Would insurance not pay if I fix my car myself first?

Question

Our car was totaled by a hit and run driver. Insurance company would not pay and now we filed a complaint to Insurance commissioner.

We don't have a car to use in the mean time. I was wondering if we can fix the car first? Will insurance company not pay once i fixed the car myself?

Answer 1

why have they refused to pay for your repairs? the only reason i can think of for this is if you dont have comprehensive cover. i work for an insurance brokers. if this is the case, then they will not pay full stop. if you do have comprehensive cover, let me know why they have told you this, because they would be responsible for your repairs. you can get the work done yourself, but i would recommend keeping all parts you replace for the engineer to inspect should they decide to do so. but like i said, if your not comprehensive cover, im sorry but it is down to you.

Answer 2

If your Insurance Company did not pay, that means you only have minimum liability Insurance. If the other company has refused to pay, then that means they have determined the accident was not the other drivers fault.

It also sounds like you did not even bother to file a police report on the accident. Had you done so you would have received a report number from the police department or the officer who took the report from you.

Liability Insurance is what the law requires you have to pay for damages or injuries you cause to another party when your at fault.

Liability does not fix your own vehicle it fixes the other.

If you'd had full coverage your car would be covered regardless of who wa at fault, If you'd at least have had uninsured motorist, then that would have covered you in the event of a hit and run.

It sounds like you did everything wrong and now want to blame the Insurance company.

911 calls are available by subpeona or by a request through the public records act.

Filing a complaint with the department of insurance does not change the coverage you bought. You only bought liability and that was your choice. So basically you've just filed a nuisance complaint for no good reason.

Answer 3

Why didn't they pay?  There must be a reason.  Why do you think they will in the future?  Did you claim a "phantom" vehicle caused you to lose control and hit a stationary object?  If this is the case, in some states/jurisdictions you cannot recover for "hit and run" accidents, unless there was contact.  

Filing a complaint with the Insurance Commissioner will usually not change the insurance company's decision.  If a denial was in order, they will maintain their position.  

If for some reason they did reverse their decision, they will want to inspect the vehicle.  Assuming that they already appraised the vehicle,  you should be able to have it repaired.  

Usually, the insurance company has to reply to an Insurance Commissioner complaint within 15 days.  This can vary from state to state.  Since you are already dealing with the IC, ask them, but you should wait.

Edit - sounds as if the person who struck you vehicle did not have permission to use the vehicle.  That is probably why Geico denied the claim.  It is pretty difficult to deny a claim if you were stationary and the damage to the other vehicle lines up.

Answer 4

If you have no witnesses and the other driver is denying he hit you then what do you really expect the other insurance company to do? Dude, people lie all the time but complaining to the insurance commisioner isn't going to help you. Why don't you just make a claim under your own collision policy -- (oh, that's right -- you don't HAVE collision coverage... boo-hoo).

Answer 5

I would recommend getting a quote from 3 shops before you do.  Then you can say to them... yah we fixed it ourselves... but here is the cost of repairs... we deserve to be compensated for our time.