car accident

hello guys, I was woundering if you could help me out.About a month ago i got in a car accident,I dont remember what happened,but i was struck because i pulled into the car the car that hit me.Long story short, i was declared at fault and at the time i had no insurance because i had just registered the car.Now their insurance wants me to pay for the damages,but i have no money.What can i do? can i claim bankruptcy as a minor? can i plead to them to let me go since im a student?please help.

A little unclear on your story about the accident. From what you wrote, it seems like you pulled out and were hit. If you had a stop sign, stop light, or had to yield to the other traffic, then you are at fault.

Two things about the insurance: if you had a policy for another vehicle at the time, then you may be covered since most companies give you a certain amount of time in which to register your car, where you're covered. I'm with State Farm, and you have 30 days from the purchase date of a vehicle to call them and add the vehicle, and you're covered for those 30 days. So check with any auto insurance you or your parents/family may have to see if it might be covered.

Now if you aren't covered at all, and were at fault in the accident, you are legally liable for the damages to the other person's vehicle. (If this is the case their insurance company probably already fixed their car under "Uninsured Motorist" coverage, and are coming to you to collect.)

So if you do owe for the other vehicle it's definitely a bad thing. You can try to ask them to write it off, but it's unlikely since insurance companies don't really like uninsured drivers. So you'll be stuck paying the bill. You said you're a minor, so you may have some legal leeway there and a lawyer might be able to tell you if there's any wiggle room. But if the end result is that you owe for the other person's repairs, then make sure you pay it, even if you have to set up some monthly payment plan with them. Make sure you pay it off, because it WILL show up as a bad debt if you don't pay it.

Suffice to say "lesson learned" about driving without insurance!!

Hopefully that was all clear, let me know if you have any questions.

Also, moving to Insurance section.

I agree. If you had insurance on another vehicle, you should be covered, up to a certain date atleast. People buy vehicles all the time and drive them home (without new insurance). I was told that you can't get insurance on a vehicle that's not in your name, so how would you be able to drive a vehicle home (from a dealer for example)? Well, I've got Progressive and drove my [new] vehicle from the dealership to my house while carrying the insurance card from my old vehicle. I was quick to get new insurance once I got home!!

As far as getting off because you're a student, don't count on it!

My dad had insurance on another car at the time, the reason there was no insurance was because we had just bought the car and had it registered so it wasnt in our name yet.as a minor can i declare bankruptcy? also if i was covered for 30 days how do i ask my insurance if i was covered or not?thanks

After the purchase of a new car, most states allow for a 30 day window before it has to be insured. If your dad has insurance and you are his dependant, then it should be covered under him...so you would have to call up your dad's insurance provider and ask. Or, go to a DMV and ask them what you should do as they would know all the local laws.

My dad had insurance on another car at the time, the reason there was no insurance was because we had just bought the car and had it registered so it wasnt in our name yet.

Did you read the earlier posts? You should be covered on a new purchase




as a minor can i declare bankruptcy?

:dunno: talk to a lawyer



also if i was covered for 30 days how do i ask my insurance if i was covered or not?thanks

You could start by calling them. I'm EXTREMELY surprised that neither you nor your dad called the insurance company immediately after the accident.


On what date did the accident happen?

I'm curious...what kind of car did you buy and what did you hit? I'm just wondering because you seem to be really serious about declaring bancrupcy (sp?).

Don't claim bankruptcy even if you can. That shit stays on your back for 10 years and no one will touch you for a loan, mortgage, etc. Bad stuff unless its a very last resort. You'll have horrible credit before you even have any credit.

I researched and no bankruptcy i guess, but is there anyway of letting the oher parties insurance know to let me go or right it off? and if yes how? or how do i tell them?do i call them or what?

Before you do all that, have you called your own insurance company yet?

no the accident was about 2 months ago,i just want to know how to ask them to write it off or dismiss the charge so i dont have to pay,please let me know thanks.

So call your insurance company. Sheesh, how many times do we need to say it? There may still be coverage.

And as I've said before, insurance companies don't like people without insurance, (and it's a requirement in many states) so they are highly unlikely to let you "not pay".

Repeat after me:

Call your insurance company. Call your insurance company. Call your insurance company. Call your insurance company. Call your insurance company. Call your insurance company. Call your insurance company.

Even though it's been two months, explain to them you thought you didn't have coverage, and find out if there is. Submit a claim. Show paperwork that the vehicle was new (and within 30 days of purchase). Have dated receipts for the purchase. Have accident documentation.

No the car is not new, it is used, but i had just purchased,smogged it and registered it.its an old accord.i dont care about the car, but i do care for the 60 thousand dollar car that i hit which is charginf me half that which i dont want to pay.i looked at the insurance no coverage.

Sounds like you should set up a payment plan with the company to pay off what you owe.

Sucks, but you've now learned an important and expensive lesson: be insured and make sure you have adequate coverage!!

I understand that you don't want to pay, but that's life. You make a mistake and you're responsible for it. You probably should've found out if you were insured before buying a vehicle. You never know what might happen on your way home. The insurance company is obviously not wanting to pay because you already got into an accident and then asked if you were covered. That's like someone hitting a tree in their vehicle then calling the insurance company and asking to be bumped up to Full Coverage just to pay the damages. Like Fred said, the best thing to do would probably be to try to set up payments. It's not going to be easy, but you're responsible for the damage you caused. Bummer.