Auto Insurance Claims/I hate cars!

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Expert: - 5/7/2009


Question
My financed car was legally park on the street in small town Washington. My car was involved in a hit a run in the middle of the night! unknown to me my issuance had lapsed and so had the grace period! I heard somewhere that car dealerships and/or financial institutions carry car insurance on top of the insurance they require us to carry?  I know I messed up and I need to find a solution. I REALLY want to find a way top get my car fixed ASAP! Thank you so much and please don't think I am a total idiot! I know "no car insurance means no car insurance" :)

Answer
Hi Nattie,

I hate cars too--lol I knew I should have listened to my dad. He had a used car lot and a gas station for 30 years and told me to stay away. What did he know? LOL

You may want to call your lien holder and see if in fact they were carrying comp and collision on the car to protect their interests. Probably not, but the only way you will know is by contacting them.

Rob

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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.

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