No Insurance Situation, Looking for Advice.

[CaptainDune]

I am a college student recently separated from the military with nothing more than a part time job (roughly 12k/year). So I found a car last May to buy that was priced well below KBB and decided to buy the car to flip it around for a bit of cash to help with the summer. I spoke to the insurance agent about it and he told me that since my Truck was insured, I had 30 days of coverage in Arizona without adding it to my policy just yet. I decided to wait since I was selling the car and it was already listed.

31 days later (I didn't realize this at the time), I still hadn't sold the car and decided to move it to a spot in town to try and sell. On the way there an animal was in the road causing cars to swerve in other lanes and such. It ended with me rear ending the car in front of me at about 30 mph. The cop wrote no citations as it was kind of a cluster bomb. He also didn't write me a no insurance ticket since it appeared I was still within my time.

Well, obviously an investigation ensues and I am found that I don't have coverage on that car. Which is fine, I take responsibility for that and should have known better. I got with the other driver and paid her the deductible and rental car fees totaling about $1,000. I paid this all to her within a couple of months, as quickly as I could. The accident was, after all, my fault and I didn't think she deserved to have any cost out of pocket for something I caused.

Well, today I got a phone call from her insurance company's lawyers. I forget the name of them but they were calling in regards to the accident and trying to collect $11,000 in damages. The lady on the phone was very threatening and very, very rude. Talking down to me constantly and berating me for the mistake I made and demanding money. I tried explaining I am a college student and don't have any, after still recovering from my own losses from the accident. She did not lay off and eventually made me angry enough to say:

"Listen, find someone who isn't going to talk to me like a child or I am going to tell you to f*** off."

She called me immature and hung up the phone saying they will proceed.

I am not real sure whats going on, I understand I am liable for the money, and I have no problem with that if I had any. What are my options here? Does anybody have any suggestions on what I should be doing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Josh]

A few thoughts in no particular order:

- Lesson learned hopefully, always insure a car. Even if technically you have a certain number of days overlap, always get right on it, especially if you're going to be moving it.
- As far as the damages go, props for being able to get that all squared away.
- The other person is likely going to end up collecting on their insurance (to the extent that their policy allows) and then the insurance company is probably going to chase after you for every penny they can get. That requires them to go to court and prove damages and really get into it. Odds are they'll check you out and let it go, but they might very well be insistent about it.
- Early I said props for getting here squared away, but that did make you give up some leverage.
- You might want to contact the local bar referral service and engage the service of a competent attorney that has handled cases like these before. If the lady is trying to claim pain and suffering, she's going to have to prove it. Because it sounds like this is a relatively low claim I think they'll lose interest in it pretty quickly, but again, they can really dig on this and you can end up with quite a bill, paying an attorney to help mitigate that may be a great decision.
- If you see an animal in the road, kill the thing. Swerving into traffic puts your life and the life of others at risk. While I think animals should be treated humanely, if they cross the road in front of a moving vehicle it's not worth risking your life or the lives of others on the road to save them, not to mention the financial implications.
- I wouldn't give anyone else a penny (except an attorney if you hire one) unless they prove it in court.
- If they do find you liable for thousands of dollars, it's going to be their obligation to collect it. It's gonna suck if they do that and you're going to have that debt hanging around until it's paid off, but it's not really that big of a deal. Make sure any car you drive is insured and move forward. Aside from the woman that seems to be claiming injuries now that she thinks she won the accident lottery, no one seems to be hurt and that's a great thing.

Good luck!

 

[VolAgent]

- If you see an animal in the road, kill the thing. Swerving into traffic puts your life and the life of others at risk. While I think animals should be treated humanely, if they cross the road in front of a moving vehicle it's not worth risking your life or the lives of others on the road to save them, not to mention the financial implications.

I would clarify, only if it is a small animal should you hit it. Hit a moose and the life you end may be your own. There is a potential for suffering serious injury when hitting any animal as large or larger than a deer.

 

[Josh]

I would clarify, only if it is a small animal should you hit it. Hit a moose and the life you end may be your own. There is a potential for suffering serious injury when hitting any animal as large or larger than a deer.

I'll just throw this out there: How many parts of this country have moose just running around? A cow seems more likely. That said, absent you cruising at 65 mph (and even then), a head on collision with a large animal likely won't end your life provided you're wearing a seat belt. Let's also not ignore that if you're risking hitting an animal vs hitting another vehicle, all things being equal, hitting another vehicle is likely more dangerous for all parties involved.

Anything up to the size of a deer is a no-brainer, just hit the thing.

 

[VolAgent]

Anything up to the size of a deer is a no-brainer, just hit the thing.

Completely agree there. Swerving to avoid a squirrel is just plain stupid.

 

[Guest]

What about a baby deer?

 

[Josh]

What about a baby deer?

I'd hit a full grown deer. Well, not on my motorcycle, but in either of my cars, the trick is to hit them head on.

 

[b61mack]

The biggest problem is the MV dept. Since you didn't get a ticket, you should be ok. Some states suspend your license, for not having insurance, and keep it suspended until you pay for the damage. I also would look for another insurance agent. You will be harrassed first from the insurance company, then from the debt, companies they sell the debt to. You maybe able to work out a payment plan. Talk with a manager at the insurance company.

 

[Norwayguy]

I'll just throw this out there: How many parts of this country have moose just running around? A cow seems more likely. That said, absent you cruising at 65 mph (and even then), a head on collision with a large animal likely won't end your life provided you're wearing a seat belt. Let's also not ignore that if you're risking hitting an animal vs hitting another vehicle, all things being equal, hitting another vehicle is likely more dangerous for all parties involved.

Anything up to the size of a deer is a no-brainer, just hit the thing.

I live in a part of the country with Moose running around. Your problem isn't the speed your front end clips the legs with the car continueing moving and the rest of the moose under up coming through the windshield crushing you....You can add to that Horses more over a cow as the same effect happened you take out the legs with body coming through the windshield.

 

[Aram Fingal]

One of my clients hit 3 horses that had gotten out of their pen. Totaled his truck, but fortunately he was OK. One of the horses was killed and a second had to be put down. Ultimately the property owner was held at fault because they had been warned repeatedly by the Sheriff's department to fix their fence because they horses had been seen on or near the road.