I agree with the other post, you might get a rental car from the other parties insurance.
2007-02-02 05:47:38 · answer #9 · answered by Indiana Jones 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the accident is not your fault or if you pay for rental car on your own policy, you should be able to get a rental car and get reimbursed. some insurers have contracts with rental agencies to give you the car and bill insurance directly.
2007-02-02 05:48:23 · answer #10 · answered by currious 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋