You are here:
- Home
- Autos
- Auto Insurance
- Auto Insurance Claims
- My car was stolen
Auto Insurance Claims/My car was stolen
Advertisement
Question
My car was stolen about a week ago, and I got a rental vehicle for about 8 days already. I just got a call from a special investigation unit rep saying that my claim was sent to his dept, and my rental would only be covered until today. The guy said that when a claim is sent to his dept they stop the rental coverage & if my claim is paid then I can get reimburse if I got a rental & paid on my own. Can the insurance company do that? I understand that they will reimburse me, but what is the sense of me paying for rental coverage? I need a rental now and need them to pay for it, not reimburse later on. I'm still responsible for paying for my car until recovered or 'till the claim is paid out if they do not recover it. Please help...
Hi,
Bad news--If they are investigating the theft, chances are almost 100% that they intend on denying the claim. You can do nothing until you are denied. Sometimes this process can take months.
The insurance investigators are investigating the theft not to find out who stole it, but how they can build a case against you.
The concept is becauuse you have a factory anti-theft system, your car can't be stolen and you must have something to do with the theft.
They will hire some "Independent" forensic locksmith Hack that will state your car was last operated by what is inferred to be one of your keys.
Keep in mind, the truth is not on your side. You can tell them all the ways your car can be stolen, but it falls on deaf ears.
To my knowledge, I am the only national expert that opposes the hacks quite successfully working with the attorney.
You are by no means the only person going through this. I deal with this on a daily basis across the US and Canada. Stopped keeping track of prevailing cases after a 100. The firm's record of being on the prevailing side because of the detail is 100-5, although in reality much higher. In the last two years alone, our side has prevailed against the insurance companies over 20 times.
This is not bragging. It's fact!
In order for you to learn more about what is happening to you go to http://www.autotheftexpert.com
Rob
Related Articles
- Car Insurance for Women - How to Buy an Insurance Friendly Car
- Do I Have Insurance Coverage for a Rental Car after a Car Accident?
- Do I Have Insurance Coverage for a Rental Car after a Car Accident?
- Do You Need to Rent a Car? - Family Guide to Disneyland
- Renting a Car - How to Save Money when Renting a Car
Answers by Expert:
Rob Painter, Ase, CFEI, CAFATE
Expertise
Please remember. I am not an attorney and cannot legal advice. My answers are based on my experience due to litigation I have been involved in as an expert, for both insurance companies and while oposing them opposing them. I deal with only comprehensive claims on autos related to fire and theft. I have even had the opportunity to rewrite policy coverage language as it relates to vehicle theft and forced entry for insurance defense attorneys.
Experience
Experience in the area: Working with insurance companies and attorneys on these issues for over 20 years. It is very common to have a reported stolen car with a so-called factory anti-theft system to have the theft claim denied. I have served successfully as an expert witness in the courts across the US representing the insured and their attorney revealing that the insurance expert did not take all known theories into consideration before rendering their "Forensic" conclusion. Many insurance carriers us independent "Forensic" experts to examine reported stolen vehicles commonly using flawed methodology implicating the innocent insured with the theft. My job is to determine if the insurance expert reached his conclusions based on accepted scientific principals or just net opinion with no basis other than opinion. My case record against such experts is very compelling.My resume can be seen at the catagory "Auto Theft and Prevention." In "Forensics" the scientific method must be employed. In the forensic locksmith field determining how a reported stolen vehicle was last operated, many processes cannot be duplicated and are conveniently not addressed. If they were, juries would have the opportunity to make a fair and impartial opinion at least about what the expert could or could not prove. There is a purported process determining the last key used. The chances of determining such is very rare uless the key is found in the ignition lock. Experts commonly destroy evidence as well and are rarely questioned on this event. I reveal the weakness in their testimony on such instances.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.