About Bennie719 Expertise I have extensive knowledge in Personal Auto, Homeowners Insurance and Personal Umbrella Insurance. Also thoroughly familiar with Claims Handeling procedures. Will answer questions related to the above.
Experience Experience in the area: Served as an expert at askme.com from 7/2000 thru 10/2002 in catagories of general insurance, auto and home insurance. Answered 422 questions before that site closed. Licensed in California since 1961, first in Life & health for two + years and as a Property/Casualty Agent/Broker since 1964. I sold my business and took early retirement in 1998. Still maintain a valid California Property/Casualty Agent/Broker License.
I have been a volunteer at allexperts.com since 2002.
I can provide assistance in the following fields:
Property and Casualty Insurance,
Insurance Law,
Auto Insurance Claims
Question QUESTION: I was involved in an accident, when my case hit a light pole on a town street. Except for the pole and my car nothing was damaged.The police officer arriving at the location of the accident took all the information about the car, insurance , etc. No citation was issued, and I never received any information or claims from whoever owned the light pole.
My insurance company paid for the damages. I assumed that they will file the Accident report to DMV. However, 1.5 mos after the accident I received a letter from my insurance advising me to file the Accident Report.
Since it must be only 10 days gap between the accident and filing the report what should I do. I am worried that now my driver license is going to be suspended.
On the other hand, the insurance agent from the Claims Dept. advised me not to worry and not to file the Accident report.
Great Thanks in advance!
ANSWER: Hi Alex,
Most states require that DMV accident report be filed by the insurance
company and signed by them as proof that you were insured at the
time of the accident.
I guess yours is different. I agree with your previous advice......
don't worry about it, just go ahead and file.
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Bennie,
First of all, THANKS for the reply!!
The insurance representative (who sent me the letter with the attached report form) in a follow-up phone conversation told me NOT to worry and NOT TO FILE the report and simply disregard it.
You , on the other hand, wrote that you "I agree with your previous advice" and "just go ahead and file"
I would like to admit that I am confused, since these two advises ( the ins. rep. and yours) are mutually exclusive.
What is the right think to do?
Great thanks again!
Best regards,
Alex
ANSWER: Hi Alex,
Sorry, I mis-read the last sentence of your question. As I stated,
most states require the form to be sent by the insurance company
after they have signed it as proof that you were insured at the
time of the accident.
Call your Agent and learn which law applies in your state. You seem
to be getting different answers from different people employed by
your insurance company. Each one should know the state law.
If all else fails, call the DMV office and ask them or simply send
in the completed form. You won't be in any trouble for sending the form to many times, but if it isn't filed there will be repercussions.
Bennie
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Bennie,
Thanks a lot!
The law says that not only a driver but "An insurance agent,attorney , or any designated representative may file the report for the driver"
This is why I believed that such a report was filed by an insurance agent.
Therefore it seems that I have a legitimate excuse for the late filing.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
In addition,
1) I do not know who owns the lighting pole,
and
2)how much damage is done to it,
3) also
3)nobody step forward an filed a claim for the damaged pole.
Hence in the last section of the report what should I write?
Thanks again for your valuable help.
Alex
Answer Hi Alex,
I agree, your insurance company probably did file the report. Why
don't you call them and have the records checked to verify. If
they haven't filed, you should demand that they immediately do so.
Based on your quote of the law, a report completed by you would not be deemed as adequate proof of insurance.
