The Insurance Company Screwing Starts...

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

She drives a Lexus and carries the bare minimum?

I am guessing that she is carrying at or near the minimum. I'm sure that her insurance company did a quick check to conclude that she may not have sufficient coverage. I'm sure they know that the value of my car would top out around $10K and if a pole replacement is $10K, then she must have around $20K or less in insurance.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by thstone

I am guessing that she is carrying at or near the minimum. I'm sure that her insurance company did a quick check to conclude that she may not have sufficient coverage. I'm sure they know that the value of my car would top out around $10K and if a pole replacement is $10K, then she must have around $20K or less in insurance.

You're probably right. $20K won't cover sticker, taxes and title for the average mid size car. And I don't see the utility giving out any discounts for their materials and labor. Given her age she must have very high premiums and rolls the dice with low coverage. Or at least that's the decision someone who handles her bills decided to take. So her insurance company may have been collecting high premiums from her for quiet some time.

Funny how if you smash a light pole you're on the hook. But if a gaping crater in the street swallows one of my factory wheels and leaves a giant dent/crack the local/county govt will tell me tough break dude.

[thom4782]

Frankly, there isn't enough money at stake here for you to lawyer up.

File the claim with your insurance company and pay the deductible. Then, ask your insurance company to subrogate against the other company to get your deductible back. Most likely, your company will do the math and not pursue it with the other insurance company.

In that case, make sure that the release you will sign with your insurance company to settle the claim allows you to sue the other party in small claims court and keep whatever you win. Once you jump through these hoops, file in small claims court, show up and you'll probably win. Then you just need to collect, which is easy to say but often hard to do.