Earlier this week I witnessed a pedestrian/car accident while traveling in Calcutta, India. A boy was pinned between two vehicles and his leg is badly injured. [warning] Here is a photo of his leg a few days later. His care is deficient as best and I am looking for advice and suggestions. Inside is an excerpt from my blog where you can find the full story, including known medications administered. [more inside]
posted on Aug 8, 2008 - 9 answers

How do we navigate auto insurance negotiation post accident? My partner was involved in a major auto accident this past week. We're now trying to figure out all the insurance craziness. [more inside]
posted on Jul 5, 2008 - 4 answers

Is there a way to find out details about a particular traffic accident and death that occurred in New Jersey on May 11? The only additional info I have is the name of the deceased. [more inside]
posted on May 23, 2008 - 11 answers

My car was just totaled by an unlicensed, uninsured 16-year-old driver in Chicago. I'm insured, but I have no collision coverage, so any/all expenses are strictly out-of-pocket. The teen responsible was found to be 100% liable on the police report. Can/should I take the family to small claims court? Related: Can anyone suggest a salvage guy that pays a fair price for junked cars and a decent lawyer to represent me in small claims court? Do I even need a lawyer in small claims court? Sorry - I'm new to this. [more inside]
posted on Apr 21, 2008 - 33 answers

My wife was rear-ended today by a couple of nuns while stopped at a light. She didn't call the police to the scene and now she is feeling some stiffness in her neck. What should we do now? [more inside]
posted on Mar 26, 2008 - 20 answers

How do I get a fair settlement for my totaled car in Pennsylvania? The insurance adjuster insists that I am not owed the replacement value of my car and refuses to budge. [more inside]
posted on Mar 24, 2008 - 11 answers

Do I have to pay $1000+ the insurance co. won't cover? [more inside]
posted on Mar 17, 2008 - 16 answers

So I was crossing the street right after work in the crosswalk, on a green walk sign. A cab was making a left turn, ran into me, knocked me down, and then ran over my foot! The worst part was that he stopped ON TOP OF MY FOOT, wth?! So he gets out of the car to check on me and i'm on the ground screaming bloody murder- BACK THE F OFF MY FOOT- pretty funny when i re-tell it now since miraculously (doctor's words) I was spared from any major injury! [more inside]
posted on Feb 1, 2008 - 18 answers

Out of state rental car driver who paid for the Loss Damage Waiver backed in to us. We have his insurance information and claim number, and also reported the incident to our insurance company, which offered to cover damages to the car. We think we'd like to have repairs covered under the rental company's LDW. Do we have the right to choose who should foot the bill? And is this a good choice? [more inside]
posted on Jan 24, 2008 - 9 answers

Car accident in Sept. Swapped info; didn't call police. Now the guy who hit us has never heard of us. What can I reasonably expect? [more inside]
posted on Jan 9, 2008 - 12 answers

Where can I buy a padded jacket for the concrete pillar in my parking garage that I keep accidentally scraping my car against? [more inside]
posted on Dec 27, 2007 - 11 answers

A guy driving his son's car backs into my wife's van, while my wife's dad is driving it. The guy admits fault, then changes his mind and his story. My in-laws never thought to file a police report or get contact information from the witness. Now we think that the vehicle that hit us may be uninsured. It all happened on private property. Help. [more inside]
posted on Nov 20, 2007 - 11 answers

What happens if an insurance adjustor gives you an estimate that's twice as large as the original body shop estimate you got before the adjustor saw the damage? [more inside]
posted on Oct 25, 2007 - 11 answers

I'm going to be temporarily using a friend's car to commute. The concern is that my friend only has minimum liability insurance. I think I'm a safe driver and all, but I'd prefer for any potential accidents or damage to involve only myself, my wallet, and my insurance - and for my friend to get off scot-free. What do I need to do? This is in CA. [more inside]
posted on Oct 22, 2007 - 4 answers

How much do a body shops typically charge for repairng small dents on cars? [more inside]
posted on Sep 21, 2007 - 11 answers

EthicsFilter. My teenager with a learner's permit backed into a parked car (whilst practicing driving with me in the front passenger seat screaming "no, no, no!"). I left a note with my phone number, asked a passerby whether they knew who owned the car (they did not), and called my insurance company to make a claim. But the owners haven't called and it's been a week -- now what? [more inside]
posted on Sep 6, 2007 - 21 answers

Car accident while driving for work, any chance of getting my deductible paid back? [more inside]
posted on Aug 26, 2007 - 9 answers

I got into an accident with a ZipCar this week. How worried should I be about paying the hefty deductible. Experiences, advice sought...
posted on Aug 22, 2007 - 5 answers

Where can I find info on whether or not I am liable in an auto accident, short of hiring a lawer? [more inside]
posted on Jul 20, 2007 - 12 answers

One of my best friends just had a major car accident in which a motorcyclist died. What can I do to help him out? [more inside]
posted on Jun 19, 2007 - 16 answers

I was pulling out of my parking spot as some guy, going at high speed, out of nowhere cut in front of me, causing me to bump into him, and then ran away. What's my best action at this point? [more inside]
posted on May 15, 2007 - 22 answers

I crashed my car but the insurance company won't total it. What do I do now? [more inside]
posted on Feb 8, 2007 - 16 answers

I had a car accident a few months ago and am now talking with the insurance company about the bodily injury claim. I've heard a lot from folks (on mefi and elsewhere) that you shouldn't settle quickly and to ask for more than they offer at first. I'm wondering how I do that. How much more do I ask for? What can I expect as far as the insurance company's response? How do I rationalize my bargaining? [more inside]
posted on Jan 30, 2007 - 16 answers

What kills people when they drive into the ditch? Is it rolling over, or just the high speeds of the highway? [more inside]
posted on Dec 17, 2006 - 19 answers

My wife got into a car accident last week. I wasn't with her, The story is, someone cut her off and slammed on the breaks and she had to turn to avoid him, she over turned and someone else almost hit her so she turned again and the car started rolling. it was an SUV and that made the flipping so easy. She is unharmed, she did not hit anyone, but the car is totalled. [more inside]
posted on Dec 12, 2006 - 15 answers

How do I get a reliable car for not much money? [more inside]
posted on Oct 13, 2006 - 24 answers

How best to shower with a bloodied up face? [more inside]
posted on Sep 14, 2006 - 16 answers

What happens when you hit an uninsured driver? [more inside]
posted on Jul 26, 2006 - 15 answers

My non-pimped ride (1993 sedan, BB value: $825) was just totaled in an accident with a commercial truck (the truck driver's fault, and he was cited). Are there any ways to get the adjuster to value the car more highly than $825 so that I have any chance of replacing it? [more inside]
posted on Jul 20, 2006 - 28 answers

In California, what are the steps that I should take to sell my totaled car to a dismantler? I want rid myself of all liability for the vehicle and get as much money as possible for the parts. [more inside]
posted on Mar 12, 2006 - 3 answers

I was visiting my relatives out of town a few weeks ago. When I got back home, my uncle said that his neighbor thought that I bumped into the front of her parked car, and he said that it was my car that was parked in front of her. [more inside]
posted on Feb 18, 2006 - 6 answers

Can someone else make a claim on my auto insurance? [more inside]
posted on Feb 18, 2006 - 14 answers

I was recently in a fender-bender in a rented car and I want to know who covers whom. [more inside]
posted on Jan 17, 2006 - 7 answers

Driving to work, I was (mildly) rear-ended at a sudden stop in a traffic crawl. [more inside]
posted on Dec 2, 2005 - 19 answers

I live in Pennsylvania (yeah, I know). My wife was in her car, stopped in front of a retirement building. A woman was moving her mother out of the building at the time when a dresser fell on the hood of my wife's car. The car has a dent. I got an estimate from a body shop. The woman gave my wife a phone number and an address. There was a witness (the building maintenance guy). The estimate seems accurate but is expensive. I'm concerned that the woman might get pissed off and try to do the typically American thing and deny it happened, refuse to acknowledge, refuse to pay, etc., etc. Is this a car insurance issue for her? How would this woman claim this on her insurance...or can she? The body shop I got the estimate from said they'd never seen anything like it. Bottom line is, it's obvious it's this lady's fault but when she sees the estimate, she's going to freak out. I just want to be prepared in case (probably when) this gets ugly. Yes, I know about small claims court.
posted on Aug 20, 2005 - 13 answers

I backed into a parking garage column a couple of months ago (it was in my blind spot) and tore up my rear bumper pretty bad. Would it be worth it to report this to my insurance, or would they probably increase my premiums as a result? (FWIW, the accident happened several months ago.)
posted on Jul 20, 2005 - 11 answers

My girlfriend was rear-ended a few days ago and the rear of her car is damaged. It's still very driveable, but she has to do a ton of little things like meet with the adjuster, get estimates for repairs, etc. The insurance company of the guy who hit her has been decently accomodating so far, but I'm wondering if she's eligible for compensation for the time it will take to comply with their procedures? And how do we go about asking for that if indeed she is?
posted on Apr 28, 2005 - 17 answers

I am being sued for damages related to an auto accident. The lawyer from the insurance firm is representing my case. Should I get my own lawyer? [more inside]
posted on Apr 26, 2005 - 13 answers

I was in a car accident about four years ago where I rear-ended another vehicle. AFAIK, it was my fault, but no one seemed injured at the time, and now I'm being sued for thousands more than my liability auto insurance will cover. If they are awarded what they're asking through arbitration or through a judgement, what are my options for paying the portion which my insurance won't cover? Background and other related questions inside. [more inside]
posted on Apr 26, 2005 - 12 answers

I've been driving a car for about a decade now, and it's suddenly occurred to me that I'm now completely paranoid about anyone else driving me somewhere. I'm constantly checking the mirrors while they drive, and getting stressed because I think they should be braking sooner or driving in a different lane. It even happens when I catch a bus. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you get over it?
posted on Feb 8, 2005 - 27 answers

Accident Filter. I just hit a car in a parking lot... [mi]
posted on Oct 23, 2004 - 22 answers

OK...I just got in a car accident yesterday. I'm okay, my car is a little screwed. Some guy switched lanes, and i dodged and hit a concrete median, lost control, and shot back across the highway, hitting the lane switcher. A witness says I was trying to pass him in the left hand turning lane (where there was another car). Being that this is Florida and everybody else was a retiree, I got the ticket. I'm going to fight it on the grounds that I couldn't have been doing what the witness said because ITS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE for me to be where the other car was at the time.

My questions: Anybody successfully fight a crash citation? Any pointers? Anybody get a police report amended? I don't know what I'm facing here...and yes, I've already contacted a lawyer. I see them Monday.
posted on Mar 31, 2004 - 13 answers