Accident & Insurance
 

Ok so the story goes:

Hopping off the highway, exit lane starts as one lane, splits into two lanes that turn right, and then at the end a third lane that turns left at the very end. I'm following this yellow jeep off the highway, I already notice they are weaving a little but don't think too much of it (probably a mistake). The exit splits into the two 'right turn' lanes, the jeep stays in the far right lane and slows down, I move into the left 'right turn lane' to pass slowly. As I'm mostly past the jeep I hear a thunk - the jeep crosses the lane and lightly hits the side of my car. We keep going, both take a right, and immediately pull into a parking lot. She's on the phone with the cops as soon as I get out of the car, and doesn't act too friendly when I walk up to her - ok fine. Cop comes, I tell my story, and her story goes that she was in front at the time of contact, and I somehow clipped her going around her. Cop says, it's her word vs mine, and doesn't determine anyone to be at fault in the report.

So I'm thinking, I'll contact my insurance, they'll send out an adjuster, adjuster will see that the contact just in front of my right rear wheel, and will determine there's no way for me to 'clip' her rear bumper (btw an old jeep with banged up bumpers, no evidence of contact on her jeep).

Time goes by, police report is published after 2 weeks of waiting, insurance company calls me to check in. I tell them I'm going to file with the lady's insurance (Chubb) - my insurance (Geico) basically then tells me that they will likely refuse, and they (Geico) wouldn't be able to go after them either because it's her word vs mine and the adjuster looking at the car would not make any difference. Despite the fact that according to her story, the damage would have been on the front fender not the rear.

Not much experience with accidents and insurance (thankfully) - can anyone provide advice on how to pursue?

I plan to file a claim with the lady's insurance anyways, but is the agent from Geico right that I'm out of luck and just have to pay my $500 deductible because some lady driving a jeep was texting on her phone and drifted into me? Seems horribly unfair.

quite likely out of luck since fault was not directed in police report, unfortunately.

Welcome to life... sometimes its easier to pay the way and move on.

Also get a dash cam....

These^

Doesn't matter what the logic of her story and the damage is the insurance companies work on facts. The fact is that the police didn't assign blame and with no witness or clear evidence as to who was in who's lane you can't prove anything.
Hard to tell in the picture but you may very well be able to get that fixed by a good PDR guy for well under the $500 deductible.

Lol that's what the Geico insurance woman told me. Do they sell 360 degree cameras like google uses? I could mount one to my roof.

http://www.cycledrag.com/wp-content/...10/07/D254.jpg

Lol. A regular front mounted camera still would validate your story

Also I would get a PDR quote as well...

if you're really paranoid, buy 4 cheap ($50-$100) dashcams for each direction. as close to 360 as you will get.

you know what the real kicker is, a little research shows she lives in the same town i do AAAND works in the same building i do, 2 floors above me. maybe i will see that liar wench in the elevator :)

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Wouldn't that mean she parks said yellow jeep in your parking lot?

I'd be getting some vigilante justice, not that I'm suggesting anything.

hah nah, though would like to run into her so she knows she is not a anonymous as she thinks. she probably had kids in the schools too. my wife is pretty well connected, could probably shame her a bit :) end of the day, just have to suck it up- not the worst thing. definitely investing in a dash cam, any recommendations on something unobtrusive but not to expensive? maybe something that attaches to the mirror?

thanks for the replies guys

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+1

Way too many lifted trucks and other assholes tried (or perhaps inadvertently) tried running me off the road during the first month or two of ownership. Dashcams are well worth the expense.


Also watched way too many Russian dash cam videos :D

https://dashcamtalk.com/

I bought the street guardian but kinda regret not getting a blackvue with 2 channel. That forum is very good in helping you decide on what you want.

A little pricey, however front & rear are included. Blackvue DR650S 2 channel...Subiespeed's got em for $400. Sure if someone were really good they could source out for maybe $250'ish

Police do not actually determine fault inside adjusters and field adjusters will if there is a question of liability, a police report isn't required in an accident. But with this it is basically a case of no fault and both would probably have to go through their own insurance, cause honestly he could have crossed and hit her.