K
Krap
Guest
What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? California
About 2 years ago I rear ended another vehicle. At the time the other driver got out of their vehicle, looked at the damage and said, "it's no big deal, it was damaged before." We spent about five minutes exchanging information, she said that she was OK, and we went about our business. I reported the accident to my insurance company, and they paid approx $2,400 to repair my vehicle. At the time I was told that my insurance premium wouldn't go up unless I had a violation in the following three years - I haven't.
About a 18 months after the accident I noticed an increased in my premiums, but was too busy to inquire. Just recently, 24 months later, my premiums went up again, so I decided to call. I was then told that the person I hit filed for bodily injury, and my insurance paid $1,500 to fix her vehicle, and $1,500 total in three separate claims for bodily injuries. When I inquired further, a claims person looking at the file said that based on the cost to repair both vehicles, he could see why they settled on the bodily injury claim. He further went on to express that it was cheaper for them to pay out the $1,500 in injury claim than to go through arbitration. He then told me that I lost my good driver discount simply because I was at fault. I pointed out to him that according to my written policy, I shouldn't loose my good driver discount, simply for being in an at-fault accident. My policy states that I'm allowed one at-fault accident if the damages are in excess of $500, providing that no bodily injuries were involved. The agent said that he wasn't aware of that provision.
Nonetheless, I suspect that my insurance company misrepresented me by simply settling to pay the $1,500 bodily injury costs. After all, to go through arbitration would have cost them more, and furthermore, it's the only way they could have taken away my good driver discount. Consequently, they're able to recoupe their costs by increasing my premium by $600/year.
I also felt that someone should have called me to inquire about what happened after the other driver filed a bodily injury claim. I think my insurance company didn't put much effort into investigating what happened, because they know that I would eventually bare the costs.
Since speaking to the claims department, I was supposed to receive a callback from the agent that handled [mishandled] my claim; nonetheless, I haven't received any specific information as to why they settled, and I'm still awaiting a callback.
Please help me calm my suspecions, or provide me with a course of action.
Sincerely,
-Krap
About 2 years ago I rear ended another vehicle. At the time the other driver got out of their vehicle, looked at the damage and said, "it's no big deal, it was damaged before." We spent about five minutes exchanging information, she said that she was OK, and we went about our business. I reported the accident to my insurance company, and they paid approx $2,400 to repair my vehicle. At the time I was told that my insurance premium wouldn't go up unless I had a violation in the following three years - I haven't.
About a 18 months after the accident I noticed an increased in my premiums, but was too busy to inquire. Just recently, 24 months later, my premiums went up again, so I decided to call. I was then told that the person I hit filed for bodily injury, and my insurance paid $1,500 to fix her vehicle, and $1,500 total in three separate claims for bodily injuries. When I inquired further, a claims person looking at the file said that based on the cost to repair both vehicles, he could see why they settled on the bodily injury claim. He further went on to express that it was cheaper for them to pay out the $1,500 in injury claim than to go through arbitration. He then told me that I lost my good driver discount simply because I was at fault. I pointed out to him that according to my written policy, I shouldn't loose my good driver discount, simply for being in an at-fault accident. My policy states that I'm allowed one at-fault accident if the damages are in excess of $500, providing that no bodily injuries were involved. The agent said that he wasn't aware of that provision.
Nonetheless, I suspect that my insurance company misrepresented me by simply settling to pay the $1,500 bodily injury costs. After all, to go through arbitration would have cost them more, and furthermore, it's the only way they could have taken away my good driver discount. Consequently, they're able to recoupe their costs by increasing my premium by $600/year.
I also felt that someone should have called me to inquire about what happened after the other driver filed a bodily injury claim. I think my insurance company didn't put much effort into investigating what happened, because they know that I would eventually bare the costs.
Since speaking to the claims department, I was supposed to receive a callback from the agent that handled [mishandled] my claim; nonetheless, I haven't received any specific information as to why they settled, and I'm still awaiting a callback.
Please help me calm my suspecions, or provide me with a course of action.
Sincerely,
-Krap