Hit and run insurance question
 

2.5 years ago, my Cayenne was damaged on a parking lot by a car that backed into the rear bumper and left without a note or anything. Fortunately, a witness got their plate number and left me a contact number. I filed a police report and a claim with my insurance (MetLife). I gave them the witness contact info and the license plate of the car that hit mine. Then got the repairs done at a bodyshop that dealt with the insurance. I picked up the car, the body shop told me I owed them nothing, all repair cost were covered by insurance ($1450 total).
Today, I got a letter in the mail from the bodyshop asking me to pay the $500 deductible because my insurance did not have enough info to go after the other guys insurance. WTF? 2.5 years later!? Something does not seem right there. How would you guys handle it?

I'd pay the 500 to avoid the headache

First thing I would do is contact the insurance company and tell them exactly what you posted here.

Then let us know what their response was.

I think you have a legitimate beef, but will wait to hear what they say.

We have some insurance folks here who hopefully will give their input.

I also think if nothing else you may be able to use small claims court to get the $500, provided you have the contact info for the person(s) who hit your car.

From an insurance stand point you owe the $500.00. I'm surprised the body shop let you leave with out paying in the first place.

The other side of the coin is. If you don't pay the $500.00 what are the ramifications? Will the body shop sue you for it? Send you to collections?

Yeah, shop should have hit you for that prior to releasing the car, is there a statute of limitations on something like that?

Pay the deductible amount defined by your comprehensive coverage (if you have it) to your insurance company, let them pay the body shop directly.

Or, let it go.

A great question.

Will your carrier be motivated to subrogate this matter on your behalf?

If they do, you will not owe the deductible.

Since they have not, you do.

I suspect the statute of limitations has run out on this.

What we have here is a sticky wicket.

I would post on your carriers Facebook page this exact question and politely ask how they will fight for your interests?

You never know. A little poor publicity may make them inclined to absorb that $500 that you wouldn't owe but for their lazieness.

I'd ask them why they waited so long. Bottom line is that this is between you and your insurance company. It was their responsibility to track the person down, and then pay the body shop. First ask them if they paid.

Second ask the body shop why they waited 2.5 years, because that seems a little suspicious. Ask to see the accounting.

I'm not sure I'd pay. 6 months? Sure. 2.5 years - sounds a little fishy to me.

What does your paper estimate say from them?

I just talked to my insurance company, and they told me they did not have enough evidence to go after the other guys insurance. I specifically asked why a witness was not enough evidence, and the answer was that they needed a police report of the driver admitting to the police hitting my car. And that it was my responsibility to get that for them. They also told me that the body shop made a mistake releasing the car to me without charging the deductible. I guess at this point I`ll just pay. Not sure if what Met Life told me is true or if they are just trying to get away with their laziness...

What do the police say about their follow up on the report?

I would be very surprised if this were actually true.

I haven`t asked them, but I am pretty sure they did nothing at all. Too late now to even bother confirming that...

You pay the deductible when the accident is your fault.
My guess is your insurance will now go up.

It hasn`t gone up in 2.5 years since the claim was paid, so why would it now?
Me paying the deductible to the workshop is not a proof or admission of being responsible for my car being hit while parked, or is it?

It would also mean the insurance would give a double whammy by not paying the deductible and raising my rate!

The correct answer is as above--pay the $500 and get on with your life.

My answer, given my intense dislike of insurance companies and their slimy dilatory ways, is to tell them that it was their obligation to pursue the guy who hit you, and to notify you if they needed more info. Not to sleep
on it for two years and then try to chisel it out of you. Crush them.

A police report need not have the person admitting fault. But there should be a police report with the witnesses statement. So in your original post you state you "I gave them the witness contact info and the license plate of the car that hit mine.". Who is "them"? Police or insurance company?

If not the police and the witness gave an official statement you have a problem with your carrier being able to subrogate against the other persons insurance with out the expense of court. No insurance company is going to go to that length and expense for a few thousand dollar claim. It would cost them more than they would collect.

edit: sorry missed Aurel's post above.

Wait, they need a police report from you of the driver in the *HIT AND RUN* to pay?

So what, you’re supposed to call witnesses and interrogate the suspect and get them to file a police report?

What fresh he’ll is this?!

Rate will not go up as a result of the claim. Cause was not your fault. No it is not admission. It is a requirement under the terms of your policy to pay the deductible. If the company can recover from the other driver/insurance you will get your money back.