mollyanna58
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 5, 2011 13:20:45 GMT -5
Posts: 6,717
|
Post by mollyanna58 on May 27, 2013 17:26:20 GMT -5
"No fault" in NJ (and many other states) refers to the medical portion of the policy, Personal Injury Protection. It means that your own policy pays for your medical bills no matter who is at fault in the accident. You don't have to sue anyone to get your medical bills paid.
It does not mean that if you rear-end the car in front of you because you weren't paying attention that the accident is not your fault.
|
|
hoops902
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 13:21:29 GMT -5
Posts: 11,978
|
Post by hoops902 on May 28, 2013 16:27:40 GMT -5
It may depend on the state, but considering the place she hit you you were already well into the backing up phase and she should have seen you. Considering the place she was hit, it's also possible the other driver started backing up first and was nearly complete when OP started backing up and it's OPs fault. It's really hard to figure out who's at fault just by who hit who where.
|
|
Phoenix84
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 17, 2011 21:42:35 GMT -5
Posts: 10,056
|
Post by Phoenix84 on May 28, 2013 16:32:50 GMT -5
"Phoenix may have been concentrating on what was behind his car missing the threats on the side of his car."
That is exactly what happened. I was looking out my back window and not paying attention to my sides, as I always do when I back out. It's an old habit my driver's ed teacher drilled into me "always look in the direction the car is going."
Just FYI, I do live in a at fault state.
|
|
Phoenix84
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 17, 2011 21:42:35 GMT -5
Posts: 10,056
|
Post by Phoenix84 on May 28, 2013 16:36:49 GMT -5
"Any new news about your situation Phoenix?"
No. The accident happened just before I left on travel for work followed by a week and a half vacation. I can't do much until I get back. I've been making a few calls here and there and you know what I know. I plan on calling the insurance company later this week to officially make the claim.
|
|
beergut
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 11, 2011 13:58:39 GMT -5
Posts: 2,184
|
Post by beergut on May 28, 2013 19:36:48 GMT -5
The problem with taking someone at their word when they say they are at fault and will pay to avoid involving insurance is that they are just trying to get away from the situation. Once they go home, even if they are being completely honest with you when the accident happens, they can always have someone tell them they aren't at fault, it wasn't their fault, etc.
Why are you waiting to file a claim? Call and file NOW before you forget the details.
The only way to be certain when someone says they are at fault and will pay for everything is to video it on camera on your phone.
|
|
motherto2
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 15:42:27 GMT -5
Posts: 1,719
|
Post by motherto2 on May 28, 2013 21:03:11 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about the fender bender. Car insurance is a huge bee in my bonnet. 3 years ago when Northern VA was having "Snowmaggeden" DS had parked next to one of the huge ice sculptures the plows put in the parking lots. She was backing out of her spot and a guy came by in the through lane in a fancy car and her back bumper scraped along the side of his car. My personal opinion (not just because it's my insurance ) but he was driving way too fast for the icy conditions. No tickets issued, but our insurance paid. And her rate (along with all the other cars I have on the policy) went up. Her accident just fell off in time for my DS to get the rates jacked up with a speeding ticket. What gets me is that the insurance on all of our vehicles go up, not just the vehicle they are assigned to. I have USAA and they are supposed to be the cream of the crop, but I absolutely can't stand them. Her accident and his ticket are the only things we've ever had on our records (well, I lie - I had a speeding ticket when I was 22, and that is because I was the one being passed so by the time the cop turned around and came back I was the only car still around). What kills me the most is when DD left to deploy and I put her insurance on hold, they gave a whopping $10/month off of HER insurance, not all of the cars. And since DS is gone doing his Marine training, it's pretty unlikely 4 out of 4 vehicles that I have in my driveway will be in an accident any time soon. Just sayin.... Sorry, I rant ALOT when insurance comes up
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 4:15:44 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 31, 2013 10:49:01 GMT -5
I had an at fault accident (no police, I knew the other driver...embarrassing!). A few thousand to fix my car, a few thousand to fix his. My insurance went up by 400/year....
|
|
Phoenix84
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 17, 2011 21:42:35 GMT -5
Posts: 10,056
|
Post by Phoenix84 on May 31, 2013 11:00:24 GMT -5
Well, just an update if anyone cares.
I phoned in the accident yesterday to their insurance company, not mine. They took down my info and will be in touch.
|
|
alabamagal
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:30:29 GMT -5
Posts: 8,146
|
Post by alabamagal on May 31, 2013 14:39:56 GMT -5
This has nothing to do with the OP, but if you guys have high deductibles, you might check your rates. It was less than $10 a month difference between $250 deductible and a $1000 deductible for collision when I got insurance on my new (to me) car. The difference on mine is $20 more per vehicle to reduce deductible from $1000 to $250. I have 3 cars with collision/comprehensive so it is $60 per month, or $720 per year. I have 5 cars on my insurance. I have 3 teen/early 20s on my policy. Despite having gone through 3 teenagers learning to drive, we have only had one accident where the deductible was in effect in the last 10 years. It was when I hit my sons car. Damage was $800, so it was under the deductible. If we had $250 deductible, it would have saved me $550. So spending $720 a year to save $550 for one incident in 10 years doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We also have 2 vehicles with no collision coverage. One vehicle is only worth $2000 and my truck blue book is $3000 (just dropped coverage this week). We will probably drop it on one sons car soon (value $2k) and maybe soon on my other son's (worth $4k). Of course I may have jinxed myself about the low number of accidents.
|
|
toomuchreality
Senior Associate
Joined: Sept 3, 2011 10:28:25 GMT -5
Posts: 16,861
Favorite Drink: Sometimes I drink water... just to surprise my liver!
|
Post by toomuchreality on Jun 3, 2013 4:30:48 GMT -5
Well, just an update if anyone cares. I phoned in the accident yesterday to their insurance company, not mine. They took down my info and will be in touch. I'm glad you did this. Best of luck! I hope it all goes well for you, and without a lot of stress or hassle. Thanks for the update. Keep us posted!
|
|