Rear ended update

[Krieger22]

Forensic photographs have been taken, I've gotten the insurance claim form, the other driver does not appear to have made a report by the time of the photograph taking this afternoon.

Hypothetically, if there's reason to suspect that my car may have been pushed into the car ahead of me, but the car ahead of me never stopped or pulled over following the collision, how do I explain this?

[dtg11]

@krieger22 tell them that your car got pushed into the car in front of you but they either didn't notice or just didn't stop. It happens, I've seen it more than a few times in dashcam videos.

[VincentMalamute]

@krieger22 What are forensic photos vs regular photos?

Good thing for you that it was just car damage.

[BicycleBuck]

@krieger22

Are you filing through your insurance or through the other driver's insurance. You may find that it's easier, faster, and more likely to get good results by filing with your insurance and having them subrogate the claim.

[ttyymmnn]

@vincentmalamute said in Rear ended update:

What are forensic photos vs regular photos?

I'm not sure, but it sounds like they cost more.

[VincentMalamute]

@ttyymmnn I bet that's the only difference!

[LooseonExit]

@dtg11 said in Rear ended update:

@krieger22 tell them that your car got pushed into the car in front of you but they either didn't notice or just didn't stop. It happens, I've seen it more than a few times in dashcam videos.

This. In my truck unless I really get thumped I may not even get out. Just check the mirrors to make sure it's not a big wreck where people actually need help. It's Houston and I get tappy-tap-tapped maybe a couple times a year in stop and go. I don't run anything in my receiver like a lot of folks do, but the hitch takes the hit usually. I might get out and give a shrug, but stopping isn't worth my time. I've been popped pretty good a few times and most often they run, soooo probably no insurance and fake/expired paper plates, maybe got warrants, who knows. Have I mentioned I hate traffic and commuting yet? Because, oh it's so awful and I hate it. Ugh.

[MidEngine]

A lot of people aren't aware, but once the car is fixed you can file an additional claim with your insurance for diminished value. Even if it's been expertly repaired the car is worth less because it was in an accident, and you're entitled to the differential.

[A Former User]

@krieger22 Assume it is relevant because you have some front end damage. That's going to be a tough one. Probably get affidavits from people who had seen the car within the last 24 hours before the accident to say that there was no damage (if the damage now there would be noticeable).

[BicycleBuck]

@midengine said in Rear ended update:

A lot of people aren't aware, but once the car is fixed you can file an additional claim with your insurance for diminished value. Even if it's been expertly repaired the car is worth less because it was in an accident, and you're entitled to the differential.

Good luck getting that claim paid. I've tried a couple of times. On one, I filed directly against the other driver's insurance. They told me to prove it. The second time I tried filing the claim through my own insurance. They told me I had to file it directly with the other guy's insurance (even though my company was subrogating the claim). They also told me my best bet was to take the other insurance to court.

[MidEngine]

@bicyclebuck I got a check twice, and it was through my insurance company. It was super easy and worth asking for. YMMV

[BicycleBuck]

@midengine said in Rear ended update:

@bicyclebuck I got a check twice, and it was through my insurance company. It was super easy and worth asking for. YMMV

What company? Were you filing a subrogated claim against someone else or were you at fault?

[Krieger22]

@vincentmalamute I had to drive to a specific parking spot in the police station parking lot for a police photographer to photograph the damage. Guy nearly missed the rear end damage if not for me pointing it out. Weird, but from everyone else coming and going it was a pretty busy day for rear end crashes, as I literally drove past two on my way.

[Krieger22]

@bicyclebuck Through my own insurance. I was advised to file own damage no fault, or knock for knock - own damage as my policy calls it.

[Krieger22]

@midengine It's a 23 year old car (but it's my 23 year old car), so I'm doubtful that will be possible. The claims form has some pretty ominous percentages for betterment if I were to use original parts... which probably isn't going to happen anyway due to the age.

[jminer]

@bicyclebuck said in Rear ended update:

@krieger22

Are you filing through your insurance or through the other driver's insurance. You may find that it's easier, faster, and more likely to get good results by filing with your insurance and having them subrogate the claim.

The downside of doing this is you usually won't get your deductible back. I've had to do this a couple times either when the other insurance company didn't want to play ball or when it was a multi-car accident and the party that caused it didn't have enough coverage for all damage.

Each time my car got fixed and my rates didn't go up, but I never got back the deductible as they were never able to subrogate back the entire cost of the repair + rental from offender's insurance.

[BicycleBuck]

@jminer said in Rear ended update:

Each time my car got fixed and my rates didn't go up, but I never got back the deductible as they were never able to subrogate back the entire cost of the repair + rental from offender's insurance.

My experience has been different. I had to pay my deductible upfront, but always received a check from the other insurance.

[MidEngine]

@bicyclebuck both times my car was parked when hit. I was insured with Allstate and they sent me a check