Hi everyone, I’m hoping you can help explain things to me because I’ve never been in an accident before. I’ll put details below but here is a TL;DR:
I t-boned a car at 20mph during a massive power outage and rainstorm when I didn’t see an intersection and went through it. I have been in communication with insurance (driving my friends car) and honest. He texted and called me today saying “Hello, have you been contacted by my insurance company?” and “I have been told your insurance has not accepted liability, we need to clear this up please.” I have not responded yet because I feel out-of-my-depth on this and would appreciate advice.
Here are some more details:
There was a massive city-wide power outage during a rainstorm when I was driving at night. I know now that in this situation I should have stopped at every intersection for safe driving practices. I was driving downhill and the intersection above me was a 2-way stop (left/right traffic). This next intersection was 4-way but I didn’t see it because there was no light pollution at all and the traffic lights weren’t flashing in an outage like I am used to them doing. They blended into the night sky and power lines. I scanned for pedestrians and went through the intersection, t-boning a car from my left, which I didn’t see until they were right in front of me. I think this was due to the rain and I don’t remember any other cars I would have referenced. I tried braking but my car slid on the wet street and hit his car.
I understand this is frustrating for him because he said it’s the 4th time he’s been t-boned. He told us to let insurance handle it so I have been in communication with my friend’s company to give them info (I was driving their car). Now he’s texted and called my friend and we are nervous to respond because I’ve never been in this situation before. Should he be talking with his insurance? Thank you.
Other driver contacting me because insurance won’t accept liability
byu/gh0stcoyote inInsurance
Posted by gh0stcoyote
7 Comments
The other driver or their insurance company needs to contact the insurance company of the car you were driving. I would not communicate with the other party.
Traffic on right has the right of way. Insurance may have denied claim as you weren’t at fault in their eyes. If so take the same stance.
Your friend’s insurance may still be in the process of investigating whether this claim would even be covered because you presumably are not listed on their policy. Have you or your friend been contacted to provide more details about this? That’s the insurance company’s first step before they even start to care about what happened in the accident. Once that’s hopefully resolved the rest of the claim can proceed and that’s where hopefully the other driver gets their vehicle repaired.
Do you have any insurance policies where you’re listed as a driver? Depending on the state and depending on the contract there’s a possibility that your friend’s insurance chooses not to cover this and now your insurance is next in line to cover the other driver. Be prepared to file with them if it gets to that point.
This is an issue between the insurance companies. If you reply at all, just say that and don’t communicate any further
Block the other driver and under no circumstance should you communicate with them.
That’s why you both pay insurance. Let your carrier handle this.
Why was the claim denied? Were you deemed an unlisted driver?
Don’t miss any insurance payments and tell your friend that your insurance company has control now. All this is only your problem if you don’t have your own car insurance or have allowed it to expire. Expect your carrier to jack up your rates right after the case is settled, but you can get a different carrier then, probably save yourself some money because you shopped.