Auto claim question- hit and run

WinoBlues

Guru
5000 Post Club
So, My daughter was just hit by another driver that left the scene. My daughter caught it on dash cam and then followed her to get the license plate. All very low speed.
Basically two young women not knowing quite what to do.

We told the police officer if she takes rresponsibility, We do not want charges for hit and run.
my question - should my daughter just call her carrier, AAA or call USAA and let them deal with it. Maybe $3-4,000 damage. No injuries.
 
We told the police officer if she takes responsibility, We do not want charges for hit and run.

That is not your choice. It's up to the authorities to decide whether to prosecute or not. However, that your daughter caught up to the other driver and appears to have obtained her insurance information it's less likely that the authorities would prosecute anyway.

my question - should my daughter just call her carrier, AAA or call USAA and let them deal with it.

You haven't said how the accident occurred. By that I mean who did what that resulted in the collision?

You also haven't said what state you are in (other than confusion LOL) which could be important.

Anyway, if her car can still be driven safely without any damage for which she could be cited, she can file a claim with the other driver's insurance and see if there is a quick acceptance of liability. If the other insurer disputes fault it's going to take quite a while to unravel and then she would be better off filing under her collision coverage and relying on her insurer to subrogate and recover her deductible.

Unfortunately, also has to notify her own insurance of the accident because the policy requires notification and in case the other driver turns about and makes a liability claim against your daughter.

Maybe $3-4,000 damage.

She should get her car into a shop for an estimate ASAP so she has some idea which way the insurance wind is blowing.

Your estimate of the damage cost may be way off the mark. I'm on an insurance forum (on Reddit) where people every day are talking about minor damage repairs only to find out that the actual costs are several thousand more than they thought.

I'd be happy to help with any other questions you might have.

Ax3l calls me a national treasure. (grin).
 
That is not your choice. It's up to the authorities to decide whether to prosecute or not. However, that your daughter caught up to the other driver and appears to have obtained her insurance information it's less likely that the authorities would prosecute anyway.



You haven't said how the accident occurred. By that I mean who did what that resulted in the collision?

You also haven't said what state you are in (other than confusion LOL) which could be important.

Anyway, if her car can still be driven safely without any damage for which she could be cited, she can file a claim with the other driver's insurance and see if there is a quick acceptance of liability. If the other insurer disputes fault it's going to take quite a while to unravel and then she would be better off filing under her collision coverage and relying on her insurer to subrogate and recover her deductible.

Unfortunately, also has to notify her own insurance of the accident because the policy requires notification and in case the other driver turns about and makes a liability claim against your daughter.



She should get her car into a shop for an estimate ASAP so she has some idea which way the insurance wind is blowing.

Your estimate of the damage cost may be way off the mark. I'm on an insurance forum (on Reddit) where people every day are talking about minor damage repairs only to find out that the actual costs are several thousand more than they thought.

I'd be happy to help with any other questions you might have.

Ax3l calls me a national treasure. (grin).

California

So my daughter was in a roundabout and the other person merging into the roundabout.Hit my daughter's car in the front fender. The police officer has already driven out to the other driver's house and gotten their driver's license and insurance information. The dash cam shows the young lady driving into the circle and hitting my daughter.

The police officer said we had a choice of requesting charges and he would go and arrest her.Or we could just get the insurance information and let them deal with it. Stop I feel like it was just an accident.The young lady wasn't speeding to get away.To just looked more confused or scared. So as long as the car is repaired and all rental payments are made we're cool.

Yeah, I agree, you are a treasure. :noteworthy: .I've followed some of your advice for over the years.

I think we will have her call USAA and let them deal with it. Fender dented, paint transfer on the door. Don't know it alignment or wheel issues.

Thanks

Lee
 
Roundabouts! :arghh: I hate them. I've been driving almost 60 years and they scare the crap out of me. They started turning up in Phoenix several years ago and I do my best to avoid them.

Anyway, the driver entering the roundabout has a duty to yield to vehicles that are already in the roundabout.

With the video it's likely a clear case of fault against the other driver and one would hope that USAA would respond appropriately. I would make the claim there and give it a few days. There should be at least an adjuster assigned within 48 hours. If nothing positive comes of that, and she doesn't want the hassle, she can make the claim on her collision coverage and let her company subrogate.

Fender and door, yeah, you're probably in the ballpark but having her own estimate will give her something to talk about if USAA tries to lowball her.

Given the circumstances, not prosecuting is appropriate. The other driver is going to get enough grief when her insurance rates go up.

Advise your daughter that USAA owes her for a rental car while her car is being repaired.

And she may be entitled to some money for the diminished value of her car due to the stigma of having been repaired after an accident. Lots of controversy over diminished value claims so best to leave that discussion until after the car has been repaired and then sandbag USAA for a claim for additional money.

Appreciate the accolade. Stay in touch, happy to help.
 
Roundabouts! :arghh: I hate them. I've been driving almost 60 years and they scare the crap out of me. They started turning up in Phoenix several years ago and I do my best to avoid them.

Anyway, the driver entering the roundabout has a duty to yield to vehicles that are already in the roundabout.

With the video it's likely a clear case of fault against the other driver and one would hope that USAA would respond appropriately. I would make the claim there and give it a few days. There should be at least an adjuster assigned within 48 hours. If nothing positive comes of that, and she doesn't want the hassle, she can make the claim on her collision coverage and let her company subrogate.

Fender and door, yeah, you're probably in the ballpark but having her own estimate will give her something to talk about if USAA tries to lowball her.

Given the circumstances, not prosecuting is appropriate. The other driver is going to get enough grief when her insurance rates go up.

Advise your daughter that USAA owes her for a rental car while her car is being repaired.

And she may be entitled to some money for the diminished value of her car due to the stigma of having been repaired after an accident. Lots of controversy over diminished value claims so best to leave that discussion until after the car has been repaired and then sandbag USAA for a claim for additional money.

Appreciate the accolade. Stay in touch, happy to help.

To clarify - USAA is my daughter's carrier. The other driver is AAA

Thanks for the help. She spoke to AAA last night. They said 'it appears that due to the size of the round' their driver is probably 'mostly at fault'. We are doing a three way call to AAA this morning. We will get the 'mostly' eliminated and move forward. Should be just a little inconvenience and a learning lesson for my daughter.

Just a side note - My daughter, 25, did very well speaking with the motor cop, he was very cool. I am just kinda in the back ground, letting her work through it. Dad over watch. Life lessons for when dad doesn't answer the phone anymore.

Oh, and yeah, I hate the roundabouts also.
 
@adjusterjack

Well, just spoke with AAA. The other driver is now saying they were not at fault, that they both entered the roundabout at the same time. So AAA said for us to call USAA. Then my daughter sent her the dash cam video.

So AAA is taking 100% on the claim and arranging for a rental.

Just need to decide if we are now going to go forward with hit and run. Probably not.

I am going to find dash cams for my cars now.

Thanks again for the help.
 
Just a side note - My daughter, 25, did very well speaking with the motor cop, he was very cool. I am just kinda in the back ground, letting her work through it. Dad over watch. Life lessons for when dad doesn't answer the phone anymore.

Side note back at you, one Dad to another, always answer the phone. They will always need us. My daughter recently got divorced and I'm there with moral support and help any time she needs it.

So AAA is taking 100% on the claim and arranging for a rental.

Good.

I am going to find dash cams for my cars now.

Yep, been reading stories on Reddit by those whose dash cams saved their butts. Recently bought them for my cars. Waiting to catch something on video, hopefully not involving me.
 
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