Insurance company can’t reach other driver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't contact the other drivers insurance, your insurance company does that! Contact them and it will get wrapped up in no time

Exactly this. Call your own insurance and let them handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The other driver finally called the insurance and they accepted liability. I am scheduled to get estimate this upcoming week with my dealer and they have arranged for car rental as well. I am in Virginia BTW.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Like I said I’ve never been in this situation and didn’t think to call 911 because it wasn’t an emergency. Lesson learned - always call police. I had gotten conflicting advice regarding who to contact first. I did first contact my insurance to let them know. I was then told by someone to not call them and just go straight to the other guy’s insurance. When I told my insurance rep about this she said I could and should and If they don’t accept claim to call them back and they can reopen claim. I thought that by going through my insurance they would front the costs of repair, charge me deductible, and then go after the guy. If they didn’t recoup costs then I wouldn’t get deductible back and it would be a ding on my record.

The other driver is under no obligation to stay as long as they exchange information under most cases.

My daughter tapped a car and crazy other driver wanted to call 911 and have daughter leave car as is in dark blocking lane till cops came. I told her let them snap picture insurance card and leave.

She did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The other driver finally called the insurance and they accepted liability. I am scheduled to get estimate this upcoming week with my dealer and they have arranged for car rental as well. I am in Virginia BTW.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Like I said I’ve never been in this situation and didn’t think to call 911 because it wasn’t an emergency. Lesson learned - always call police. I had gotten conflicting advice regarding who to contact first. I did first contact my insurance to let them know. I was then told by someone to not call them and just go straight to the other guy’s insurance. When I told my insurance rep about this she said I could and should and If they don’t accept claim to call them back and they can reopen claim. I thought that by going through my insurance they would front the costs of repair, charge me deductible, and then go after the guy. If they didn’t recoup costs then I wouldn’t get deductible back and it would be a ding on my record.

Glad to hear that the other motorist is in touch w/his insurance company!
I may be mistaken but the fact that he apologized to you for the accident shows that he is admitting fault.

I live in S.CA (where we are currently on flood watch, but that is another topic!)
We are only to contact the police if someone involved in an auto collision/accident was physically hurt & needed to go to a hospital immediately.
Not sure what state you are located in.

And yes, I would let your insurance co.# contact the other driver’s for sure.

They likely will phone you to get your side of the story….they may even request you submit photos, etc. to them.
I strongly advise you NOT to take their phone calls because they need to talk to your insurance directly.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

* I advise you NOT to speak to the other motorist’s insurance co.# directly.

They will call you to get your statement but if you speak w/them directly you can compromise your case.

Simply ignore their phone calls and let them deal directly w/your insurance. 👍🏽

[Anonymous]

NP if it’s minor what number do you call? I was told dc police don’t arrive to sort out minor fender benders anymore but maybe that’s not true? What do you do in dc or md?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The other driver finally called the insurance and they accepted liability. I am scheduled to get estimate this upcoming week with my dealer and they have arranged for car rental as well. I am in Virginia BTW.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Like I said I’ve never been in this situation and didn’t think to call 911 because it wasn’t an emergency. Lesson learned - always call police. I had gotten conflicting advice regarding who to contact first. I did first contact my insurance to let them know. I was then told by someone to not call them and just go straight to the other guy’s insurance. When I told my insurance rep about this she said I could and should and If they don’t accept claim to call them back and they can reopen claim. I thought that by going through my insurance they would front the costs of repair, charge me deductible, and then go after the guy. If they didn’t recoup costs then I wouldn’t get deductible back and it would be a ding on my record.

Glad it’s working out. Calling 911 isn’t going to do much for you in a mi or accident where no one is hurt and cars can be driven away. Other driver probably won’t wait. And you can end up waiting hours because there are just not enough resources to deal with fender benders.

Disagree with those who say avoid dealing with the other drivers carrier. If you go through yours you have to pay your deductible.

And apologizing is not an admission. It might be evidence to support fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP if it’s minor what number do you call? I was told dc police don’t arrive to sort out minor fender benders anymore but maybe that’s not true? What do you do in dc or md?

You don’t need to call the police. Just get out of the way off traffic, exchange information and take pictures. Then call your insurance.

I don’t think insurers care that much who is at fault and usually it’s an open and shut case.

I hit someone from behind, barely, on an exit ramp so obviously my fault (we are starting at a green light and then they stopped suddenly). They freaked out and called the police. I got a ticket for failure to control speed or something. No points, my insurance company handled everything and my rate didn’t go up at all.

[Anonymous]

This exact thing happened to me and my insurance said his company refused to pay because they couldn’t reach him. Absurd!

I had called police (they didn’t write a report but must’ve had record of responding) and I had a picture of his license and the scene. I filed a complaint with the state insurance regulator and within about a week or so his insurance company paid (all the while acting like they never said they wouldn’t).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The other driver finally called the insurance and they accepted liability. I am scheduled to get estimate this upcoming week with my dealer and they have arranged for car rental as well. I am in Virginia BTW.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Like I said I’ve never been in this situation and didn’t think to call 911 because it wasn’t an emergency. Lesson learned - always call police. I had gotten conflicting advice regarding who to contact first. I did first contact my insurance to let them know. I was then told by someone to not call them and just go straight to the other guy’s insurance. When I told my insurance rep about this she said I could and should and If they don’t accept claim to call them back and they can reopen claim. I thought that by going through my insurance they would front the costs of repair, charge me deductible, and then go after the guy. If they didn’t recoup costs then I wouldn’t get deductible back and it would be a ding on my record.

Police won't come in VA if no injuries and the car can be driven away.