Insurance Dilemna

[Dawgs0916]

Ok heres the deal. I let a "friend" use my car today while I was at work.

I get a call around 5:30 from a police officer asking for me through a voicemail, I call him back.

He tells me my car was involved in an accident and do I know where my car is. Apparently this "friend" ran over a person on a bicycle today on campus and drove off.

My car is pretty messed up in the front as its obvious that the guy flipped up onto the car (even onto the roof), from his bike.

The friend is trying to lie about the whole thing and say that it was the car in front of him blah blah blah.

What are my legal rights in this situation? I'm clearly not responsible for the person's injuries (*** forbid they turn out to be really serious). But how can I get my car fixed.

Small claims court??

 

[WoodysGirl]

I guess it depends on your coverage...

If you have comprehensive, you can cover the costs of the injured party and get your car fixed...and only being responsible for the deductible.

Then you could sue this "friend" for the deductible as your actual damages.

Your insurer might go after the person, too. But I'm not sure about that.

-------------------------

However, if you only have liability. You can probably still cover the costs of the injured party. But the costs of your car repairs will be on you and then you can sue your "friend" for the costs.

Either way, I would notify the insurance company of the accident and then just take it from there.

My two nickels. Good luck.

 

[DasTex]

Insurance follows the vehicle and the secondary coverage would be the driver's insurance. Since you let them borrow the vehicle, it will fall under your auto insurance first.

If you have full coverage, you can get the repairs completed via your policy.

If you don't, you can file a claim under the driver's liability insurance (if he has it), and they can fix your vehicle under that coverage. - this being the best way if he has his own coverage. No deductible this way.

As far as the person whom was hit. They will likely file a claim on your policy and depending on what you limits are and the injuries he sustained, he might have a excess claim under the driver's policy.

 

[Seven]

I never understood the loaning of my car to a friend. "Here ya go. 1 and 1/2 tons of metal registered in my name. Be careful........"


May as well give him the key to the gun safe. Sorry Dawg. Dumb. Your friend has no car, I assume, so therefore he has no money. So therefore you're screwed. Like trying to squeeze water out of a rock. You're name on the vehicle, he hit a pedestrian and said pedestrian, represented by an insurance company, will be going after whomever has money, your insurance company. I hope your friend realizes this is a felony offense.

 

[Dawgs0916]

Thanks for the advice guys. And yes I realize it was beyond stupid, thats what I get for trusting someone. And it wasn't even someone who really deserved to be trusted.

My insurance is going to take care of it but im going to try and get the deductible back from him for sure, even if I do have to end up going to small claims court.

 

[WV Cowboy]

My agent has told me in the past, .. never loan a vehicle, never borrow a vehicle.