Side Mirror Got Damaged and Waiting Three Months for Police Report (Insurance Won't Pay without Report)

LCosmicChicken on 07/02/2020 - 00:40
Last edited 19/02/2020 - 23:45 by 1 other user

Hi All,

I was merging on a highway and a truck on the right clipped the side mirror. I was not able to stop the truck driver but the incident and rego was captured on the dash cam.

The incident was reported to the police and insurance changed the status to 'Not at Fault' already.

However, its been more than 3 months now but the police report has not come through and the side mirror still not repaired. Insurance has been telling us that they need to wait for the report in order to proceed with the repairs.

Is this the normal process and wait time for this minor incidents for insurance claims? In the time of waiting, I have some colleagues who had incidents with rear collision who were able to have their cars repaired within 1 month.

Please advise and share your experience.

Many thanks.

P.S. Claim has been approved by insurance. Car is now scheduled for repair but in total it took 4 months to come through.

Automotive

Comments

  • Mechz on 07/02/2020 - 00:46
    +3

    Did you call the relevant police station to chase them?

    • CosmicChicken on 07/02/2020 - 00:53

      Yes we did. In 2 weeks, they were able to get the details of the driver and truck company. And ours and the at faults insurance were able to negotiate. But the actual police report they said would take 3 months. Is this normal?

      • RockyRaccoon on 07/02/2020 - 05:26
        +2

        Well since you list your location as “Australia” in your profile, and nothing in the op, it could be normal, as we have no idea of which state police force you are dealing with.

        • CosmicChicken on 08/02/2020 - 00:55

          My bad. This is in Sydney. Thanks

  • apsilon on 07/02/2020 - 05:59
    +2

    The few times I've had to do it I received the report number on the spot but they were all lodged via the PAL rather than in person at a station.

    I'd love to see footage that shows you merging yet weren't at fault. Did the truck also change lanes onto you?

    • newjerseydamo on 07/02/2020 - 07:14
      +1

      I'd love to see footage that shows you merging yet weren't at fault. Did the truck also change lanes onto you?

      This is what I'm curious about.

    • Austaurean on 07/02/2020 - 08:12

      id like that too, id also like a million dollars lol..
      I don't see how you can be merging (safely) and have a truck collect your side mirror.
      perhaps not a merge, but a form one lane and the truck accelerated up rather than yielding to the leading vehicle.
      without further info, I would have thought the merging vehicle would be at fault for an unsafe lane change.

      • CosmicChicken on 08/02/2020 - 00:59

        My bad about the merge. Its more of a 3 lane left turn. This is from Goulding Road turning left to Lane Cove Road. Car was on the left lane and the truck was on the middle lane.

  • Fredfloresjr on 07/02/2020 - 07:35
    +1

    What insurance?

  • pegaxs on 07/02/2020 - 08:34
    +2

    I was merging on a highway

    Sounds to me like you failed to give way and that you ran into the truck.

    was captured on the dash cam.

    Uploaded? Link?

    Cant wait for your next post; "Truck driver denying they are 'at fault' and now wont pay"

    • HighAndDry on 07/02/2020 - 09:35
      +1

      Yeah. They couldn't stop the truck driver so the poor bloke probably still has no idea.

      • CosmicChicken on 08/02/2020 - 01:01

        I think the truck driver had no idea. Had to stop somewhere to calm the girlfriend on the passenger seat as she was panicking.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2020 - 09:57

      Maybe an alternative could be "Insurance fixed my car under not at fault, now they are charging me excess after review"

    • Tech5 on 07/02/2020 - 10:26
      +1

      Why is everyone asking for a video? Does it matter? How does that affect the question OP posted? Insurance have already said they are not at fault. Even if they are, shouldn't cause the police report to take longer to write

      • HighAndDry on 07/02/2020 - 12:25
        +1

        Police report might be taking longer because truck driver's version + their dash cam footage is markedly different from what OP told them.

        And insurance can change their decision if they receive new information.

        • Tech5 on 07/02/2020 - 16:14

          Fair enough on the report taking longer

      • pegaxs on 07/02/2020 - 14:36
        +1

        Why is everyone asking for a video?

        Because OP could be full of shit. We also do not have the truck drivers version of what happened.

        Insurance have already said they are not at fault.

        And far be it from anyone to bullshit to the police and their insurance company about what "actually" happened so it doesn't affect their insurance premium.

        Member Since:

        Colour me sceptical, but the amount of trolls that come in here claiming to be innocent, later to be caught out as lying trolls is all to frequent.

        • Tech5 on 07/02/2020 - 16:13
          +1

          Still doesn't answer the question.

          OP's question is regarding the time it takes for the police report to be finished. That's it.

          OP isn't asking about % chance that insurance will pay
          OP isn't asking about the possibility of being charged the excess
          OP isn't asking if the insurance will change their mind about at fault
          OP isn't asking our opinion on whether OP is at fault

          My point is that why waste the effort poking holes through people's story, particularly if it is not the focus of the question at hand.

          If OP is at fault, I'm sure the combination of the insurance company, the cops and the dashcam will be enough to let the truth come out. They won't need your help for that

          • pegaxs on 07/02/2020 - 16:41
            +1

            @Tech5:

            OP's question is regarding the time it takes for the police report to be finished. That's it.

            The footage may go towards suggesting why the police are taking their time and they could be following it up with the truck driver. They may need to speak to the truck driver after viewing the footage due to OP possibly being utterly negligent.

            Sharing the video would put perspective on what the police are looking at and if it's an open and shut case, as OP is expecting us to believe, or if it would require further investigation.

            OP isn't asking about % chance that insurance will pay
            OP isn't asking about the possibility of being charged the excess
            OP isn't asking if the insurance will change their mind about at fault
            OP isn't asking our opinion on whether OP is at fault

            Didn't say they were…

            My point is that why waste the effort poking holes through people's story

            Because it may go towards explaining WHY the police are taking a long time. Do they need to speak to the truck driver? Is the truck driver looking to make a claim for "not at fault" and needs a contradicting police report.

            Or maybe the police just don't give a flying (fropanity) about someones side mirror, considering it's a civil issue.

            InB4: "LeAviNg ThE sCeNe oF aN aCCiDeNt iS a cRiMe!!11!1!!!". I very much doubt the big, loud, noisy, 40+ tonne truck knew it smashed the wing mirror off some random shitbox car.

            If OP is at fault

            Which I believe is totally possible and could be the whole reason for the police are taking their time. The footage could go in some direction of explaining why they are taking longer than their "colleagues who had incidents" (which, incidentally, were completely different accident types.)

            • Tech5 on 07/02/2020 - 17:27

              @pegaxs: Funny thing is, none of these points were made in your original post, where they should be. Because that would've gone towards answering OP's questions.

              "Can we see the dashcam vid. If things don't match up, that might be why the cops are taking so long." Would've sufficed.

              Instead, you were snarky, sarcastic and rude. Do you know why? Because you weren't trying to help. You were trying to call them out. It is easy to list all those reasons now. But none of them show in your post

              • pegaxs on 07/02/2020 - 18:02
                +1

                @Tech5: I am under absolutely no obligation to explain to you or OP or anyone else why I would like to view that information. OP can either choose to release the information or not. If they do release it, I will then comment on the possible reasons why police may be taking their time. If they don’t release it, that’s OP’s choice and the only thing I can deduce from that is that OP is possibly lying or trolling.

                You were trying to call them out.

                Absolutely. Brand new user posting something that is usually a community inflaming (car v’s. truck) post and basic forum trolling 101 with 1 reply to questions since posting. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck… chances are…

                • Tech5 on 07/02/2020 - 18:47

                  @pegaxs: I'm not sure what your age is, but as a stereotype, I think anyone above the age of 35-40 doesn't understand the concept of trolling anymore.

                  This is not trolling. Nobody trolls like this. Trolls try to inflame opinions. This post is blander than rice porridge.

                  There are some posts on Ozbargain that come to mind, that could be argued is trolling. Like the one about someone angry that people are using his "personal" community bbq as it was stopping him from cooking his soup or something

                  • pegaxs on 07/02/2020 - 19:18

                    @Tech5: No worries, champ.

                    • CosmicChicken on 08/02/2020 - 01:16

                      @pegaxs: Thanks for the points guys. Its just that after 2 weeks, the insurance in conjunction with the police pointed out that we are not at fault already, which in my point of view, we can already proceed with the claim.

  • Baysew on 07/02/2020 - 09:30

    Maybe all the insurance company wants is a copy of the initial report you made to the police, rather than the final investigation report.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 07/02/2020 - 14:59

    Have no idea what state you’re in but insurance companies go can through the RTI Act or CITEC Confirm to get police reports.

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 08/02/2020 - 01:33
    -1

    Sheesh dude, simply get your mirror fixed at some 'standard-type' outlet, then send your insurance company the bill. Eventually they will pay it. It might take them a while, but at least in the meantime you are not driving an unsafe car.

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