Muscular dystrophy patient can't get insurance company to pay after alleged drunk driver totals his

[SheltieLover]

https://wreg.com/news/man-cant-get-insurance-company-to-pay-up-after-alleged-drunk-driver-totals-car/

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Jason Peck, who battles muscular dystrophy, had a reliable car to get him to his doctor’s appointments but says a drunk driver destroyed that vehicle, and now he’s having trouble getting the man’s insurance company to replace it.

“I’ve had to rescheduled one doctor appointment already. I had an appointment for April 7, and I’ve already canceled that one because I know I won’t have transportation for it,” said Peck.

Snip

“It was around 8-8:30 p.m. I heard the loudest boom I’ve ever heard. I fell off the couch,” Peck said. “And I got to the front door to look, and they were still in the car. They were trying to leave. They were trying to back the car out, but they didn’t know they had broken their front wheels.”

Snip

We contacted Trexis Insurance to find out if someone was coming to look at Peck’s vehicle but so far have not heard back from anyone. According to the Better Business Bureau, over the last three years, 74 complaints were made against the company that were eventually resolved.

More at link.

How does one purchase auto insurance without a license? Andhow is this insurance company still in business? More red state bullshit, I presume.

[Duncanpup]

1. Unbelievable

[groundloop]

6. Unfortunately it's totally believable and all too common.

Insurance companies are HORRIBLE when it comes to paying off a claim, both my son and daughter have had experiences with that within the past couple of years.

Also, I'd think that the insurance company should at least be compelled to get him a rental car.

[Duncanpup]

13. Absolutely and this is attorney time

It is hideous to not replace a vehicle

[alphafemale]

2. This is why the biggest, shiniest buildings in a major city belong to insurance companies and banks

Legalized grift.

[2naSalit]

4. +1

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. To answer the first question, insurance companies don't yank your insurance if your license

gets suspended. Imagine if you paid for 6 months, and then lost your license after 1 month.

You think they want to proactively cancel your insurance and refund your 5 months? Heck no they don't.

To them it's great cause you can't drive but you are paying for insurance, and then if you break the law and get in a wreck, they don't pay cause you didn't have a license.

Many also have clauses where if you get in a accident while driving drunk, they don't pay then either.

[Vinca]

5. Mr. Peck should contact the Tenn. Attorney General. The company is obviously in the

business of screwing people (owned by a Trump?). If they don't cough up a settlement he should sue and take them for damages for emotional distress as well.

[FakeNoose]

7. This is why many states have No-Fault insurance

In Pennsylvania we are covered by our OWN insurance company, even if we've been hit by another driver who has no insurance or is under-insured. If I'm a responsible car owner, I shouldn't be victimized by irresponsible drivers or insurance companies, that is the philosophy behind no-fault insurance.

Whether a lawsuit is required or whatever, my own insurance company will make sure that I'm covered and they make the other insurance company pay up. At least that's what is supposed to happen. To be honest, it has been so many years since I was involved in an accident, I can't even say how reliable this is.

[sarisataka]

11. You are correct, although it isn't no fault

In a case like this, the victim would usually file a claim withe his own company who would reimburse him if he has coverage. His company would then file subrogation against the driver personally and his company to recover costs. Likely the other company would not pay as the damage was caused by criminal action on the part of the policy holder.

ETA> the coverage would be under the un and under-insured driver coverage. No-fault is for personal injury claims

[knightmaar]

8. Here in Ontario, MY insurance company has to replace my car

After that, they might go after the other guy's insurance company to pay them back.
I actually have no idea.

I just know that I get my payment and go on with my life.
The other guy is a problem for the two insurance companies to battle about, not for me to fight with.

[roamer65]

9. Same in Michigan.

We have a no-fault auto insurance scheme as well.

[sarisataka]

10. Working in insurance, this makes sense-

-You cannot get auto insurance without a license. However if the license subsequently expires, is suspended or revoked, the insurance company is not automatically notified. If the client doesn't say anything the company has no way of knowing.

- insurance policies have an exclusion of coverage clause for damage due to criminal acts by the policy holder. He was driving without a license and was intoxicated so that would trigger the exclusion. The driver is personally responsible, not the insurance company.

Where he may have cause is if they said "we'll take care of it". They is verbally assuming the liability. A huge mistake by the person who said it but would obligate the company to take on the claim.

[Ms. Toad]

12. The other issue not mentioned yet-

The victim says his car isn't worth much. That means it is likely totaled. He'll get the blue book value for his car, and won't be able to fix it. He will have to buy a replacement (and won't have enough money to get an equivalent car).