Car insurance is dropping us

This is really just a rant but if anyone has any advice on how we should handle this, that'd be nice.

So a couple weeks ago my husband and this other person were both backing up (or something to that effect, my husband says he's not sure what the other person was doing, he didn't see them at all) and they bumped rear bumpers. My husband says there was no damage to either vehicle and there's nothing on my car I know, but the other person insisted that he give them our insurance info (which I understand but still, if there's no damage then idk what the deal was). Now, we get a letter saying our insurance is going to drop us once our term runs out in March because the other person claimed personal injury and damage to their vehicle.

According to the agent we spoke to when we finally were able to get a hold of her, the other party hadn't even contacted them back since the accident so nobody from our insurance has been out to inspect either vehicle, ours or theirs. I call ******** on the other people claiming personal injury at the very least. We have liability so our insurance is supposed to pay for up to $25,000 in damages (which is the state minimum) and there's no damn way a little bump like what my husband described would cause over $25,000 in damages.

We've had a ton of problems with this insurance company so we were meaning to switch to something else but now with this stupid "accident" claim we are getting dropped and any other insurance is going to raise our premiums. This is total bull crap. My husband doesn't even know where that other car came from, and where he was it's really hard to see anything. It's a really small parking lot right on the corner of a busy intersection and it's hard to back out of those parking spaces. I myself have trouble backing out of there, and more than likely my husband had parked on the side where the parking lot narrows into a triangle, it would have been easy for either my husband or the other person to not see each other if they were turning right and going by that side of the parking lot.

I wasn't there so I don't know what the heck happened but it's just so stupid, my husband says there was no damage, no scratches or anything, and they couldn't possibly have been going fast enough to cause bodily injury, so I don't understand why someone's got to be an *** about it.

My first reaction is that there are people who are just jackasses, and insurance companies can really be just scams. After all, they are in the business to make money, and they use any excuse they can to keep from paying out. I'm so sorry your husband happened to tap the bumper of the other car. In hindsight, it probably would have been better to have called the police, since the person asked for the insurance info. That did suggest the person wasn't going to be happy with shaking hands and parting ways. But, your husband sounds like a nice, trusting guy.

You say you were ready to part with this company, anyway. At least they have done it for you. Even if an insurance company pays for an accident (any car and personal damage), then if the cost is above a certain amount, your premium will be automatically be raised by them for awhile. I found that out when I hit a car a couple of years ago.

I just heard of an insurance company that refused to pay for damage, even when the cop gave the other person the ticket for running a stop sign. The insurance company said the hit driver was "40% at fault because he should have looked before crossing the intersection." Go figure. (I hadn't heard of the company.)

I'm so sorry this event happened. At this point all I can suggest is to carefully shop around for the most decent company and see what they would actually make you pay. And, alas, not be so trusting of people.

My theory is, if I ever have to give out my insurance info, I will call the cops so there is a police report about what happened. That way it's not just me against the other person.

I know it seems like overkill, but the issue you are describing is why I do it.

Yeah, when I found out about it a week after it happened (because my husband didn't want to stress me out more than i already was) I wondered why my husband hadn't called the police about it. I definitely would have. Then you at least have a policeman take statements and record the incident. My husband doesn't think about these sorts of things.

I wouldn't blame the other person, other than he's an obvious sleazeball trying to get money; I'd go over the insurance company's head to your States' Insurance department, see what they suggest:

http://insurance.arkansas.gov/

I have had people actually tell me that they were in an accident where they weren't hurt but said they were to get money. Apparently, it happens more than one might suppose.

I got hit and was not hurt. Many people told me to claim that I was. How crazy? A co-worker told me that her chiropractor told her that he knew I was hurt and needed to see him. Just looking to make a buck, IMO. I was very grateful to not be hurt.

So, I'm sorry to hear what sounds like a possible scam. Here is a possible upside. I once had an accident where I was in the wrong and my insurance premium ballooned into something huge. However, when I went shopping, I found I could still get a decent rate by switching companies. My significant other had that happen to him, and he was responsible for a good deal of damage. (I guess we're not the best drivers in the world.) So, don't project too much on what will happen to your rates until you go out and get quotes. Also, even if you can't find a good rate. Take what you can get and then, in 6 months, shop again. Do that every 6 months, until you get a chance to reduce the premium significantly by moving your coverage. I have been absolutely amazed at how that can land you in a very affordable policy. Don't ask me to explain how this can work . . . but it does.

Also, you can lower your premium by accepting a larger deductable. I've had situations where I hit and slightly damaged other cars. I always offer to just pay them $50 to $500, depending on how much harm I caused. People often would rather have that cash than get reimbursed for body work. This way my insurance company doesn't know about all my picadillos.

However, when another party wants compensation for physical harm, you are pretty much screwed. It might have been smart for your husband to have gone and filed a police report, immediately, telling his side (that both vehicles were slow moving, etc.) That could undermine the other party's claim that they got serious whiplash.

Hope it works out not too bad for you.

well our insurance company has made itself scarce. the claims department person isn't in office after 3 and my husband doesn't get off work until 3 and only has Wednesdays off but the claims department won't answer the phone on Wednesday. so whatever. i'm not paying a penny for some jerk to pretend they're hurt from a damn bump while backing up.

husband says they were backing out to go the opposite direction in a one-way parking area so they were doing it wrong, but bah. since i wasn't there i can't do anything. this kind of angers me but oh well. we'll pay off the rest of our premiums for the next two months and then we'll find something better.

Yes, talk to your state's Department of Insurance. They are there to protect you, it is their job to impartially review insurance complaints, and they do.
Keep a written record of all of your phone calls (answered and not) by date and time.
Keep a written record of any phone calls from the other part or their insurance (and when they identify themselves, decline to speak to them).
Keep all correspondence received from either insurance company.

I suspect the other party obtained one of the sleazy ambulance-chasing type lawyers who will file these claims because the personal injury money is so easy to get.

One little known fact about car insurance and accidents with little or no damage, is that most policies state they must be reported, because they need to know the current condition of your vehicle if it is involved in a subsequent accident.

Years ago I ran into someone at a stop sign. I was behind them and they kept starting and stopping, then started and were beyond the stop sign when they stopped again. I thought they were gone, and I hit them when I accelerated while checking traffic that was coming from a 45 degree angle to the road we were one, so I was looking back and not forward.) We did call the police and it was the policeman who noticed there was other damage to the other party's vehicle (no damage to mine) and when he pointed it out, then the other party "suddenly remembered" that they meant to say something about that. uh, yeah. Turns out a rental car hit them and they were having a hard time getting paid for it because the rental agency and the renter's insurance were trying to get the other to assume liability.
Anyway, so that is an example of why any damage, even if minor, needs to be on record.

I wish you luck and I hope you find a nice insurance company to change to.
I had my rates raised astronomically by a car-maker's insurance company, and declined to renew. I found very good insurance and great insurance reps through AAA (Triple-A).

.

I am glad to hear good news from other people. After someone ran into me, I called the police and then went to the ER to get checked out. I'm glad I did because I truly did end up with whiplash.

I try to be honest, though. One time the insurance adjuster was looking at my car after an accident and noted something that did NOT get caused by the wreck I was just in. He was probably surprised when I told him it was not. Gee, the wreck was a hit in the side of the car, and the damage he spotted was in the front. But I might have gotten away with the insurance paying for that. I am not perfect, but I try to put myself in the other person's shoes.

Please let us know how things turn out. We do care and hope for the best.