
03-08-2025, 08:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby
This is like - basic stuff that anyone who has a car should do.
You call 911. You do NOT talk to the driver of the other vehicle other than to tell them to wait for the police.
The police don't answer 911, the emergency services dispatcher does. You tell them there was a car accident at [insert address], with damage to at least one vehicle, and no one appears to be injured. You let them ask questions, answer them simply and truthfully, without adding in information that has nothing to do with the need for police or the situation.
The police will come, because it was sent by 911 services. They might be there within a half hour since there are no known injuries.
They'll take your statement, they'll take the cleaning lady's statement. They'll check insurance cards and ensure that the insurance information has been exchanged. You'll give them your e-mail address. They'll submit the report when they get back to the station and e-mail the report to you. If they don't take the e-mail info you can call the PD's non-emergency number and request the report, which they'll provide to you.
You call THE CLEANING LADY'S insurance company - not yours. To tell them that the cleaning lady drove into your car, and you will have a police report made available to them as soon as you receive it. You do this within 48 hours of the accident so it's on file.
When you send them the report copy (a file, by e-mail or fax), do /not/ let them convince you to do your own appraisal of the damages with your cell phone camera. Tell them you want someone to come out. Insist on it. If you do it yourself they will devalue and offer you a low-ball cash settlement that will NOT cover the cost of repairs. If they tell you to go ahead and just bring it to a repair shop, make sure the repair shop is in touch with the cleaning lady's insurance to get the damage repair cost approved before he starts the work.
If you try to go through your insurance to get this done, YOUR premiums will go up.
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Excellent info!
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