The Accident Update

I got a call on Monday saying my car was ready to be picked up. This was good news, but it was also a reminder that the person who hit Doug last month still had not responded to their insurance company. And that meant I was responsible for paying the $500 deductible with the hope we would get reimbursed.

It also meant it was time to return the rental car I'd had for seventeen days. Another out-of-pocket expense.

My frustration with this guy not taking responsibility for hitting my car turned into anger. The unfairness that I was laying out $1,300 when all Doug did was wait at a stop sign made my blood boil.

The Thursday before I called our insurance agent, who happens to be the driver's insurance agent. The only thing we don't have with them is our auto insurance. I told him what had happened; he said he was aware of the accident, but hadn't known it was us who were hit. I went on to explain how the driver was refusing to return his own adjuster's call. My agent said he knew the family, and he'd work it from his side. He also promised to call me on Friday with an update.

By Monday afternoon, I still hadn't heard back from him, only serving to make me angrier. I called and left him a message. An hour or so later I heard back from him. He had spoken to the insured and prevailed upon him to return the call or face putting his policy in jeopardy. I called my adjuster to give her the update, and she said she'd follow up by the end of the week.

All this . . . when all he had to do was return a phone call and talk to an adjuster for a few minutes. Additionally, our agent told us that there was a simple thing he could do to keep his rates from going up. Not that refusing to return the calls of his insurance adjuster would've prevented his rates from going up.

Late yesterday afternoon I got an email from our adjuster. The driver's insurance was accepting liability and my deductible was being returned to me. They would also "pass the rental invoice on to another adjuster." That sentence didn't thrill me, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Something so simple, made so complicated. I'm happy the resolution is in the works, but hope I don't "run into" the driver in the grocery store. Perils of living in a small town. Perils of karma too.