Expert: Doctor Settlement - 10/6/2007

Question
Greetings,
Today I was minding my own business driving in my lane, I noticed a car in the far lane to my right. We were on a 4 lane highway, I was in the far left,I was coming up on an exit and just as I passed the exit I was hit by the auto that was in previously in the far right lane.
The police were called, no report was filed even though the other car was disabled. My vechile sustained major door, and fender damages to the right side starting with the front tire and ending behind the rear tire.
I drive a trooper that has big tires, the other vechile was a 98 Sonata.
We exchanged information, I had a couple of things to take care, and I recieved a call from my friend who owns the car that the other party is trying to make a claim.
The statement to the insurance company was I came out of my lane and hit the other car.
Basically without a police report, can damage to a vehicle tell the story.
I feel after thinking back on it, that could it be a scam of sorts?

Answer
Hi Brian,

First thing is to get to the police or state patrol that has the accident report forms that one has to file with the state in the event of damage in excess of a threshold of around $500.

Fill it out and file it.  

Contact the insurance company for your friend and give them the story.  Tell them to alert their fraud team inasmuch as this sounds like one of those fake injury accidents we have read about.

Why was there no police report?  Did they not come?  Call the police and alert their fraud team.  They probably do not even have one, but ask if they have a detective division and those are the guys who might be interested.

Yes, the damage to the vehicles CAN tell the story.  Talk to the auto body shop owner about what he sees in the damages regarding how the hit happened.

In all of this, DO NOT IGNORE "LITTLE" ACHES AND PAINS.  Those are a signal of soft tissue injury.  You may not even notice them for a few days.  But when they do come, be SURE to go to the doctor or a chiropractor.

Do not let those little pains go unattended.  You will heal faster, and of course, you will want to make a claim versus the other party's insurance.

Best wishes,

Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
www.SettlementCentral.Com