Auto Accident in PA: how do I collect when I don’t have collision and it’s the other drivers fault?
May 16th, 2010 by AutoInsGuy
jfowlerpa asked:
My son was involved in an auto accident in Pennsylvania with our 96 Maxima that has no collision insurance. The other driver was at fault and was cited by the police. How do we collect for damages? Must we sue the other driver? Do we talk to the other driver’s insurance co?
Vanessa
insurance company first … should .. if not lawyer after
Your insurance company will work with the other person’s company to get you your money. They will send out an adjuster to calculate amount of damage. The process could take a little while before you get your money.
Call his insurance company as they are liable for the other driver and DON’T call him except for information,if needed, on contacting his insurance. For reference if you get into a big arguement on the phone with the other driver it can be considered harassment. Get estimates immediately and talk to his insurance. they might send you to one of their body shops. Don’t settle until you test drive the car sufficiently.Good Luck!
No need to sue. Just file a claim against his liability coverage. Call and report the loss. The claims rep will explain the process to you. No big deal. No attorney needed.
Edit – your insurance company will not help you recover your damages since you do not have collision coverage. If you have an agent, the agent can report the claim.
Lawnboy & Luna is right.
You can call the other person’s insurance company directly and file a claim (tell them what happened). They will either make arrangements to see your vehicle or have you get some estimates.
Get the police report so that way you have the other driver’s info (name, address, type of veh, insurance info).
You do not need an attorney, they won’t represent such a small loss, anyway. You’d have to be injured for an attorney to touch it.
OK, the citation, does NOT make that other person automatically at fault.
You can try to talk to their insurance company, but ultimately, you have to sue both the driver and the owner of the car, in court. Small claims, if the damages are low enough, and civil court, if they aren’t.
sorry,
but there is no easy way to tell you this..GET A GOOD ATTORNEY..That would be your best option. You will hear a lot what others THINK you should do, but in all actuality..if they are not attorneys, you will still be at a dead end..but with only opionions behind you to back you up.