My car was parked in front of a friend's house when
his neighbors's daughter backed into my car leaving a dent
on the door.
Since it was late at night, she left a note on my car with her Tag # and make/model of her car and cell #. I called her cell and she agreed to pay for damages.
When I called her a few days later with the estimate, $1600, suddenly she refused to pay and igored my calls from that point on.
I finally filed a police report today, and the Police said her insurance co. is statefarm but they didn't give me a policy #. I do not have the police report yet.
Can the county police look up her policy # using her tag #?
I called statefarm and they said without the policy #, they cannot go through with a claim. I do not want to cliam this through my insurance.
Thanks
2007-11-30 08:34:09 · 6 answers · asked by PJ 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
sue her in small claims for the monies
2007-11-30 08:38:36 · answer #1 · answered by goz1111 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By not going through insurance, this will be a more stressful route for you. Your neighbor probably wants to go through insurance, because he/she probably doesn't realize that when their insurance premium goes up, they'll pay at least the damage on your car if not more in the longrun. My recommendation is to try to get their policy number by warning that legal action will take place otherwise and then letting your insurance company take over.
If you really don't want to go through insurance, I would recommend that you take your car to get a second opinion on the estimate. A lot of body shops will give you an excessive quote if they think insurance is going to pay it. Determine if it's really $1600 before you go through the pains of small claims court.
I assume it will be less. If it is, approach your neighbor again. If the cost is still in that range, I'd first attempt a bluff of claiming you will take them to court if they don't make it right . If your neighbor still refuses, then court is your last option.
(And the person above me stated it well: this will probably not be defined as hit and run.)
2007-11-30 09:11:08 · answer #2 · answered by Craig-Love 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would start by contacting your neighbor (this girl's parents). Inform them that you've filed a report with the police & you will pursue this through court.
I don't know if this falls under hit-and-run. She did identify herself; just that she is now refusing to pay. Uncertain if there are criminal charges which would be applicable.
You should be able to get a State Farm agent to identify her & get her policy information based on her name and address.
If all else fails, then as others have said, your only other recourse would be small claims court.
2007-11-30 08:46:50 · answer #3 · answered by David M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can definitely take her to small claims court. I would try one last time to get in touch with her, leave her a voicemail telling her you plan on taking legal action in the week if she doesn't cantact you back. Make sure to be polite, and only call one last time, so that she cannot claim you harrassed her. Then, if she is not scarred into paying for it since you threatened legal action, sue her. Best of Luck!
2007-11-30 08:44:21 · answer #4 · answered by Nicole 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
InIndiana, we can get your policy number. Its part of registering a car in most states.
2007-11-30 08:39:23 · answer #5 · answered by jpolster2006 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not in Ohio.
Have your insurance company go after hers. Thats why you pay your company, to do just that.
2007-11-30 08:41:41 · answer #6 · answered by LEO53 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋