Aboutwebfoot Expertise Auto damage, liability, insurance fraud. I am a full time auto insurance adjuster with experience in collision, theft, liability and fraud investigation. I am also an ASE Master Auto Tech and I-Car Collision Platinum certified. My experience includes 15 years in the auto repair industry, a B.S. in Criminal Justice, Law enforcement and auto insurance.
****** NO "PRIVATE" QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED. I HAVE FOUND THAT NEARLY ALL PRIVATE QUESTIONS COME FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERING OR ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT FELONY INSURANCE FRAUD AND I'M NOT HERE TO HELP YOU! ******
I AM HERE TO ANSWER AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, CLAIMS PROCESS AND SOME SIMPLE LIABILITY QUESTIONS. I CANNOT ADDRESS COMPLEX LIABILITY SCENARIOS WITHOUT HAVING ALL OF THE INFO FROM BOTH SIDES IN FRONT OF ME.
QUESTIONS ABOUT PREMIUMS OR HOW INSURANCE IS RATED SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO YOUR PERSONAL INSURANCE AGENT WHO KNOWS A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT YOUR HISTORY THAN I DO. I'VE NEVER SOLD INSURANCE AND DO NOT KNOW IF YOUR INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE RATES WILL GO UP IF YOU MAKE A CLAIM.
THOUGH I'VE HANDLED SOME VERY MINOR SOFT TISSUE INJURY SETTLEMENTS, I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER INJURY RELATED QUESTIONS. I'M NO INJURY EXPERT AND I'LL LIKELY SAY SOMETHING TO HURT SOMEONE'S FEELINGS AS I BELIEVE THAT MANY SOFT TISSUE PAIN AND SUFFERING CLAIMS ARE OVER DRAMATIZED.
UNLIKE MANY OTHERS, I AM ON THIS FORUM AS A VOLUNTEER WITH NO PRODUCTS OR SERVICES TO SELL AND PROMISE AN UPFRONT ANSWER BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN BOTH SIDES OF THE INDUSTRY. IF YOU PROVIDE ME WITH A HONEST VERSION OF EVENTS, I PROMISE A CANDID AND HONEST ANSWER IN RETURN.
I CANNOT ADDRESS ALL CLAIM SCENERIOS DUE TO DIFFERING STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, BUT WILL DO MY BEST. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AN HONEST ANSWER MAY BE ONE THAT YOU DON'T LIKE SO IF THAT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, PLEASE DON'T ASK THE QUESTION.
LASTLY, I DO NOT ACCEPT RATINGS AS I DON'T DO THIS FOR RATINGS AND WISH TO SPEAK FREELY.
Experience 20 years in automotive industry, Currently in insurance claims, worked actively as technician and shop owner until about 10 years ago. Current ASE Master Auto Tech and I-Car Platinum Collision Certifications, B.S. Criminal Justice and 10 year auto insurance/extended warranty background
Question I am in Sacramento California. Real quick question..try to give you info so you can visualize this. I was driving on a one-way 3 lane street in the far LEFT lane. A Suburban in front of me slowed to parrallel park. He went in front end first because it was the last space at the corner of the alley way. When Suburban was done, I continued to drive by and as I was passing, they suddenly began to drive again and merge over and literally pushed up side by side against my driver side?! Then they immediately turned left into that alley driveway. Apparently they realized that they were not allowed to park there and decided to pull up and turn left into the alleyway. However, they did not check their mirrors/blindspot/look over their shoulder and they pulled up against me.
He begged me not to report to insurance, I did however. He told me plainly that he'd lie to his insurance company (state farm). He did. He stated that he drove forward to turn left into alley way and DID NOT GO OVER THE LINE INTO MY LANE. They denied my claim. Now we are going to court.
It is obvious that if you are in the far left PARKING lane, in a Suburban, that if you pull forward to attempt to turn immediately LEFT into an alley driveway, that you MUST pull out towards the RIGHT, away from the curb, then whip back to the left to drive in the alley way. If he literally pulled forward then immediately left WITHOUT going into my lane...his back tires would have driven over the sidewalk. Just not possible with that size and length of car. His insurance took his side...they like to save their money anyway.
I need someone who knows about cars, SUV's, size, lengths, and just general knowledge of technical measurements of driving this maneuver. I am even allowed to bring a VHS tape video. If someone has a comparable SUV, I'll video tape at the exact location on J street and see if they are able to turn left and NOT cross into the driving lane on their right side.
To me...it seems so logical and I just can't believe that he got away with lying!? I feel like the judge will believe me. However, this is my VERY FIRST, and hopefully LAST, experience with this. I have never been in an auto dispute and never been to court. I want to be prepared.
Please help! I can't let this guy get away with this!
Does this make sense? Do you have any thoughts at all on this?
Answer Honestly, if you tell the judge exactly what you've told me, I believe that you'll be fine. It makes perfect sense. A small claims court judge isn't going to let you take the time for a bunch of technical jargon that gets into vehicle length and geometry.
Good luck.
