PARKING LOT CAR ACCIDENT (10 points)?

Question

Ok. So I parked my car in a parking lot and went shopping. When I came back, my front bumper was broken. (I live in California,LA). It was a two way parking. However, the person who broke it was waiting for me. His car rode over this thing where cars supposed to stop before it. So that person rode over it and slammed into my driver's front bumper. She did not have any marks on her car. She did have marks on a pot where some flowers were growing. So we exchanged addresses, insurances..... We did not call police. I took some pictures but they are very low quality pictures. Then i reported this incident to my insurance company and they said that there is a chance that they will not pay for the damages. Why is that? After she left, I tried to leave too. Even though my wheel was turned left 40 degrees, my car was going straight.(i was like what the ..) Then i went to mechanics and he said that the damage is for more than 2500$. Is my insurance payment going to go up even though i had 0% fault. Do you have any recommendations for what i can do.

Answer 1

All you should have to pay is your deductable. I got into a parking lot accident and exchanged insurance information, and got my truck fixed. I have State Farm. I have had them for about 20 years now. Who do you have for an insurance company? What was the reason they said they wouldn't pay?

If they are saying that the 'other' insurance holder may not pay, is because they will probably tell a lie and say it was your fault so that the person who hit you won't have it on their record. Talk to an Insurance Adjuster and tell him/her what happened.

It's a good thing you didn't call the police. They can't/won't do anything when it's on private property (parking lots). Hound your insurance company, ask a lot of questions, and be honest of what happened. From what you wrote, you did nothing wrong. Some insurance companies will try to get out of paying, no matter who's fault it is. Depending on how old you are, and how many claims you have made, will depend on how much your insurance will go up. Besides, I don't think insurance companies should raise premiums if it's not that persons fault. It's unfair, but this is a money grabbing/gouging world. Go get a few estimates on how much it will cost to fix your car. More than the one estimate you got. That's what they made me do.

If the insurance adjuster seems as though he/she is not doing their job, then I would get an accident lawyer and see what your rights are on private property accidents with no injuries. Most lawyers will do a free consult.

Good luck.

PS: Do you have collision on your insurance? If not, then they will not pay. It comes straight out of your pocket and there's nothing you can do.

Answer 2

you are supposed to collect as much as resource as you can by searching the relevant keyword in search engine,if you have good luck there,then your problem solved.however,if you could not find the fitful answer by doing that,here is the resource i prefered.http://car-insurance.bestips.info/car-in...

Answer 3

press charges

Answer 4

Parking lot accidents are usually looked at as no-fault. If your insurance company said that, then you must not carry collision on your car. You should call her company and push the issue- it is your best shot.

Answer 5

I'm curious to know why your insurance company is telling you they "may not" pay for  the damages.  It's either a yes or a no.  Either you carry collision or not.  It's not a maybe situation.  If the other driver hit your parked car then she is at fault.  there is NO such thing as NO FAULT in a parking lot accident or any accident either someone is at fault or both are.  it's that simple.  You should also be talking to her insurance company as well.  If she waited for you then she's probably responsible and has reported this to her insurance company.  They owe an investigation as well.  

IF you carry collision, your insurance  should pay for the damages then go after her insurance company.  Most insureres do not surcharge (raise rates) for a not at fault accident.   However this can change depending on your overall claims history and pay history and such but not normally solely on a one time not at fault accident.  If that's the case  you should seriously look for better insurance!!!

By the way most police will not show up for parking lot accidents as  they're considered private property unless there is an injury involved.  An insurance policy only states that you have to notify them.  Most are even getting lenient  with this as many police departments are scaling back investigations on every claim unless again, someone is injured or there are undriveable vehicles.  Read your policy, in the back should be something like Duties After An Accident Or Loss

Answer 6

It's interesting that the other people say police won't do anything when an accident happens on parking lots, because my first accident happened on a parking lot & the cop did write a police report.

That's all he did -  

Answer 7

the isnurance policy clearly says you have to make a police report and call your insuarance right away

Answer 8

Your insurance may go up but that would prob depend on if you have had any other accident...credit reports and age.  I have had a no fault accident and even through it does not say count against you it stills stay on the record for usually 3 years..

Make sure you call the other persons insurance and see what is happening with the claim.

Answer 9

PEOPLE .. in the great state of CA which happens to be an AT FAULT state there is always someone at FAULT you or the other party if you have full coverage insurance than file your claim pay your deductible ( unless you have awsome insurance like AAA that will waive ded if your not at fault ) and get your car fixed your insurance company will worry about collecting from the other party or the other insurance if you don't have full coverage than good luck dealing with the other party or other carriers.

ALSO  in the great state of CA the police do not show up for accidents unless there is an injury and even then if you're lucky .. there is a lot more things to do in the state of CA than running around writing stupid accident reports  THATS WHY WE PAY FOR INSURANCE.  

Answer 10

im pretty sure u need a police report,