Auto Insurance Claims: SIU investigation in a theft and total loss, claims adjuster, friends name

Question
QUESTION: I recently purchased a vehicle from a friend in July which I park on the street in my neighborhood. This is not my primary vehicle so I do not use it everyday. Just recently when I was going to use the car for travel the car was missing. I reported the car stolen and about 17 days later the car ends up being found but it was a total wreck. The claims adjuster said it was a total loss. Now the SIU is investigating the claim because they believe that the seller had something to do with it being that I only had one key to the car. I now have my suspicions as well. Can I drop the claim?

ANSWER: Hi Mikayla,

I don't understand why you would want to drop the claim. SIU investigates all theft claim at an insurance company. But regardless of that, if your "friend" sold you a vehicle and then stole it and trashed it, that friend should go to jail, and you should be paid by the insurance company for the value of the vehicle.

Of course you can decide at any time to withdraw the claim. However this may cause suspision to be placed on you.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So as a follow up to the situation, the car note is in my friends name and I was paying him out of pocket and I found out that he was not paying the car note. I dont want the insurance company to pay a claim which would relieve him of his responsibilities to pay the bank because he was pocketing my money. On the other hand I dont want him to go to jail if he did indeed have something to do with it. So would it be in my best interest to withdraw the claim?
I have spoken to the SIU guy and gave him the information that I found out regarding this guy not paying the car note. He is going to talk to the laims adjuster tomorrow to see if we can withdraw the claim. I just dont know if it is better to withdraw or not.

Answer
Hi Mikayla,

You can withdraw the claim. However, if you do you will be out a car and all of the money you have paid so far and your friend will be out of a car and will still owe all of the money to the bank. If your friend did not pay the bank when you were paying him the money, why would he pay the bank after you stop paying him.

This is a tough decision that only you can make. If it were me, I would realize this in not a friend worth having or saving.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh