MIL in accident and needs help filing claim

[Anonymous]

So, MIL was driving through a parking lot a few states away where she lives, and another lady side-swiped her. The cops came and took a report, but the other driver left early because she has a disabled son at home. The cop said he would follow up with her to get all the information. MIL and the other woman exchanged contact information but not much else.

MIL's car has damage to passenger door, and possibly other areas not easily seen. She needs to get an estimate and possibly a car rental, but her insurance won't help her because the other driver has not filed a claim with her insurance. They also asked for a copy of the police report, but the cop told her he hasn't completed it yet. The other driver has told MIL to just give the estimate to her, but we're now cautioning MIL that she may not be trustworthy.

At this juncture, what recourse does MIL have? We can badger the cop, but they live in a small town and things move slowly. At the very least, she will need to get an estimate that the other ladies' insurance will accept and cover, and get coverage for a car rental while her car is in the shop. Right now, no one is willing to help her.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why her insurance won't help her. That is the first stop. Even if it was your MIL's fault (not saying this is) they would tell her which shop to take it to and give her a rental. She needs call them, give them the other driver's info and ask where to go to get her car repaired. She will have to pay the deductible regardless of whose fault it is.

[Anonymous]

She needs to file the claim with her insurance. She’ll have to pay the deductible up front but should get that back. In the meantime her agent will take care of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why her insurance won't help her. That is the first stop. Even if it was your MIL's fault (not saying this is) they would tell her which shop to take it to and give her a rental. She needs call them, give them the other driver's info and ask where to go to get her car repaired. She will have to pay the deductible regardless of whose fault it is.

That was my thought, too. I believe her insurance should be able to get the police report (she has a case #), but since it's not complete they won't do it. I did tell her that insurance companies have a network of shops to get estimates from so that any estimate generated would be accepted. They gave her the name of ONE shop that's over an hour away. They just kept telling her that until/unless the other driver files a claim or reports it to her insurance, there is nothing they can do. DH is going to try to call the officer and put some pressure on him to complete the report and share it with us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She needs to file the claim with her insurance. She’ll have to pay the deductible up front but should get that back. In the meantime her agent will take care of things.

She tried that. They won't accept her claim without the other driver's insurance information.

[Anonymous]

The one shop it typical and since you said it is a small town, being an hour away may be how it is.

They can start a claim, you don't need a police report to get that started. Someone else should call and talk to them since typically the insurance companies fight it out. This is what she pays for.

[Anonymous]

Oh wait, I thought you said she had the other person's information? Is that not the case?

If she has any information she just needs to give that to her insurance so they can follow up with the other driver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh wait, I thought you said she had the other person's information? Is that not the case?

If she has any information she just needs to give that to her insurance so they can follow up with the other driver.

All she has is her name, phone number, and address. Part of the problem is that MIL says she kind of knows her; not well, but enough to give an elderly woman a degree of reluctance to rock the boat. DH is trying to plow through that with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh wait, I thought you said she had the other person's information? Is that not the case?

If she has any information she just needs to give that to her insurance so they can follow up with the other driver.

All she has is her name, phone number, and address. Part of the problem is that MIL says she kind of knows her; not well, but enough to give an elderly woman a degree of reluctance to rock the boat. DH is trying to plow through that with her.

Your MIL just needs to be more forceful with her insurance company. Ask to speak to a supervisor and to escalate this. Have her threaten to involve the state insurance commission. Insurance companies make money by not paying off claims, this is how they work. You need to insist upon your rights and in the future I would advise your MIL to switch companies if she has a bad experience with her current company.