I must be a target.

[Zormecteon]

On Christmas evening, on the way back to my hotel in Seattle from my nieces house, I was rear ended. This is the second time in this car.

This time I was sitting at a red light waiting to make a turn. No traffic. WHAM. I couldn't see any damage at the time to either car. I got the guys insurance info and thought no harm no foul. In the light of day the next day I could see scratches and slight crease in the rear bumper. We had filed an accident report, so I was told to contact his insurance company by my agent. which I did. Their agent said that they didn't really have coverage!? WTF? Bogus insurance card? I filed a claim and the estimate is about $1000, $500 deductible. I'll get some back maybe after my insurance goes after theirs and them.

My first hit was also just sitting waiting for a light to change. WHAM That was 5 or 6 years ago.

I wonder what it is about this car that people just don't stop.

Anyway, thanx for listening.

 

[Intuit]

Often times the damage isn't visible until you remove the bumper cover. You'll likely have to replace the plastic holders that the bumper cover snaps into; it is riveted in place.

Still have the stock rear lights?
Installed one of my flashers to my motorcycle and have been wanting to install the remaining to the high-mount on the FiST. (prior bike was trashed following rear-ender @ 60MPH a couple of years ago)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S9G4WW6/

Observations.... Holiday nights = buzzed and tipsy trying to make it back home.
Unfortunately the solution is to just avoid mid-late evening nighttime travel and park in a spot where it's less vulnerable.

With everyone as a mandatory customer by law, insurance should be easily afforded by nearly all drivers.
Unfortunately they price it to try and profit from every driver. One division of one company took in four billion dollars in just two months.
Many drivers go from company to company pretty much getting the same insane prices.
Still have fuel costs, auto loan payments, maintenance and repair costs, many will try to afford auto insurance for a few months then drop... that couple or few thousand annual is divided up among other expenses such as housing, food, education, credit card, etc.
They still have an insurance card but it means nothing.
Because a report was filed, the state may eventually suspend their license and require some special filing/monitoring of coverage declaration. You can reach out to the investigating officer to question on this part of the process.

Reach out to the driver directly and try to negotiate a direct settlement / payment. Maybe the person "can't" or doesn't want to pay all of your expenses but half or more is better than nothing. If they duck your calls or avoid paying then that will tell you what you need to know.

 

[Capri to ST]

Here in North Carolina we have something called uninsured motorist coverage. If someone causes an accident with you and doesn't have insurance you can claim against your own company if you have this coverage, you might check and see if you have it.

 

[Zormecteon]

They, thru their agent offered to pay cash for the repairs. I did that ONCE. When it came time to pay they gave me half now/half later then when the 2nd half came to told me to F off. I won't do that again.

I do have uninsured motorist coverage. My insurance company will go after their's and then after them. They're pretty much screwed.

I got my estimate. They specced the wrong bumper (for an SE) but my body shop knows how to deal with that kind of thing. I'm out my deductible, but that's it. I have other cars to drive while it's in the shop.

 

[Intuit]

I don't understand the "half now/later"... it's not like you're performing a service for the person that hit your car. 😅 That's pure scam.

Their insurance company will not take ownership; will simply differ to their former customer who "didn't have a policy" at the time of the wreck due to non-payment. Ultimately it will be your insurance that will pay for the wreck. Your insurance probably won't be able to get anything out of the other party.

 

[SteveS]

I have an employee who had an accident after he had let his insurance lapse. Although the other party had uninsured motorist coverage, the court ordered him to repay the damages within 120 days. He had to make payments to the court or risk being jailed.