Who knows auto insurance? Ins outs loopholes

[HotWheelsBurban]

The police report "should be" the definitive statement, but sometimes it can be inaccurate. When my truck got hit last November, the West University Place PD said that my mother (she was driving it, had just dropped me off at work) was at fault, when she was hit by a car that moved over into her suddenly. The damage angles reflect that she was hit from the side, not a direct front to rear hit. However, the report was written up that "she failed to control her speed", and hit the car that actually hit her, pushing them into a third vehicle. She has not gotten any citations....The speed limit on this street is 30 MPH, and I know she was not doing over 25 in that big ol truck (97 C3500 CCLB,5.7). We drove that same route six days a week so we are quite familiar with it.
The insurance company we have (progressive) said we only have state minimum liability and no collision coverage. They also said they can do nothing (and several attorney reps told me this too) with the report being written the way it is.....
So I got NOTHING for my truck, that was in great mechanical condition before it was wrecked through no fault of ours, and the other two drivers got their cars replaced..... My 79 year old mother had a mild stroke after the accident, and isn't sure if she'll be able to drive again (so I'm the family chauffeur).
All those ads for personal injury lawyers, that talk about how much $$$$ they can get you.....in my experience that's a load of fresh manure.

 

[Grit dog]

The police report "should be" the definitive statement, but sometimes it can be inaccurate. When my truck got hit last November, the West University Place PD said that my mother (she was driving it, had just dropped me off at work) was at fault, when she was hit by a car that moved over into her suddenly. The damage angles reflect that she was hit from the side, not a direct front to rear hit. However, the report was written up that "she failed to control her speed", and hit the car that actually hit her, pushing them into a third vehicle. She has not gotten any citations....The speed limit on this street is 30 MPH, and I know she was not doing over 25 in that big ol truck (97 C3500 CCLB,5.7). We drove that same route six days a week so we are quite familiar with it.
The insurance company we have (progressive) said we only have state minimum liability and no collision coverage. They also said they can do nothing (and several attorney reps told me this too) with the report being written the way it is.....
So I got NOTHING for my truck, that was in great mechanical condition before it was wrecked through no fault of ours, and the other two drivers got their cars replaced..... My 79 year old mother had a mild stroke after the accident, and isn't sure if she'll be able to drive again (so I'm the family chauffeur).
All those ads for personal injury lawyers, that talk about how much $$$$ they can get you.....in my experience that's a load of fresh manure.

That sounds unfortunate from almost every angle. And while collision coverage would probably double your policy $, it sounds like you were unaware your truck wasn’t covered. Beyond that it’s a risk decision on the value of the vehicle or more accurately the value to you personally vs the cost of the policy. Where do the diminishing returns cross the cost line?

Assuming Progressive paid out on the other 2, its against your insurance record however less so, as a presumably unlisted driver was behind the wheel. Although if you share a residence then they are or should be listed and have thesame effect as if the policy holder was driving.
Subjectively I know how tough the front ends on those OBS are and at only 25mph that looks like a VERY solid hit on a stopped vehicle or one that was braking hard (with a back bumper taller than your front bumper by a smidge).
But it’s mom’s word against the cops report.
That was a very clean lookin truck.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

That sounds unfortunate from almost every angle. And while collision coverage would probably double your policy $, it sounds like you were unaware your truck wasn’t covered. Beyond that it’s a risk decision on the value of the vehicle or more accurately the value to you personally vs the cost of the policy. Where do the diminishing returns cross the cost line?

Assuming Progressive paid out on the other 2, its against your insurance record however less so, as a presumably unlisted driver was behind the wheel. Although if you share a residence then they are or should be listed and have thesame effect as if the policy holder was driving.
Subjectively I know how tough the front ends on those OBS are and at only 25mph that looks like a VERY solid hit on a stopped vehicle or one that was braking hard (with a back bumper taller than your front bumper by a smidge).
But it’s mom’s word against the cops report.
That was a very clean lookin truck.

No, Mom was the listed/insured driver at the time; she and I co-own that truck. Apparently she'd dropped the collision coverage earlier and didn't mention it to me.... We've had times of poverty so things get cut.....
Yes it was, just over 150K on it, immaculate inside except for cracks in dashboard like they all do down here.

 

[Grit dog]

No, Mom was the listed/insured driver at the time; she and I co-own that truck. Apparently she'd dropped the collision coverage earlier and didn't mention it to me.... We've had times of poverty so things get cut.....
Yes it was, just over 150K on it, immaculate inside except for cracks in dashboard like they all do down here.

Understandable. Wasn’t being judgmental. Good news is it’s not on your insurance record. However Id be leery of putting mom on your policy if you’re in the same household. For obvious reasons.
Although now car ins rates not only follow your age, claims and driving record but also credit score, financial strength, whether you have a homeowner’s policy etc. Doesn’t seem fair but technology has given ins companies far more metrics by which to judge “risk.”

 

[electoqute]

I don't know how your state works but Texas laws suck. If the person who caused and at fault for the accident only has state minimum ($30,000 in Texas) that's all insurance will pay regardless of damages or injury. My car was parked and hit totalling it. $60,000 truck gone. They had state minimum, I got $30,000 and a kiss our ass on the rest. I had to finish paying off a truck I didn't even have anymore. I learned 2 things after that. Get full coverage with CYA money (currently $250,000), also agreed upon value on my vehicles (insurance and you agree on value and policy pays said value). It costs a little more (about $23 a month, but we'll worth it if something happens. My kids 20 year old clunker was insured for $11,000. Guy ran a red light and hit him. He had a ruptured intestine, totalled the car. My insurance paid the medical bills and $11,000 for the car even though KBB said $6,500. Then they went after the guy who hit him for the money. Guy had state minimum. Didn't cost me a penny and no fighting on my part. M2CW