by Guest » Wed Sep 09, 2009 04:24 am
Hello and thanks a million for the advice. I live in central Texas. Last year, soonafter a marriage separation and being unemployed for most of the year, I was involved in a car accident. Rainy day, person in front hit the brakes hard on yellow light, I break as much as I could but rear-ended her Lexus. Apparently, not much damage, just her bumper, really. No police report was filed. I had a lapse on my car insurance, and I was penniless, on my way to a job interview... awful day !
I really felt bad for having no insurance, however I also could not pay the damages directly since I was penniless (I just recently got a teaching job). Now, her insurance company is trying to collect $ 4,000.00 from me. I am still in a very tough spot financially, however, I would like to fulfill my responsibilities. Besides, they are threatening to take my license away. The thing is, the $ 4,000.00 seem quite high for the damage caused (my car was much more damaged actually).
Can I try to settle for a lower amount ? How should I approach the insurance company ? Does it matter that no police report was filed ? Thanks a million !
I really felt bad for having no insurance, however I also could not pay the damages directly since I was penniless (I just recently got a teaching job). Now, her insurance company is trying to collect $ 4,000.00 from me. I am still in a very tough spot financially, however, I would like to fulfill my responsibilities. Besides, they are threatening to take my license away. The thing is, the $ 4,000.00 seem quite high for the damage caused (my car was much more damaged actually).
Can I try to settle for a lower amount ? How should I approach the insurance company ? Does it matter that no police report was filed ? Thanks a million !
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 05:11 am Post Subject:
You may be able to settle for less but they are probably going to want it all up front. Why else would they accept less then they paid? It's either that or you could probably make payments. You can certainly plead your case and see what they say. If you ask to pay less and set up a payment plan, they can only say no.
People complain that insurance companies don't pay enough for repairs. But then when it's time for someone to pay them back, they pay too much. See my point?
It does not matter that a police report was not filed.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:57 am Post Subject:
Can I try to settle for a lower amount ?
I'm with T on this..the only hope (IMO) you'd have for that is if you paid it all, ie, ''I can either pay you 3k now and get it completely done..or 50 bucks a month for seven years'...I'd be willing to bet that's the only way they will reduce it..How should I approach the insurance company ?
It may not even be them anymore, could be with a collection agency by then. But you just approach them the way you would approach anyone...You cannot however, come back now and say that sounds too high. I can guarantee you that they didn't pay more than they owed...Does it matter that no police report was filed ?
No, not one spec, except that the lady in the lexus, did you a HUGE solid by not insisting on this, because that would've resulted in at least two tickets for you and therefore additional money you had to pay. They can (and will) request that your license be pulled if you hide from them or don't work out (and maintain) a paymentAdd your comment