Insurance question - somebody hit my truck

[Dane]

Leaving work today I notice a note on my windshield. A note from a lady saying she hit my truck cause the sun was in her eyes



I have two questions for folks familar with California insurance companys.



1) Will an accident now be on my record? The truck was parked on the street, I was at work.



2) How can I get a check from the insurance company rather than them paying the body shop. I want to go with an aftermarket bumper so next time I just need some touch up paint rather than a bumper, body work and paint.

 

[catoiler]

Anything over $500. 00 damage is to be reported to the DMV by law. If you claim it on your insurance and her's pays it will show as a no fault. Talk to her and explane that her insurance will go up and try to get her to pay you out of her pocket. If you go through the insurance tell them that you want them to pay you as you are going to put an after market bumper on.

 

[Alphacowboy]

shouldnt be a problem. I had some damage done to my lst truck by someone that hit it (said he was only going 10-15 MPH... yet moved me truck 3' ) ANyway, I made sure it was completely claimed on his insurance, and it didnt affact my rates either. Plus the body shop worked with me, got me some extra dough

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

I just had my truck hit the other day in the parking lot as well... I got all the information from the lady because she had to come into my work as she couldn't get her truck back out of the spot!



I'm sure she would have just left if she could have.



I'm handling everything through my insurance company. I told them the whole story and luckily, my digital camera was sitting in my office, so I've got pictures of how she was parked, damage to both vehicles etc. My insurance company is working with hers... . I'm waiting to hear back on it now.

 

[JPope]

"... my digital camera was sitting in my office,... "



Amazing how having a camera available can solve 'future' issues with an auto accident, isn't it!!!!!!!!!!



Hit an ice patch in a parking lot, was parking, bumped into a car bumper, got out and took pictures!! No damage to either vehicle. Lady came out screaming about damage to her car, saw me taking pictures, both vehicles, scene around accident, etc. , shut up when I offered her copies when developed. Never heard another word.



Cameras, a never leave home without accessory

 

[nickleinonen]

"... my digital camera was sitting in my office,... "



Amazing how having a camera available can solve 'future' issues with an auto accident, isn't it!!!!!!!!!!



Hit an ice patch in a parking lot, was parking, bumped into a car bumper, got out and took pictures!! No damage to either vehicle. Lady came out screaming about damage to her car, saw me taking pictures, both vehicles, scene around accident, etc. , shut up when I offered her copies when developed. Never heard another word.



Cameras, a never leave home without accessory

my work mate's camera phone sorta saved my butt a few weeks ago. accednt went 50/50 blame instead of 100% my fault. i rear ended someone on wet ground when he pulled in front of me and went into the center left turn lane and stopped with the rear of his car in my lane. i was driving my work's cubevan at the time, and the bumper is scratched and the drivers side light finally broke [it was already broken from another driver, but now it broke completely] took like 20 pictures of how everything was. tow truck driver wanted to tow both of us, but managed to sucker only the other driver. his kia got like $5k damages, i got like $100 :-laf bet he's ****** now cause the tow truck driver made him believe it was 100% my fault...



not that i liked getting into the accident, but dumbass drivers like that need to be educated some

 

[EBottema]

Dane-



Don't worry. Any Hit and run, no fault, or vandalism claims will not raise your rates at all. It is against California Law. Go to a body shop you know and get an estimate, call the insurance adjuster and say you want a payout and you will be doing the repairs yourself, they send you a check and you pocket free money



good luck

erik