QuestionI was involved in a minor fender bender over a month ago while stopped at a red light (I thought the light turned green, I hit the van in front of me). The van showed no signs of damage, and the man inside the van was calm and kept saying he was "just glad everyone's okay." I was probably going less than three miles per hour when I hit it, but my small car's hood got slightly "crunched." Because he was at work and driving a work van, he called the police. After a while, his supervisor showed up, and after a while longer the police came and filled out a report. We shook hands and drove off.
I took my car to a repair shop (I did not file an insurance claim) and had the hood repaired. There are no photos of the accident scene, so there are no photos of what either car looked like after the accident.
Now, more than a month later, I got a call from my insurance company stating that they were contacted by this man's attorney because he claims he was injured in the accident. I told them what happened that day, that I hit him, that I did not want to use my collision coverage to pay for my damage, etc. I didn't tell them (yet) that I took my car to be repaired. They told me they would contact me soon to see my car.
What should I do? I understand that injuries can show up later, but I really cannot believe that this man was injured because the accident was so slow. He told me that he was going back to work, then to a party, then to visit his girlfriend. I believe that he told the police he was wearing his seat belt.
AnswerHi Mel,
You need to make an immediate report of this accident to your insurance company.
Even though you have no photos, you do have a repair estimate that shows your damage as well as a cancelled check for the repairs.
People claiming injuries under these conditions are a frequent happening and the biggest reason for the high cost of your car insurance.
Most of these cases are pure fraud, but unprovable. When he got back to work that day, at least a half dozen of his coworkers told him how to make a quick $500-$1,000 by going to see a doctor, claiming injuries and get a few therapy treatments.
Doctors are so afraid of malpractice suits, that when a person claims injury and wants treatment, they don't dare deny such care for risk of being sued.
We seem to have a propensity to keep electing attorneys to represent us in our state legislature and they keep passing laws that benefit their attorney friends plus the law off that they still maintain back in their home district.
I hope this has been of help.
Your feedback by rating my answer will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area 12-20-07 3:22 PM PST
