I was in an accident and reported it to my insurance thinking everything was being handled. Last week, I got a call saying the other driver is suing through my insurance, which feels like they’re suing me directly. They also asked if I have other car insurance and said I’m legally obligated to share that info.
What’s this about? My policy covers $25k for personal injury and $25k for property damage. I thought that would be enough, but now I’m wondering if they’re trying to get more than what’s fair.
It sounds like you might be misunderstanding your policy limits. They don’t add together. What does your policy specifically say?
$25k is very low coverage, and if their damages exceed that, they’re probably coming after the difference. Let your insurance deal with it and hope they can resolve this.
This happens when your insurance and the other party can’t reach an agreement. Their claim could be valid or just trying to push for more money. Either way, you need to cooperate with your insurer and let them handle it.
Going forward, consider raising your limits. $25k doesn’t go far with today’s medical and repair costs; it’s more like the bare minimum to comply with legal requirements.
Hollis said: @Adair
Wait, you have two separate policies for your cars?
Yeah, each car has its own insurance because it was cheaper to keep them separate than bundle them.
The other car’s policy won’t apply here. Coverage only applies to the car involved in the accident. So only the limits on that car matter for this case.
@Valor
Ah, I see now. Thanks for clearing that up. The insurance rep I spoke to made it sound like everything was combined. It’s frustrating because their car isn’t worth much, and there were no injuries. Feels like they’re just trying to cash in.
Valor said: @Adair
If there were no injuries, why would they sue? Something’s missing here.
That’s what I don’t get either. Maybe it’s just for property damage?
Sometimes injuries aren’t obvious at first. They might have gone to the hospital and now claim things like whiplash or other injuries. People do this all the time to get extra money. I’ve seen cases where the payout for injuries ended up way higher than expected.
Hollis said: @Adair
Wait, you have two separate policies for your cars?
Yeah, each car has its own insurance because it was cheaper to keep them separate than bundle them.
I work in insurance. Call your claim department and ask if your policy limits were exceeded. If not, you’re fine; they’ll handle it. If your limits were exceeded, you might have to cover the extra yourself. Be prepared for that possibility and consult a lawyer if needed.