I was apparently in an accident 6 months ago (I thought it was a single-car incident), but I just recently found out that another vehicle was involved. My insurance said the other driver’s insurance reported it, but since the car had two more accidents after this and was totaled, they can’t assess the damages anymore, and my insurance won’t pay out. The police report apparently has a witness (news to me). Is it still possible that I could be held liable for damages, and if so, what does that process look like? Thank you for your help.
A couple of questions: How did this accident happen without you knowing? Did you hit a parked car and not realize it? Also, what do you mean by ‘still have to pay’? Are you asking if they could sue you for damages?
@Hayden
Yes, apparently it was a parked car, and I didn’t realize it at the time due to the nature of the accident. My insurance says there was a witness, but the other car was totaled later. Can the owner still pursue damages outside of insurance?
@Rowan
If the other car owner can provide photos or proof of damage from your accident, they could potentially pursue you directly. However, if the car was involved in more accidents after yours, it would be difficult for them to prove what damages you caused. You should ask your insurance for more details or dispute the claim if you’re unsure about their evidence.
@Hayden
Thanks, I’ll ask for any available footage or photos. It’s all confusing since this is the first I’m hearing about it.
Your insurance would generally be liable for the damages caused, but the other party needs to provide proof of the damage and repair costs. If they have photos or documentation, your insurance will review them to determine how much to pay. Since their car was totaled later, it complicates things, but your insurance would only cover the damage you caused, not the total loss.
@Benaiah
The other driver doesn’t have first-party insurance, and their car was totaled. What happens then?
Rowan said:
@Benaiah
The other driver doesn’t have first-party insurance, and their car was totaled. What happens then?
If they can’t provide photos or documents, your insurance might try to get pictures from the insurer who handled the total loss. If that’s not possible, they could negotiate a settlement with the other party for the damages you allegedly caused. Either way, your insurance will handle it according to the policy.