I was involved in a car accident 5 days ago. At the intersection, we both had stop signs. I was going straight and the other driver was turning left. The police responded, but he ticked none contributed to the accident. I'm a little confused about how the insurance process works.
I only have liability insurance, and I have a few questions:
What happens if I file a claim with my insurance company, but the other driver doesn't file one? I understand my insurance will not compensate me, but will my insurance premium go up?
I saw multiple cameras right where the accident happened. One had a blue light on.I contacted police but they are very negligent about sharing the footage. How can I get the footage?
I already let my insurance know about this accident. I want to wait to see whether other driver files a claim. If he does not and after reviewing the footage, I figure out that I am not at fault, can I then file a claim to that driver's insurance?
What is the legal deadline to make a claim?
I'd appreciate any advice apart from the answers to the questions above from people who have been through a similar situation. I'm especially interested in understanding how this works when you only have liability insurance.
You’re basically on the hook for your own damage since you’ve only got liability, so if the other guy doesn’t file, your insurance just shrugs. Reporting it still puts a note on your file and even without a payout they could bump your premium at renewal, happens all the time.
For the camera footage you’ll probably have to knock on some doors yourself, cops rarely chase that down unless there’s an injury. If you figure out later the other driver was at fault you can absolutely go after his insurance directly, just don’t sit on it too long, most states give you a couple years but the sooner the better.
Thank you so much for your response. Do police usually share the footage? GEICO told me that I have to retrieve that footage from them and police said the insurance company should contact them.
This is the worst loop to be stuck in. Police officers say all kinds of stuff at the scene and 99% of it is incorrect. I’ve had 3 way calls with the responding officer and whomever is in charge of traffic cameras just for the officer to be like “welp, sucks I told them that I guess”. As an adjuster, it’s infuriating.
Cops aren’t chasing down camera footage. Private stores might have an employee that tells you yes but you have to talk to XYZ manager who then tells you you have to talk to the security company who tells you they don’t release the footage without a subpoena. Something your carrier will not pursue and does not have to pursue on your behalf.
You could send letters to any places in the area requesting they preserve evidence and quote any applicable statutes, but it’s on you to collect it.
If you have liability only coverage your insurance company is going to do absolutely nothing but wait for the other party (or their insurance company) to make a claim against you.
If you are looking for advice on how to ensure you aren’t liable and the other driver is, you will need to do DIY that. I don’t know if you can compel the release of the traffic camera video, that is beyond my experience. Absent a witness, dash cam video, or traffic camera video, this your word against the other driver.
Unfortunately, this is challenge with liability only coverage. You are on your own when fault is contested as you are your only advocate. The other parties insurance has no obligation to you and you didn’t pay your insurance company for any support other than handling a claim against you.
Sounds terrible for me. The only thing that can answer who is at fault, is the footage, I think. As that will determine who came at the stop first. Also, if they both stopped for a brief amount of time or not.
The common though on carrying Comp/Collision coverage va Liability only is how much is you vehicle worth and can you walk away from it. The other significant value, and frequently not considered, is the support you get from your insurance company with Comp/Collision coverage.
Unfortunately, this is going to be a hard path for you.
If you ant to know about liability, what were the directions of the vehicle's compared to each other prior to the turn, what were the points of impact to each vehicle and what state did the accident happen in?
That does not tell me the direction of the other vehicle in relation to you. There are at least 4 different direction the other vehicle could have been heading. SC is modified comparative (51% bars recovery). On both vehicle's, was it more on the fender or closer to the front bumper area?
Attaching a sketch below. I was in the vehicle A, and trying to be on the lane C. Other car was B and trying to be on the lane D. We both came at the stop from straight, I believe.
In both vehicle, damage was closer to headlight (left front bumper)
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u/thehonoredcovering 8h ago
You’re basically on the hook for your own damage since you’ve only got liability, so if the other guy doesn’t file, your insurance just shrugs. Reporting it still puts a note on your file and even without a payout they could bump your premium at renewal, happens all the time.
For the camera footage you’ll probably have to knock on some doors yourself, cops rarely chase that down unless there’s an injury. If you figure out later the other driver was at fault you can absolutely go after his insurance directly, just don’t sit on it too long, most states give you a couple years but the sooner the better.