Cliff notes:
18-wheeler doesn't see me and changes into my lane, front lug nuts rip a hole into my rear 1/4 panel. It's his fault, driver apologizes for not seeing me, but when the cop gets there he pussies out and says he didn't change lanes. My word against his word, so no one gets a ticket.

So... should I claim this to my insurance? From what I hear insurance companies can't raise your rates by law if you're not at fault. Is this true? What about if no one is at fault? That law still applies? Insurance is State Farm, deductible is $500.
I'm wondering what's going to cost me more: repairing the S2k on my own ($1,500?) or the premium hike, if any.

Thanks in advance!

 

A word from experience..

If your INS has to pay (depending on the amount) they mite come back to you saying "because you have speeding tickets your rate is going up" that is if you ever had any. Also even if the other guys INS pays for your car if there was a report with your drivers # on it, that is recorded and in the further INS company look at how many accident you have been in regardless if its your fault or not.

 

That sucks. I would give his insurance a try. Call them and let them contact the truck driver. The truck driver may admit fault to his own insurance company.
If that doesn't work and you haven't had any recent claims then go through your insurance co. They might be able to retrieve some of your deductible. That's what you pay them for.
Jim

 

I always go to the other person's insurance company to collect damages and have been sucsesful, that includes someone that denied doing anything and tried to run me over with his car when I tried to get him to come out of his car, got his tag, reported it to the police, got his information and collected.

 

The truck driver didn't admit it to the police because if he gets a ticket he's F'd with his job. Most companies don't accept drivers with tickets. He might admit it to his insurance company though. It'd be the right thing to do.

Good luck

 

As for your issue, call his insurance and put in the claim.

 

what ever you do, do NOT let your insurance pay a dime. thats my opinoin.

When I got hit by a motorcycle. the cops, the witnesses everyone said it was the guy's fault. The police report even said so.

But beacuse he was on a motorcycle, he had no insurance. mine had to pay. little did I know, it ended up screweing me for the nxt 3 years.

My insurance rates literally DOUBLED. from 750 to 1400 for 6 months. I "sold" my car to my mother and put the insurance in her name beacuse I couldn't, and didn't want to pay that much.