QuestionThe photo inspection was due before the accident for collision coverage. We were required to have a photo taken and on file. Since we did not do this within 5 days (Ithought used cars bought from dealer recently had 30 days)of the insurance binder we are not covered. The other driver is 17 and I told my insurance company I wanted the claim to go through her company and sked them to verify he had her own coverage. It sounds rare that a teenager have there own policy?
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Followup To
Question -
My son loaned our car to a friend to grab a pizza down the road while at work. Well he got hit but had the right of way as documented by police report. The other party reported the incident and a claim was brought foward to my ins. companyt he same day. They told me since my photo inspection was not done the damage to my car would not be covered. I thought I had 30 days. I only had 5 days.
What do I do- can I expect his insurance to cover it?
Answer -
Dear Kevin,
I am confused by your writing. If your driver was not at fault, why is your company entertaining a claim against it? And why are you going through your own company instead of the other company?
I would file the claim with the other company so you do not have to pay your deductible.
But no matter which company you file with, the denial of a claim after 5 days because you did not have a them come to photograph the car is absolute BS. Neither company can use that excuse to deny you the repairs to your vehicle.
That flawed reasoning surely is not going to stand up when you complain to your state insurance commissioner http://www.settlementcentral.com/links.php
Just call and have them give you a complaint form, fill it out, send a copy to the supervisor, and your car will be repaired.
You might want to call the supervisor first and make sure she does in fact support what her adjuster has done in this instance. I will bet that once she knows you have called to get a copy of your insurance commissioner's complaint form, she will agree with you.
But first why not contact the tortfeasor's company and save your deductible and have them do the repairs?
Best Wishes,
Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
http://www.SettlementCentral.Com
Answer
Thanks for the clarification, Kevin
A teenager is a driver on someone's policy in most instances. He can have his "own" policy for his own car if the parent is on there as well. Good thinking to go through their insurance.
As for your insurance, it looks like you would not need it after all. BUT, in case you did need it, I would go to the dealer and get their copy of photos of the car.
Or maybe you just took a "welcome home new car" photo. Or maybe you can have the dealer make a certified statement that identifies the dings and dents in the body. Or maybe someone else saw the car and can verify the condition before the accident.
If you had any of those proofs and your company still refused, I would file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner http://www.settlementcentral.com/links.php
Tell her that the purpose of the photo requirement is to ascertain the condition of the vehilce at the time it is insured, and you have arranged for that by using the photos of the car dealer, etc.
That should do it, since they would then have assurance that a third party verifies the condition of the vehilce.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
http://www.SettlementCentral.Com
