My Car Was Hit By a Deliver Truck While It Was Parked – Claim Denied?

Reader’s Question:

My car while parked was hit by a delivery truck and the bumper got damaged. I took my car to my regular repair place here in Arizona and was given an estimate of $875. When I submitted this to the truck driver’s insurer, they requested me to have the car assessed at their partner repair shop and got an estimate of $720. I want to have my car fixed in my regular repair place even though it charges more. Will the truck driver’s car insurance still cover for that?

Elizabeth

Phoenix, AZ

The Arizona Department of Insurance states that you are allowed in Arizona to choose a repair shop and get damage assessment of your car. Car insurance providers will ask you to get other valuations to make sure that your choice repair place has quoted an evenhanded price, though. Additionally, all insurers have their preferred repair shops because they are known to have decent and competitive prices for repair jobs.

The Arizona Department of Insurance also mandates that the insurer may not require you to travel unreasonably to get damage assessment for your vehicle from a repair shop, or bring the car on your own to a specific repair place to have it fixed. In your case, though, you can appeal that the car repairs be done in your choice repair place. If explained and handled properly then you might be able to come up with a good settlement and the repair process can be charged to the paying car insurance company. If this would not be the case and the truck driver’s insurance company will only cover $720, but you still want to pursue having your car fixed by your choice repair shop, then you will need to shoulder the remaining amount.

Hit and Run Drunk Driver Accident – Will My Insurance Pay?

Reader’s Question:

Our neighbor damaged my son’s parked vehicle in Deer Valley, Arizona. Our neighbor’s car was not insured but he got insurance on his other car. Can we place a claim against the policy on the car that is insured? He was arrested for drunk driving.

Tim

Deer Valley, AZ

I do not think you could file a claim for the damages caused by the uninsured automobile against the car insurance policy of the other vehicle with insurance. Your neighbor is responsible for the damages.

To have the damages fixed in Deer Valley, Arizona you may see if you could place claims against your own insurance provider under your collision coverages.

Another option is to seek legal help to determine if you will have to take your neighbor to court and seek a judgment against your neighbor for the damages you sustained while he was driving drunk.

You may contact the Arizona Department of Insurance online or call their consumer hotline at 1-800-252-3439 for consumer help.