Comments on: Hit and Run: Had to Use Our Uninsured Motorist Coverage http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/ Family, Marriage, Finances & Life Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim ~ mydebtblog.com http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18537 Jim ~ mydebtblog.com Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:26:28 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18537 I think it's shameful that people do this to others and drive away. It's one thing when you accidentally bump a car with your door as long as there's no dent. Hit and run can land people in bigger trouble than the expense of having to use their insurance to cover the damage they did. In my building's parking garage every now and then someone got bumped into or swiped. The worst I saw was someone put a note on their door asking if they knew who hit them. We don't have a camera system in the parking garage so there's no way to know who or when things happen. My wife's car got broken into and they stole a bunch of stuff, left the car though. Called the insurance company and my loss were equal to the deductible, so I wouldn't get anything back. What good is insurance at that point? Something happened to us and we don't get a dime from anyone. There had been a crime spree in the area her car broken into, 17 cars in all, and I bet everyone had to eat the cost of the things they stole. I think it’s shameful that people do this to others and drive away. It’s one thing when you accidentally bump a car with your door as long as there’s no dent. Hit and run can land people in bigger trouble than the expense of having to use their insurance to cover the damage they did. In my building’s parking garage every now and then someone got bumped into or swiped. The worst I saw was someone put a note on their door asking if they knew who hit them. We don’t have a camera system in the parking garage so there’s no way to know who or when things happen.

My wife’s car got broken into and they stole a bunch of stuff, left the car though. Called the insurance company and my loss were equal to the deductible, so I wouldn’t get anything back. What good is insurance at that point? Something happened to us and we don’t get a dime from anyone. There had been a crime spree in the area her car broken into, 17 cars in all, and I bet everyone had to eat the cost of the things they stole.

]]> By: Clever Dude http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18409 Clever Dude Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:57:31 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18409 Tim, I understand your suggestions, but in my case, I'd rather just pay the $200 than have to hassle with the security office of that parking garage. The area is over 23 miles away from my home, and it already takes me over an hour to get there and I don't want to spend any more time there than I need. It's not at my worksite, so I'd have to take time off from work to walk about a half-mile away and deal with it. It's all relative though. I know $200 to me is different than $200 to someone else. Regarding the $500 vs $1000 deductible, I've run the numbers with my agent and it's just not worth changing the deductible. It's only a very marginal decrease in the premium (under $10 per 6 months), and considering my frequency of accidents (they're definitely reducing drastically though. It's been almost 3 years since the last one), I've more than made up for the cost of the lower deductible. But then again, each insurance carrier is different, and even the costs within the same one. I plan on shopping around this April when my last accident is 3 years old. Tim, I understand your suggestions, but in my case, I’d rather just pay the $200 than have to hassle with the security office of that parking garage. The area is over 23 miles away from my home, and it already takes me over an hour to get there and I don’t want to spend any more time there than I need. It’s not at my worksite, so I’d have to take time off from work to walk about a half-mile away and deal with it. It’s all relative though. I know $200 to me is different than $200 to someone else.

Regarding the $500 vs $1000 deductible, I’ve run the numbers with my agent and it’s just not worth changing the deductible. It’s only a very marginal decrease in the premium (under $10 per 6 months), and considering my frequency of accidents (they’re definitely reducing drastically though. It’s been almost 3 years since the last one), I’ve more than made up for the cost of the lower deductible. But then again, each insurance carrier is different, and even the costs within the same one.

I plan on shopping around this April when my last accident is 3 years old.

]]> By: Tim http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18408 Tim Sat, 19 Jan 2008 12:06:13 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18408 Clever Dude, yes but it still means having to pay the deductible. If the choice was going to the garage to review the tape and having to pay a high deductible, then I guess I would go get the tape. moreover, if the cost of repair is less than the deductible, then it doesn't pay to report it to the insurance company. if it is cosmetic, then does it pay to have it fixed? just some thoughts on saving money since this is a pf blog. with this said, is your insurance worth paying higher premium for a $500 deductible vice a $1000 deductibles? is it possible to increase UM deductible? just some more thoughts about lowering your insurance premium if you are sticking with allstate. Clever Dude, yes but it still means having to pay the deductible. If the choice was going to the garage to review the tape and having to pay a high deductible, then I guess I would go get the tape. moreover, if the cost of repair is less than the deductible, then it doesn’t pay to report it to the insurance company. if it is cosmetic, then does it pay to have it fixed? just some thoughts on saving money since this is a pf blog.

with this said, is your insurance worth paying higher premium for a $500 deductible vice a $1000 deductibles? is it possible to increase UM deductible? just some more thoughts about lowering your insurance premium if you are sticking with allstate.

]]> By: Clever Dude http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18391 Clever Dude Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:32:44 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18391 Tim, since Allstate is just taking care of it, I won't have to. I did ask whether I needed to get the exact address of the parking garage or the spot I was in, but they said they would take my word for it. Tim, since Allstate is just taking care of it, I won’t have to. I did ask whether I needed to get the exact address of the parking garage or the spot I was in, but they said they would take my word for it.

]]> By: Tim http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18389 Tim Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:12:51 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18389 you could contact the garage operator to either review the security tape or get a copy of the security tape. you could contact the garage operator to either review the security tape or get a copy of the security tape.

]]> By: Frugal Dad http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18313 Frugal Dad Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:56:00 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18313 Someone threw a brick through my window once while it was parked on the street. Though not quite as maddening as being swiped, I was pretty disgusted by it. Cowards did it in the middle of the night. Someone threw a brick through my window once while it was parked on the street. Though not quite as maddening as being swiped, I was pretty disgusted by it. Cowards did it in the middle of the night.

]]> By: Rob http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18301 Rob Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:26:49 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18301 I ran into this (no pun intended) situation recently too. Except for my wife and I were on the freeway and got tangled up in an accident. To make it short, someone in front of me swerved to avoid an accident and I couldn't brake in time. The odd thing was that the guy who cut me off (and I consequently hit) took off like a bat out of hell. My only guess is that he didn't have a license or insurance. In any event, when I filed the accident with my insurance (State Farm), they told me not to worry and said they would settle it under "Uninsured Motorist". It was the first time I had ever used that. All I can say is that it worked great in our situation. I realize that I might pay a little more for State Farm, but I've been really happy with them. And another benefit that I like about SF around this time of year is the fact that they provide free tax filing through TurboTax online. I ran into this (no pun intended) situation recently too. Except for my wife and I were on the freeway and got tangled up in an accident.

To make it short, someone in front of me swerved to avoid an accident and I couldn’t brake in time. The odd thing was that the guy who cut me off (and I consequently hit) took off like a bat out of hell. My only guess is that he didn’t have a license or insurance. In any event, when I filed the accident with my insurance (State Farm), they told me not to worry and said they would settle it under “Uninsured Motorist”. It was the first time I had ever used that. All I can say is that it worked great in our situation.

I realize that I might pay a little more for State Farm, but I’ve been really happy with them. And another benefit that I like about SF around this time of year is the fact that they provide free tax filing through TurboTax online.

]]> By: Money Blue Book http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/comment-page-1/#comment-18297 Money Blue Book Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:25:55 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/content/hit-and-run-had-to-use-our-uninsured-motorist-coverage/#comment-18297 My comprehensive coverage deductible with GEICO is high so I never get covered for random nicks and dings. I guess I'm willing to risk minor incidents My comprehensive coverage deductible with GEICO is high so I never get covered for random nicks and dings. I guess I’m willing to risk minor incidents

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