A Short Rant...

[Oiluj]

Two months ago, a guy rear-ended my Subaru while texting. I was stopped at a stoplight. Got my car fixed, but am still waiting for reimbursement of my deductible.

His insurance, (Farmers), denied the claim and it's going to mediation. I have a witness, (my car pool rider), but since she was in my car, they don't consider her a viable witness! It may be months before know if my deductible will be reimbursed.

Then today my wife's SC300 was hit & run in a grocery store parking lot by a truck or SUV. Significant damage to upper, right rear quarter panel and part of passenger door. No witnesses, no note and the culprit just drove off...

It really ticks me off that people, and even insurance companies can't take responsibility!

Think I need to take the Z for a drive this weekend to restore my normally sunny disposition...

[siteunseen]

Farmers will spend more to get out of paying than what the actual claim is, they're terrible.

[240260280z]

Crime, punishment, policing, integrity, values, education, motivation, honesty, beliefs have all degenerated very quickly in the last 20 years. It is not just insurance that has gone this way...everything has.

[FastWoman]

This is nothing new, except for the texting. People have always been crappy:

VW bug backed into the door of my '75 Z with new paint job, ca 1983. Drove off as I ran after it.

Super-drunk guy rear-ended my Saturn hard in '97. We agreed to exchange info in parking lot. He drove off into the night on a flat tire, left rear rim sparking in the darkness the whole way. I reported the plate to the police, and they hauled him in. The idiot was wearing shirt with Michelangelo's "The Spark of Life," captioned "Pull my finger." He had no license, but he had insurance, which seemed fortunate, because I had an injured passenger. Insurance company wouldn't pay -- had to sue them. Still couldn't collect when judgment came down against them.

I'm one of those weird people who will leave a note. My dad was another such weird person, and I guess I learned it from him. I think we both had occasion to leave a sheepish note during our lifetimes, to the astonishment of those around us who urged us not to.

I've also helpfully left notes for other people with my contact info and plate numbers of the offending parties, and nobody could ever seem to understand why I would want to get involved. I've never been called for having done this. Nobody cares. I guess the insurance company pays anyway. Dunno.

Joke I heard back in the 1980's: "Dear owner, NICE Cadillac! Kudos! I'm so sorry to have hit it. There's a crowd of people standing around, glaring at me, expecting me to leave a note for you, which I'm doing now. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck replacing your door and fender. It truly was an awesome looking car! Well, I'd better leave now, before any cops show up. I wouldn't want my insurance rates to go up."

I wish you the best of luck with your ride. Anymore, it seems to be more of an exercise in dodging texting drivers who drift into my lane (sometimes head-on), and less of a pleasurable thing. THAT part has changed, and I wonder how much longer until my Z gets clobbered!

[Bruce Palmer]

I've heard too many "Farmers" stories over the years. Good luck.

[RevS30]

Sorry to hear that, I've had similar experiences with AAA trying to dog me out I my deductible. I had someone run an intersection and smash the rear passenger quarter of my Scion XB around a year ago and the insurence company tried to pull the whole you both are at fault story to get the deductible. After fighting with them a few months and getting the car fixed they ruled us not at fault and still wouldn't return our deductible. Been fighting with them to this day about it. Bunch of crooks running around nowadays. I always leave notes or exchange info, I figure life's easier manning up to your mistakes/wrong doings.

[Oiluj]

Thanks for all the understanding. It does make me feel better!

Like FastWoman, I can't imagine not acting responsibly and leaving a note with my contact info. Guess I'm a bit of an anachronism,,,

I can only hope "karma" catches-up with the person who hit and ran our car. I filed a police report and will file a second claim in two months with CSAA, and will be out another $500.

RevS30, I feel your pain. I've been with CSAA for over 40 years, and it seems they really aren't working in my interest, despite my excellent driving record. In late 2015, (once a year has passed with no claims), I plan to send a message with my dollars. If another provider can give me the same coverage for a similar price, I'll probably change insurers.

Going to drive the Z tomorrow down to the marina for some boat time, which will further place things back into proper perspective!

[jfa.series1]

Julio - consider filing a small claims court action against the other driver. Getting a judgment against him is no guarantee of getting your deductible back, but having it on his record might just cause him enough grief to pay you back and clear it. Most small claims courts do not involve attorneys so major costs are avoided.

[Oiluj]

Jim, thanks for the good advice. My case goes up for insurance arbitration in July. CSAA thinks they will win, given I have the guy's insurance and agent contact info. (to quote the CSAA agent: "If he didn't give it to me, how else would you have it?"). If the decision goes against me, small claims may well be a good option.

Of course, I'm out the deductible for the hit and run in any case, but that's expected.

Thanks!

Julio

[Carl Beck]

The number of drivers - operating a car illegally has increased over the years. No Drivers License, No Insurance, Drunk or otherwise impaired, Not driving cars they own etc. So when something happens - they run.

Sorry it happened to you..

Carl B.