Got into fender bender. Went to reporting station under insurance companies advice. Now insurance company finds me at fault. I disagree. What can I do? Note that police do not find fault or charge anyone when you go to reporting station. I had asked them to come to scene but they refused.
Fighting insurance company
- Thread starter Big Rig
- Start date
"No fault" means repairs are paid regardless of fault. But the insurance company will still assign fault for the accident. If you caused the accident (are at fault for it) your rates could go up
Hmm.
Sounds like the insurance company used you to raise your own rates.
Its in their interest for you to report fender benders.
Sounds like the insurance company used you to raise your own rates.
Its in their interest for you to report fender benders.
By saying a "fender bender", did you rear end another vehicle by chance?
If you did, then in the eyes of the police and the insurance industry, you are indeed "at fault".
What exactly happened?
There are very specific rules to determine fault in insurance matters (and also remember that fault determined by police can be different from fault determined by the insurance co., they are two separate things). Google "fault determination rules ontario", it gives you drawings of various different accident scenarios, find the one that best matches your scenario and whatever the chart says is what the insurance company will use to assess fault. Very rare that Ins co will stray from these rules
My car had been parked in a legal spot in a parking lot for a couple of hours by a recycling truck on the job. The driver reported it to an employee while I was inside. In no possible way could I be considered to have had any fault assessed to me. It still took about 3 weeks for the insurance company to determine that I was in the clear.
To add to what slider is saying, the police really only assess fault when there has been an injury in an accident or ones where there is a high damage value, which usually has injured parties. If there are no injuries you go to a reporting center. The reporting center is just that, a place where accidents are reported, so that you now have information of such to take to your insurance company in order to process a claim. It is at this point that the insurance company looks at the particulars and can then therefore determine if there is fault to be found on your part, regardless of "no fault" insurance, insurance companies still assess fault on your part or the other party in the accident. Another classification can be weather related. This helps them in adjusting rates for their customers, as they see who is a good driver and who is not so good to the bad spectrum.
This ^^^
All the more reason to install a dash cam. A few hundred bucks could save you thousands in the long run. Think of it as cheap insurance!
If there is any doubt as to who caused the accident, then both parties are at fault, and both parties' insurance rates are subject to be revised.
I had a recent accident in Peel region. The police will show up if either of the cars cannot be safely driven. The other person wanted to take off, but they had a busted radiator. A police report in your favour does influence how the insurance company will treat your claim.
Get a dashcam. Cop like dashcam videos, as it makes their investigations much easier. Or at least take pictures with your cell phone.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Challenge! Challenge! Challenge!
Time is money! The adjuster is under pressure to close the file. If you challenge and fight them at every turn, they will give in or at least give you a lessor % of fault.
Challenge! Challenge! Challenge!
Time is money! The adjuster is under pressure to close the file. If you challenge and fight them at every turn, they will give in or at least give you a lessor % of fault.
Yeah, they need a patsy. My most frustrating accident was caused when a construction flagman waved me into the path of an on coming car. Of course him and his buddies were blameless.
Always running when car is running, records onto a SD memory card, continuously overwrites.
Just make sure to throw it away if you cause the accident, lol.
Not quite...
No fault just means your insurance company pays for your repairs. Then they will assign a percentage of fault. Anywhere from 0 to 100 percent. (Usually in multiples of 25%.
I believe they then go after the other guy's insurance (depending on the percentage he is at fault.)
Big Rig - demand that your insurance company show you a copy of the police report. In all likely hood they never even requested a copy. Then ask how they can determine how you are at fault without even seeing the report.
My old insurance co scammed me after I was cut off by a courier. He came into my lane and hit my front quarter panel. The agent even lied to me and said the police report said I was at fault. Later on when I requested a copy, I found out it was never even ordered. They had to refund the deductible with interest.
No doubt that lots of people are trying to scam the insurance cos but now it seems like they are turning around and scamming their customers as well.
Make sure you record all the calls and let them know the calls are being recorded. You should also take pics and video of the accident scene when possible. If all else fails ask for the ombudsman.
My old insurance co scammed me after I was cut off by a courier. He came into my lane and hit my front quarter panel. The agent even lied to me and said the police report said I was at fault. Later on when I requested a copy, I found out it was never even ordered. They had to refund the deductible with interest.
No doubt that lots of people are trying to scam the insurance cos but now it seems like they are turning around and scamming their customers as well.
Make sure you record all the calls and let them know the calls are being recorded. You should also take pics and video of the accident scene when possible. If all else fails ask for the ombudsman.
Because this is your conversation, this isn't necessary. All you need is one party consent...your own.
