Need advice about my wreck

Yea my wife was involved in an accident like that last summer, a car hit her car,then another car hit that car.
Well in NJ they divide fault by percentage, so the 3rd car that hit the second car in my wife’s accident paid the most, then the second car paid the rest. The funny thing is my insurance company told me it would be better for me to get it fixed through them, pay the 500 deductible, and then they will get my 500 from the other INS co.
They told me that you have more control on getting your car fixed if you use your ins. and if I went with the other guy's ins. they would nickel and dime every part of the repair.
Took 1 month and I got the 500 back.

 

OP, the best place for you to get advice is your insurance company.

If you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance will pay to fix your truck, but you will have to pay the deductable.

Your insurance company will go after the other driver for what they had to pay to you.

You should ask your insurance company if they will work to recover your deductable for you, or if you should go after the other driver in small claims court to recover your deductable directly.

 

I'm glad to hear about everyone's good experiences with USAA. I've had them since I started driving but fortunately never had to use them for anything other than a tow when my fuel pump went out.

Hope everything works out!

 

Figured I would send yall my convo with USAA....mind you I work nights so thats why I am emailing USAA for now. Im usually not mean but when it comes to my money, or lack there of, I can get mean...I will be calling them on Tuesday.



ME: Is there anyway you can check with SAPD about the accident. A police report was filed, and I provided the lady I first spoke with their with the case number. I believe that it should be covered because someone's wheel falling off is something they could prevent. Whether it was poor maintenance on their part or not. Wheel's don't just fall off without a reason.



USAA: Dear Airman Bowers,

A copy of the police report has been requested but it may be a few weeks before it becomes available for review.



We value your business and the opportunity to serve all your financial needs.

Thank you,
Julian Delgado
USAA

^I got the Police report the next day.

ME: I have a copy of the Police Report and faxed it in. The report states the person was not insured and had no license. So I want this to be covered under the Uninsured motorists part of my insurance. I can't afford the $500 deductible, and I need to get my truck ASAP because I am going on leave on the 15th to go see family.

USAA:
Dear Airman Bowers,


This claim falls under your comprehensive coverage not your uninsured motorist. The deductible is $500.



We value your business and the opportunity to serve all your financial needs.

Thank you,
Carmen Mejia
USAA

ME:
Read the police report and tell me that it is still covered under comprehensive coverage.

Your definition of Comprehensive coverage: is Covers damage caused by something OTHER than another VEHICLE such as hail, theft, or collision with an animal. Im pretty sure it wasn't hailing, no one was stealing my car while I was trying to drive, and a tire isn't an animal.
So Comprehensive coverage doesn't cover what happened.

Now for the definition of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Property Damage. Covers damage to your property resulting from an accident caused by an uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run motorist.

According to the police report, which I faxed in to you at 2303 1 July 2011, the person was UNINSURED. And there was damage to my property (my vehicle) resulting from an accident.

I have heard nothing but good things, from the Forum for my Vehicle (Tacoma World) about USAA and how you would help me out. But obviously that isn't being done here because you expect me to pay a $500 deductible on a coverage that has nothing to do with my accident. And who in their right mind thinks that an E3 in the military can afford that much? It is basically my whole check.

Now the next time I get a reply I want it to be from someone that can help me out instead of telling me the same thing over and over again. I would call in but I work nights and I don't have time during the day when I need to sleep. Plus when I do call when Im off I always get the voicemail.

If you valued my business and the oppurtunity to serve my financial needs you would understand and assist me.

Thank You,
Blaine Bowers
USAF

 

I work in insurance claims, not for USAA , but I deal with them a lot, and like us we are on the phone all the time, so you will get voicemail when you call in...as easy as emails seems , its harder sometimes to communicate....its just easier over the phone to answer questions....when you call in and get your reps voicemail..just press zero and you will be directed to an available rep...this is what I do whenever I call them....someone on your reps team, will answer any and all questions you have.....just make sure you have UMPD and not just UM coverage (UM just applies if you were injured)...a lot of states don't even offer UMPD....and also she is not lying when she said it will take a few weeks for her to get the report....it takes us a lot longer to get the report because police departments will not mail it back to us until they receive a check from us for it....but you being involved in the accident get it much quicker.......just zero out and let them know you can fax it again to them if they did not get it ....if you do have UMPD I think they would waive the deductible..in the state I handle claims in we do not have UMPD so I am not very familiar with it....

 

Not a bad reply, I can certainly understand your frustration but I might have lightened up a little. Most likely this is a misunderstanding on the rep's end. You should have also mentioned the number of military and USAA clients (me for one) on this forum. IF it turns out they want you to pay a deductable, call them. I understand you work nights but it would be worth your time to stay up a little later or get up a little earlier to make an actual call. If they are open any time you are on duty, talk to one of your NCO's (or whatever the AF calls them). Explain to them your situation (should have already told them if you havent yet) and ask for time to call them. They should give you the time, I would. Just remember, you can still be direct w/out yelling or swearing. Getting upset on the phone will only make them less likely to deal with you. Don't let them walk on you, but be firm, calm, and direct on what you expect and want to happen. Again from my perspective and any other sane person, this sounds like it should fall under uninsured motorist.

FYI- For others out there with USAA if you didnt already know, let them know when you get promoted- it lowers your rates, same idea as age.

 

Thanks for your insite thats why I created this thread, cause im young and still unsure of things.... I do have UMPD, my deductible would be $250. Something I could pay....

awesome...yeah i did tell my NCO and USAA is never open during the time that I work, but your right I need to stay up and deal with it over the phone. I just can't pay that much money, especially when I'm on my own and have no one to help me. I wasn't trying to be mean to them but I needed to try and get my point across in the email. I will call them on Tuesday cause I will be off and they should be open.

and about the promotion thing, thats awesome I didn't know that. rep to both of you

 

My mom used to work at usaa here in sa. In her opinion it is best if you talk to them rather then email back and forward. This is so they have whatever you have to say (your testimony) on tape in case it goes to court since it seems like they will go after the driver of the other vehicle. Another suggestion would be to scan your police report for your own digital copy (you also keep it in paper) and forward the scan to usaa.

 

I hate to sound critical, but if you can't afford the $500 deductible, then why did you choose to purchase a policy with a $500 deductible?

I'm also wondering about the distinction here...your truck wasn't hit by a car, it was hit by a wheel and tire that was once part of a car. Further damage was then caused by the loss of control and resulting wreck. If USAA doesn't change their determination and chooses to consider this a comprehensive claim, you might need to get an attorney involved if you want to press the issue. Perhaps you have access to cheap/free representation through the military?

 

Hey belive me, we have all been there. All of us (especially enlisted) started at the bottom of the pile.

JKD- You would be suprised. When I first joined I had a car payment and insurance to pay. Any deductable less then 500 raised the insurance too much. But having an extra 500 to pull out of pocket for a deducable last minute was too expensive. My vehicle wouldve had to sit for a couple months so I could save up had something happened. Military makes decent money once you start getting to the mid level, but starting out at the bottom can be ruff.

 

That is right...I had the 500 dollar deductible because it made my insurance cheaper. I was an E1 for 6 months before I put on E3 so it seemed to be the logical thing to do at the time. Now I have changed it to the 250 deductible.

Yeah im sure I do but we shall see what happens on Tuesday when I call them.

 

Latest Update....

Dear Airman Bowers,

Based on the police report you have submitted, we have potential Subrogation against the party responsible.

Although your claim at this time does not meet the criteria needed to file this claim under Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD), we are able to file this claim under your Collision Coverage which carries a $500 Deductible.

We will investigate if there is any insurance for the vehicle in question, we must also submit mailed correspondence to both the owner and the driver of the Toyota Camry.

If our investigation yields no insurance information for the other vehicle in question we may review your claim to determine if UMPD applies.

I will let you know the moment there is any change in your deductible amount.

We value your business and the opportunity to serve all your financial needs.

Thank you,
Julian Delgado
USAA





I called them today and left a message to call me back but never called me back. then checked my email and got this.. SO. they are gonna make me pay the 500 then if it does go under UPMD then ill get reimbursed the 250?? Thats what I think...but I still don't have the 500.....the collision center is waiting on the tire, rim, and stabilizer. So who knows how much longer....when i bought the stabilizer kit it took Fabtech 4 weeks to get me them so i'm hoping its not gonna take that long becasuse I go on leave the 15th and was planning on driving up to Kansas City to see my Mom...she has cancer and I haven't seen her since I graduated Basic Training in 09. But anyway I had money for that but will most likely be paying for my truck.

 

Just ideas here...perhaps obtain a credit card to use to pay for the deductible amount? Or ask the shop if they could hold off on $500 worth of work?

To see your Mom...I know the military lets (or at least used to let) dependents and support staff fly on military flights standby. Any chance you could catch a flight to KC?

 

I could try and catch a flight on standby...not sure how to try to do that though...the only thing left on the truck to fix is my tire rim and stabilizer....the three most important things lol....and honestly I dont want to get another credit card....I have one and still paying it and have two school loans, and my truck loan....I need to stay out of debt as much as possible...

 

what were you keeping receipts from? cause i didn't have rental insurance but got a rental for 3 days...should i keep the receipt...??