Insurance claim on my vehicle

[Jenneyes67]

I will try to make this short and to the point. I was in San Diego during Thanksgiving break visiting my sister. I went to a casino by myself one night while I was there. When I got back to my sister's house I parked my car and I didn't drive it again for a few days and that's when my son asked what happened to my car. Honestly, I didn't even notice any damage until then but I'm assuming someone side swiped my car at the casino. I'm not 100% sure, but it's the only place I was at.

The claim is being investigated for some reason and the investigator is requesting my sister's info which I'm not comfortable giving him for a few reasons. Number one is that my sister wasn't with me when it happened, and I never even told her bc I didn't see the point if she wasn't a witness or even in the car at the time. If they are trying to verify where I was, then they have that info already bc I gave them the address of the casino. Now he is telling me I'm not cooperating with this investigation by not releasing my sister's info. I'm not going to bother her with something that she wasn't even involved with. Am I wrong? I don't see how this is relevant to my claim.

 

[quincy]

I will try to make this short and to the point. I was in San Diego during Thanksgiving break visiting my sister. I went to a casino by myself one night while I was there. When I got back to my sister's house I parked my car and I didn't drive it again for a few days and that's when my son asked what happened to my car. Honestly, I didn't even notice any damage until then but I'm assuming someone side swiped my car at the casino. I'm not 100% sure, but it's the only place I was at.

The claim is being investigated for some reason and the investigator is requesting my sister's info which I'm not comfortable giving him for a few reasons. Number one is that my sister wasn't with me when it happened, and I never even told her bc I didn't see the point if she wasn't a witness or even in the car at the time. If they are trying to verify where I was, then they have that info already bc I gave them the address of the casino. Now he is telling me I'm not cooperating with this investigation by not releasing my sister's info. I'm not going to bother her with something that she wasn't even involved with. Am I wrong? I don't see how this is relevant to my claim.

How do you know that your vehicle was not used by another family member, perhaps your sister, at some time during your visit?

Did you report your vehicle’s damage to your car insurer?

 

[Zigner]

How do you know that your vehicle was not used by another family member, perhaps your sister, at some time during your visit?

Did you report your vehicle’s damage to your car insurer?

I suspect the OP is referring to their own insurance company doing an investigation.

 

[Zigner]

I will try to make this short and to the point. I was in San Diego during Thanksgiving break visiting my sister. I went to a casino by myself one night while I was there. When I got back to my sister's house I parked my car and I didn't drive it again for a few days and that's when my son asked what happened to my car. Honestly, I didn't even notice any damage until then but I'm assuming someone side swiped my car at the casino. I'm not 100% sure, but it's the only place I was at.

The claim is being investigated for some reason and the investigator is requesting my sister's info which I'm not comfortable giving him for a few reasons. Number one is that my sister wasn't with me when it happened, and I never even told her bc I didn't see the point if she wasn't a witness or even in the car at the time. If they are trying to verify where I was, then they have that info already bc I gave them the address of the casino. Now he is telling me I'm not cooperating with this investigation by not releasing my sister's info. I'm not going to bother her with something that she wasn't even involved with. Am I wrong? I don't see how this is relevant to my claim.

You need to cooperate with the investigation. It's in your contract (policy).

 

[quincy]

I suspect the OP is referring to their own insurance company doing an investigation.

That makes sense.

 

[LdiJ]

I will try to make this short and to the point. I was in San Diego during Thanksgiving break visiting my sister. I went to a casino by myself one night while I was there. When I got back to my sister's house I parked my car and I didn't drive it again for a few days and that's when my son asked what happened to my car. Honestly, I didn't even notice any damage until then but I'm assuming someone side swiped my car at the casino. I'm not 100% sure, but it's the only place I was at.

The claim is being investigated for some reason and the investigator is requesting my sister's info which I'm not comfortable giving him for a few reasons. Number one is that my sister wasn't with me when it happened, and I never even told her bc I didn't see the point if she wasn't a witness or even in the car at the time. If they are trying to verify where I was, then they have that info already bc I gave them the address of the casino. Now he is telling me I'm not cooperating with this investigation by not releasing my sister's info. I'm not going to bother her with something that she wasn't even involved with. Am I wrong? I don't see how this is relevant to my claim.

Have you asked them why they want your sister's information?

 

[Zigner]

I would wonder how the insurance company even knows of the existence of the sister.
I suspect that the sister is an excluded driver.

 

[quincy]

I would wonder how the insurance company even knows of the existence of the sister.
I suspect that the sister is an excluded driver.

The location of the car in the sister’s driveway is probably the reason the insurer knows of the existence of the sister.

 

[adjusterjack]

The claim is being investigated for some reason

Because it's being treated as a suspicious claim.

Now he is telling me I'm not cooperating with this investigation

Read your policy. In the last pages of the policy booklet you will fine your Duties in the Event of a Loss or Incident. The CONTRACT gives the insurer very broad rights in requiring information and documentation that may move the investigation forward.

It's up to your insurer (not you) to decide what is necessary for the investigation of your claim. You aren't really entitled to an explanation but there is no harm in asking.

I would wonder how the insurance company even knows of the existence of the sister.

Probably said this when reporting the claim:

I was in San Diego during Thanksgiving break visiting my sister.

 

[Zigner]

The location of the car in the sister’s driveway is probably the reason the insurer knows of the existence of the sister.

Fair enough.

 

[Zigner]

Probably said this when reporting the claim:

Fair enough.

 

[quincy]

Because it's being treated as a suspicious claim. …

I have to say that the story told by Jenneyes67 sure sounds suspicious to me, whether true or not.

 

[adjusterjack]

I have to say that the story told by Jenneyes67 sure sounds suspicious to me, whether true or not.

I dunno.

I rarely look at the passenger side of my car after I've parked it in numerous places during my travels.

By the time I did walk around to the passenger side, any damage would be a surprise and I would have no idea when or where.

 

[zddoodah]

The claim is being investigated for some reason

That's an odd statement. All insurance claims are investigated.

the investigator is requesting my sister's info which I'm not comfortable giving him for a few reasons.

What info?

If they are trying to verify where I was, then they have that info already bc I gave them the address of the casino.

I would hope it patently obvious that, if someone wants third-party verification, your own statements aren't sufficient.

Now he is telling me I'm not cooperating with this investigation by not releasing my sister's info.

Assuming "he" is the adjuster, I agree.

I'm not going to bother her with something that she wasn't even involved with.

Why? Is your sister so incredibly busy that a 5-10 minute phone call will be a horrible imposition?

Am I wrong?

That's not the word I'd use. If you want your insurer to pay your claim, then not cooperating with a reasonable request is foolish.

 

[LdiJ]

I dunno.

I rarely look at the passenger side of my car after I've parked it in numerous places during my travels.

By the time I did walk around to the passenger side, any damage would be a surprise and I would have no idea when or where.

It would be the same with me as well. Unless I was parked in such a way that I ended up approaching the car from the passenger side, I wouldn't have any reason to see the damage either.