Liability insurance

[SternWake]

About 3 weeks ago, I was taking a right turn at a kind of funky intersection, only to find somebody who was going straight had wedged themselves between me and the curb.  My door got a minor dent, I lost a little rustoleum from the door hinges.  The Toyota Tacoma drivers side Quarter panel Got hammered, and  the driver's door would not open.

The other driver thought I was going left( against a red left arrow) despite my right turn signal being on.  The light was green, I was driving fast and swung a bit wide to take the corner faster and the other driver really wanted to make the green light.

Anyway we both though each other was at fault.  Exchanged info, have not communicated since.  I told him I was not concerned about the damage to my vehicle and would not file a claim against him.  He said he definitely was, and I said well that's what insurance is for and I guess they will figure out who is at fault.
 We shook hands and departed the scene.

Every day I've been expecting some sort of notification/questionair from my Insurer (AAA) regarding the incident but have heard nothing.  I am wondering if the guy reconsidered filing a claim realizing he was indeed at fault and that I could, technically, try and get some $$ for damages to my Van. 

Opinions/ Experience in issues regarding this?  I am in California and only carry minimum liability insurance.

Others who I have talked to who have had minor  fender bender issues said they were contacted quickly by their insurer after any incident, and the lack of any contact from my insurer has me believing that the other driver filed no claim.

 

[TMG51]

My insurance has an area I can view claims online. I clicked it one day out of curiosity, and saw past claims against me! :huh: I had never been contacted by my insurance, or indeed, had any accidents! I can only theorize that someone thought I hit them while parking - there have been times people assume I've hit them simply because they don't think someone can parallel park a giant van and end up 3" from each vehicle without hitting one.

Anyway, my point was my insurance actually completed two claims against me without ever bothering to inform me. I probably should have complained, but I didn't. You might call your insurance and ask.

 

[SternWake]

How dare you tell me somethig I don't want to hear!


I will check, but the suspicious person inside of me believes they will use any checking of such things as an excuse to raise my rates.

 

[TMG51]

Sounds like his fault to me anyway. Maybe better to give your side of the story.

 

[TrainChaser]

He probably did contact his insurance adjuster, and that person told him he was (mostly) in the wrong, and he was going to eat it. I'm sure you've seen incidents of a semi making a wide right turn, and a little car dodges between him and the curb. If the truck (or whatever vehicle) has a blind spot, the car is in it.

I wouldn't go after him for damage... in defense, his ins. co. will ask why you were going so fast (no excuse) and why you didn't check your blind spot (also no excuse). Don't poke a sleeping bear with a stick -- they don't like it, and they can run faster than you.

But you're not a teenager, anymore. Slow down. You lucked out this time. The fact that you were making a legal turn doesn't obliviate how you're going to feel if you kill a kid on a bicycle.

 

[John61CT]

let sleeping dogs, no news is good news

 

[SternWake]

I'd not go after him for damages, or for cash in my pocket, even though I could really use the influx of cash

As most accidents are, it is some ratio of both our fault.

it is a weird intersection that makes a 15 degree leftwards bend, about 15 yards before the intersection. A full right turn is an acute 75 degree turn. My left tires likey went over the dedicated left turning lane, but I had my right turn signal on, and the only other lane is for right turns or for going straight.

I am a turn signal Nazi and am sure it was on, and insured it is operational and bright enough. It does make me consider adding amber turn signals to my door mirrors as newer cars employ.

Frankly i was surprised the light was holding green, and usually when this occurs it is because a pedestrian has pressed the cross walk button, So I was looking for pedestrians and saw none, and little or no stopped traffic at the intersection, and kept up my speed, and swung a bit wide so I could make a 85 degree right turn instead of a sharper 75 degree turn.
Also since my tires are about to turn 6 years old but with a lot of tread remaining I do not mind scrubbing off some if it by turning at higher speeds and my van handles well for being a top heavy brick.

But since this has occurred I am even more vigilant and watch my mirrors more frequently.

 

[Wabbit]

... there have been times people assume I've hit them simply because they don't think someone can parallel park a giant van and end up 3" from each vehicle without hitting one...

3 inches. In front and back. That's almost as tight as I can parallel park! That beast as my avatar. I once(prob more) measured it(with a calibrated measuring tape thingy) after I finished parking and there was 1" in the front(easier to see), and 3" from the rear vehicle! This was during my drivers license test and the first time I parallel parked! I was also kinda drunk, but things were different back then. Hope ya smiled!

 

[highdesertranger]

I always call my agent immediately and explain what happened. highdesertranger

 

[frater secessus]

And dashcams are your friend.

 

[user 37446]

2 things, yes dash cams are now getting to be quite the smart thing to use. I dont have one, probably should. Another thing for the Amazon wish list...

Id also recommend you bump your insurance up, state minimums are just too low. It's very little to increase, and in Cali, especially Cali, I wouldn't feel comfortable with that.

From the Ca DMV website: What Are the Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements for Private Passenger Vehicles (California Insurance Code §11580.1b)?

$15,000 for injury/death to one person.
$30,000 for injury/death to more than one person.
$5,000 for damage to property.

Really? 5K limit for the other guys vehicle? Nowadays?? That's asking for an excessjudgement.
My luck I'd be at fault and hit the Mercedes 500 AMG...

 

[SternWake]

I likely would not even have insurance if it were not the law. This is the first incident I've ever had.

I've been wanting a dash cam. but not just for the obvious reasons.

This is often the view out my windshield, sometimes i want to see some of my rides

 

[DLTooley]

And dashcams are your friend.

Always take pictures. Be honest with yourself about what happened but don't admit anything. If you file a claim against the other driver you are not obligated to actually fix the minor problem

The best way to avoid accidents is to stay out of cities!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I was just watching a YouTube video by a lawyer about what to do if you are in an accident.

He says that insurance policies have language in them that REQUIRE you to report any accidents to them.

If the other party later tries to claim that he was injured or something, and you DIDN'T notify the insurance company, they can deny your claim and leave you swinging in the wind.

 

[frater secessus]

I've been wanting a dash cam.  but not just for the obvious reasons.

I've not been in an accident, but have caught interesting stuff as I drive:  bald eagles, giant green shooting stars, donkeys in the road, roadrunners, wild turkeys.    And redlight runners, swervedrivers, etc.
I also use it to check my own driving.  Sometimes I'll get honked at and want to verify I was really in my lane later.  I use my bike's dashcam to check corner entries, lane position, etc.  Here's a guy cutting it too close on a pass when I was on the bike:
[video=youtube]

 

[Queen]

I've not been in an accident, but have caught interesting stuff as I drive:  bald eagles, giant green shooting stars, donkeys in the road, roadrunners, wild turkeys.    And redlight runners, swervedrivers, etc.
I also use it to check my own driving.  Sometimes I'll get honked at and want to verify I was really in my lane later.  I use my bike's dashcam to check corner entries, lane position, etc.  Here's a guy cutting it too close on a pass when I was on the bike:

Scary stuff!

Wish I'd had one on my bike for my many cross country trips.  I could write a book from all the scary encounters with other vehicles, animals, birds, debris, etc.

 

[ArtW]

Hahaha I bought a Day Glow (seriously) jacket and caution yellow helmet to make myself more visible on my bike
I got even MORE close calls than in my black leather
Bikes are invisible

 

[frater secessus]

Hahaha I bought a Day Glow (seriously) jacket and caution yellow helmet to make myself more visible on my bike
I got even MORE close calls than in my black leather
Bikes are invisible

I am running vis-stripes on my jacket, yellow helmet, and headlight modulator.  The modulator has made more difference than anything else I tried.   Cars will start to do a left turn across my lane then suddenly STOP.

 

[Blanch]

California DMV requires you to report any accident with over $1000 in damages. This may not be the case for you, but just a friendly reminder if your accident falls into that category. You have 10 days to report.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[deadwood]

For those that don't have a Dash Cam... get one!!! They aren't that expensive. You can find some very affordable ones out there now because they are becoming so common. You already have insurance on your (van, car, RV). The Dash Cam is just better insurance and it is only a one time fee. I have bought one for all my kids and don't want them driving without one. It is just too easy for an accident to happen and it then becomes a he said she said story. I have heard too many stories of someone running a red light just to tell the police on the scene that they had a green light and the other person ran the red. Unless there are witnesses or it is obvious from the scene who was at fault who does the cop give the ticket to? The Dash Cam doesn't lie.

I've used different Cams over the last few years but my favorite one and the one I bought my kids is the Wheel Witness. It just seems to work really well and has super clear video in day or night conditions. I think very soon I will even add one to the back window of my van so I can have video of what happens behind me. Like I said. It will be the cheapest car insurance you ever buy and if you only need it once it will save you from so much hassle of dealing with after affects of an accident.

Here's a link for the wheel witness I just looked up on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/WheelWitness-PRO-Dash-Cam-GPS/dp/B00OTZWJE2

Rexing also makes a nice one that I use. I like that it has more of a stealth profile then the wheel witness. It is also super easy to take on and off the window. Sometimes I have to struggle a little to take the Wheel Witness off.

Link for the Rexing Dash Cam: https://www.amazon.com/V1-Dashboard...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=V73TAV67MEXHA94XWV28