Expert: Richard Hixenbaugh - 3/29/2010

Question
Hello,

I was traveling on a road where two lanes merged into one.  I looked in my rear view mirror to be sure no one was in the other lane and proceeded.  There were 4 crotch rockets about 1/4 mile behind me.  Suddenly there was this bright green color right next to me on the drivers side.  I swerved to avoid hitting the bike, he was so close I could have reached out and touched him.  When I swerved I hit the curb very hard.  My car is now making a sound like something is rubbing.  Since he of course kept going, I didn't have time to try to get the information from his license plate.  I pulled over to be sure my tire wasn't flat because that is what it sounded like.  Am I allowed to make a claim if the other driver left the scene.  If the cost isn't too much, I'll cover it out of pocket, but if the car needs to be aligned, it can be quite costly.  Any advice?

Answer
Hi Victoria,

Yes you can file a claim on your collision coverage. Before you file the claim you should go to a mechanic that you trust to have him diagnose the problem and give an estimate of the cost of repairs. Then you can decide if you want to pay out of pocket or file a claim. Remember, before you file a claim the cost of repairs should be at least double the amount of your deductible. Any less than that and it would not be worth filing the claim.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh