My car struck by a hit and run driver while parked, why should I have to pay a deductible?

Dusty1

Here's the deal smittyboy; When you sign up for insurance you determine how much deductable you want. If you want a lower deductable you pay a higher preimum, which your insurance agent should have explained. The Ins. Co. can help IF, big if, you have information to help track down the hit and run vehicle. If they do track him/her down then YOUR Ins.Co. can sue their Inc. Co. or them,and I doubt they have ins, for the amount of your deductable in your behalf. That's how unsured/urderininsured works, and if you don't have it you pick up the entire cost of the repairs.

oklatom

You don't have to pay anything. Since the accident wasn't your fault, you can find the person who hit you and have them pay the entire amount of the damages. However, if you can't find that person, and want to run it through your insurance company to have the repairs paid for, you will have to pay the amount you chose as the deductible when you signed up for insurance. No one made you choose a $1,000 deductible amount, that was your choice. Uninsured driver doesn't apply. Do you KNOW the person who hit you are ran off had NO insurance? Or not enough insurance?

Sorry, you want your insurance to pay for part of it, the first $1,000 is yours to pay.

usmcwife722

Check your insurance policy to see if you have uninsured/underinsured coverage.

Cookie Monster

Since you dont know who hit it, then who would you get to pay for it? Do you think the insurance company should eat the cost? I think you are out of luck.

Patti C

If there is a deductible, someone has to pay it. Since you cannot locate who hit you, it is your responsibility. If the police had caught the other guy, he would have to put it on his insurance and pay his deductible.

pollo_314

It depends what state you live in if you have to pay a deductible. Auto insurance is regulated by a state agency which determines to a great deal your rights in a situation like this. Sadly in most states, you are going be responsible to pay that deductible. But in others you wouldn't be. (While many others are badmouthing the insurance industry, they should be bashing legislators in their home state that regulate this practice.)

To defend the idea of paying your deductible that, think about the number of dishonest people out there who who say that every single time their car got a ding that it was parked when it happened. Also if you read your policy insurance is for "catastrophic losses" deductibles help cut down on frivolous minor claims.

This has happened to me before, and it def. is not fun. To try and recoup some of the losses I would primarily focus on your insurance agent, whoever sold you the policy. I would yell at them for not suggesting better coverage and threaten that if they cannot provide you a better rate and lower deductibles, (to help offset the losses from this accident) that you will take your business elsewhere. Again the insurance co. didn't hit your car, and they didn't make you keep that high deductible, instead of fighting with them focus on this person, if they have any spine they will see they did make an error when the wrote this policy for you.

On the upside, that private agent you talked to may be perfectly correct saying this falls under uninsured motorist, in some states it does, and in those states you keep your deductible.

I do hope it all works out in the end and you keep your 1,000 bucks. Either way lower those deductibles to what you can afford, its pretty cheap to do so.

N2jazz

The same thing happened to my brother. He wound up having to pay the deductible because he wasn't able to prove whether or not the hit and run driver had insurance. This is a nice little gift from the insurance companies that you only really find out about in this situation. I would recommend talking with your insurance agent and get more coverage for your car if you think that it might happen again.

It really depends alot on what kind of coverage you have and what your individual policy says. Ask to see your policy and where specifically it states that you have to pay the 1000 buck deductible for a hit and run.

Hope this helps! :-)

lovelyday

This has happened to me TWICE and both times I had to pay a deductible, I have State Farm Ins., however, when my car was vandalized with scratches and side mirrors damaged I did not have to pay a deductible. I guess it depends on the damages.

deserthawk

fine the car that struck your car and he will pay for it

PeppermintandPopcorn

Check your coverage!

If you have Uninsured Motorist Propery Damage (it may have a lower deductible), then you can use that instead of collision.

Otherwise, you have to use the coverage that you selected; this includes collision. First, you pay your deductible to get your vehicle fixed. Behind the scenes, the insurance company will try to find that driver and get your $1000 back (it may be a long shot)...

rowlfe

My question is, how is this different from a vandal smashing your car windshield with a hammer? After all, someone used a car like it was a hammer to do damage to your car, so why isn't this covered in exactly the same way as any other act of vandalism? I can not speak in any legal sense, but it seems the deductible would not apply since this is a form of vandalism, not the typical road accident. I think if it were me, I'd be pounding on someone's desk demanding an answer as to why this is not equal to simple vandalism.

*moii**

wat da ell! y sud yuuw pay dat!! dats so stoopid
lolz ope ya get outta it!!

toadyboy

you pay the deductible so the insurance company can stay in business and keep ripping off the american people

Wendy b

I am 56 and questioned this same type on here and I was told it is just another way for the insurance companies to rip us off. That, sadly is the state of the world today. I would guess that the better the auto insurance company you go with, the better you will get on this. But, also they will say they have done statistics and average it all out, and I say B.S. Life these days is so rip off and upside down compared to my younger days. I HATE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!! It also will count against you and will raise your premiums if like you get a speeding ticket and they add up to like 3, then up goes your rates .

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