OT need info @ vehicle insurance

[peglem]

My 17 y.o daughter was crashed into yesterday. Everybody is ok and the other driver was at fault. (poor scared teenage kid). Anyway, pretty sure my daughter's car is totalled. The police said the accident report can be gotten online in @ 10 days. So, my question is can she do anything before the police report comes out? I mean as far as contacting the other driver's insurance company and getting moving toward replacing her car. (She saved for a long time to get this, her first, car and had only had it for about 6 weeks. Seems to me the police used to give an accident report to people at the scene of the accident. It also seems to me that my daughter should not have to be carless for a long period of time when she didn't do anything wrong.

[callyflower]

I think your insurance company would best be able to answer that question and maybe give you some hints. Have you filed a report with them? Don't assume the car is totaled, either. A few years ago, someone ran a red light and crashed into me. My car was a mere $15 away from what they considered a "total loss." Guess what? I'm still driving the car! It was repaired and has run fine, but...still. Sigh...

Poor kids. Oh, the trauma.

Cally

[AKF]

Apparently you don't get a police report anymore. When my purse was stolen, they told me I would have to wait and come by to get a copy. They won't even mail it to me, even though I live out of town.

I would contact your insurance agent and have them advise you what to do.

I hope your daughter and the other kid are OK. It's tough to get back in the driver's seat after you've been in an accident.

[peglem]

Well, it was an older car. She only paid about $2000. for it. I can't imagine them repairing it for less. But, she only had liability insurance so the other driver's insurance is the one who should cover it. It was very traumatic though, especially for the at fault driver. He was crying and I think he even wet his pants. He was so shook up he couldn't dial the phone to call 911. I just feel so bad for them both, but especially since my daughter worked so hard and saved so long to finally get a car. And its gone so quickly. I wondered too, if I have to deal with the insurance issue since my daughter is a minor?

[AKF]

I wondered too, if I have to deal with the insurance issue since my daughter is a minor?

I would imagine so!! I'm sure she doesn't have a clue what to do.

[peglem]

Well, sure, she doesn't have a clue. But, I could give her a clue! But, is this something that has to be a legal adult deal? I mean legally, is this something that I will have to deal with on her behalf. If it was me, I would demand a rental car until my car is repaired or replaced- but her minor status makes it impossible for her to rent a car...that kind of thing.

[mrsjerome]

Whose name is on the title of the car.? If she is still a minor then I would presume that the title is in your name. If this is all applicable then I would imagine that you could rent a car for yourself to drive and allow her to drive your vehicle. I am presuming that her car is not driveable or not safe to drive. If still able to drive then would take to 2 or 3 body shops and get an estimate on repairs while waiting to hear from the insurance co. Did you call the other driver’s insurance co.?
These auto accidents can be a pain in the butt getting around all of the forms to fill out and the telephone calls to make. Since she has only liability it can take a little longer to get the claim processed. At least you can be thankful the other driver carried insurance or that could have been a whole new can of worms to deal with.
So sorry this is around the holiday season as this is just such an inconvenience, Hope you get this settled as fast as possible.

[MaryEvelyn]

Did you get a report number? If so that is as good as a report untill you can get the actual report. Poor kid and the only thing she will get is the blue book value and they will mark off for scraches and low tires ect. Good luck.

[peglem]

The car is in her name. She does have the report #, but the report isn't available yet. How does she get estimates if the car isn't drivable? We had it towed to our home yesterday. It still runs, but the front passenger tire is impeded by the frame and the radiator leaked all over the place, but the hood cannot be opened (its squished) to see if anything happened to the engine. I wanted her to deal with this herself as much as possible (w/ my guidance) because she's almost an adult and I thought it would be a good learning experience. We'll see about the rental car- I think the rental car companies do not autorize minors driving their vehicles. I checked the Kelly BB value and its @ $1000 more than she paid for it.

[MomOTwins]

OK, you've got to get ahold of the insurance agent and tell them that the car can't be driven to a local dealership for evaluation of damage. They need to either find a way to get an estimator out to your house or find a way for the car to get somewhere where an estimate can be done. This part of it isn't your responsibility! [As someone who had their car totalled by a wild-driving young man just before leaving for Christmas shopping a few years ago, I can really relate to this fiasco!!]

You are correct in that car rental agencies don't usually let under-21 (or even under 24, I think, here in NY) drivers use the cars rented from them. Sounds like you are stuck on that one, you get stuck chauffeuring her around until the car issue is settled. You DON'T want to rent a car and have her drive it, especially over the holidays when every nutcase driver is out there trying to get to the mall! The liability issues involved if she is in an accident with a rental car (even if it isn't her fault) are huge!

Most of the advice folks have given you SHOULD have been provided by your insurer...duh, but that usually doesn't happen unless you nag them with those specific questions.

Good luck with the problem over the holidays, I'm hoping that folks will respond, step up to the plate, and help you out in getting this resolved quickly.

Kim

[JungleWoman]

Sometimes you just have to really spell out for the insurance people that you need help.

I have some experience first hand that insurance companies arent always on the ball.

I got a phone call just after we purchased our van. It was an insurance company asking if this was Robert W's residence. I said yes it was. They wanted to talk about my accident in my minivan.

I was all "WHAT???"

The lady explained the situation-- obviously my husband had kept this accident from me, from her point of view.

I said "When did this happen?"

She said it was a few days ago. Well I had driven the van and would have noticed any damage and said Im not sure where she got her information from, but its clearly not correct.

She got kind of annoyed with me and then said "You do have a Ford Aerostar van right?"

I said "Um...NO, we have a Nissan Quest"

She said "Oh... this is Robert W's residence?"

I said "yes, but its a very common name, My sister's husband and my sister's husband's father and grandfather all have the same exact name-- hows that for common!?"

So I had to give her the number for my sister's inlaws, who had a Ford Aerostar van and an accident with it!

YOUD THINK THEY"D HAVE THE NUMBER FOR THEIR OWN CLIENT!!!!


Not 20 minutes later, I got a call from the other person in that accident's insurance company... HELLO!!!

So yeah, it might be helpful if you took care of all the details. Your daughter probably has no idea what to do. I was 16 when I was in my first accident and I had no idea what to do. My parents helped me thru it and helped me learn what to do if it happens again.