Cad really don't like to prod you for legal crap but can you clarify mitigation of damages for me?
So, my car is sitting at the tow yard right now and the claims adjuster for the other car (that was conveniently stolen, of course) says he's sending these out and I am now legally obligated to mitigate damages as much as reasonable.
The form this takes is that I have to get the wreck towed back to my house at cost to me while they sort this out. However long that takes. I really don't want to do that because A. Fuck them and B. Fuck them. Neither company will start shit until they determine who is liable.
So, if I were to say, get a letter from my HOA saying they don't allow inoperable wrecks to sit on the street in my development (it'd be a real one, no bullshit forgery). Will this allow me to force them to keep it there while they deal with this dumb shit?
Uhh no you should not tow it back to your house at your cost.
Like I said, call your insurance and tell them you are filing a claim under your comprehensive policy, pay the deductible tell them the car is totalled and it is at (wrecking yard) address for their adjuster to come see it.
Mitigation of damages means you need to take steps limit the damages if they're reasonable... bringing a destroyed car to your house isn't reasonable. Is the car drivable? Is it potentially repairable?
I'd pretty much tell them to fuck off. Your insurance co. needs to be taking care of you because they are liable under the comprehensive policy no matter what happens. Put it on them to negotiate with the other carrier because there are arbitration boards set up just for this type of prop damage claim between two companies. One of them is liable, it is clear you are not. PUT IT ON THEM.
Aha. Well, until one of them accepts liability I'd bring it home then because in the likely event that they'll just try to pin the accident on you they'll disclaim all bills. Bringing it home might be a good idea in this event.
If the accident is your fault, then nobody pays. Guarantee you the two companies are talking to each other and are figuring out how to call it your fault already.
Are you filing any charges?
Adjusters from both of the companies have told me I am not at fault and the police report says I am not at fault.
Just out of curiosity. Seriously how could they pin it on me when the other driver fled the scene and the car was totally in my lane where it hit me? And this is recorded and the police asked if I wanted to press charges?
Did you have UMPD (Uninsured Motorist Property Damage)? Not sure what it is called in whatever state you are in, but pays out for Hit and Run or Uninsured issues, like this.
If you just have liability, well.... start figuring how much it is worth to you to fight this in court, on your time and dime. They could make it take years if they want.
No I do have UMPD. But they specifically wont do shit until the other company denies coverage because the work van was "stolen" less than a mile from a major construction site and the driver was in working clothes. So that's pretty lol.
They'll have to cover my towing costs too right? Eventually?
Will actually get a surprising amount of money from this. But I misplaced the car title... if I ever got one when I registered my car in TX.
Luckily DMV is right next to my work!
I use to be a claims adjuster and know my shit so:
DO NOT FILE A CLAIM UNDER COMPREHENSIVE IF YOU ARE NOT AT FAULT, that shit goes against you.
Uninsured motorist is a smaller deductible and won't increase premiums. They will also file for a lost title if you don't have one, if you pay anything out of pocket for this claim it should be reimbursable minus the cost of a new car as they will give you the value of the car totaled if purchased today based on a semi local search and comparison of your same vehicle make/model/year.
The wording is they will pay for anything reasonable and necessary, you may have to give receipts and the like but this is worth the time as it makes for a strong case of getting more money when they give you an offer you don't like.
If there is even a little bit of proof about the false stolen claim like you said facebook photos your claim should go to SIU. Ask your current adjuster if your claim is going to SIU and if he says no then he doesn't understand his job. While SIU will almost zero effect on you it will at the least cause a headache for van owner if not get him a fine or even jail time for insurance fraud depending on if it goes before a judge.
Let me know if you have questions.