What Rights Do I Have To Dismiss A Claim If My Insurance Company Never Informs Me Of It?

What rights do I have to dismiss a claim if my insurance company never informs me of it and I find out that such a claim exists from a different company?

Lady claims I scratched her car last year, I didn’t, she wanted money from me, when she wouldn’t get it she called my insurance. I didn’t hear about this claim until recently. Now my insurance is saying I need to contact the other party’s insurance.

  1. 552 POINTS
    Ruth Ladas
    CEO, RLI - Ruth Ladas Insurance, LLC, Fort Myers, Florida
    Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, you don't have much control of the claims process. Your insurance contract gives the carrier authority to settle claims on your behalf. Sometimes they pay claims because it's less expensive to pay the claim than it is to fight it. This happens not just with auto insurance, but with all kinds of insurance losses. I hope that this information is helpful to you!
    Answered on April 19, 2016
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  2. 21750 POINTS
    Jim Winkler
    CEO/Owner, Winkler Financial Group, Houston, Texas
    That is a great question! It sounds as if you remember the original incident, and I hope that you had documented it with pictures or some kind of statement at the time, as that will really help you now. Unfortunately, you have no recourse but to follow through. Ignoring it will not make it go away, and denying it happened will not either. The best thing that you can do is contact her insurance company and contest the claim. With luck and the proper documentation, it is possible that they will either settle or drop the claim against you. Work with your agent, and allow them to help you work through this. Good luck, and thank you for asking.
    Answered on April 20, 2016
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  3. 14231 POINTS
    Tom Sheehan
    Agency Owner, The Thomas G Sheehan Agency, 27 Glen Road Sandy Hook, CT 06482
    If a claim has already been opened, you can't "dismiss it" on your own. As my colleague said, if however you have very good documentation in the form of a police report, photos of the other person's car and yours too, byut the way etc. these would be very helpful to your Insurance Company's Claim Professional who would be investigating the incident. Without solid documentation to support your argument, however, it is very likely that your Insurance Company may not have any choice but to settle the claim. Talk to your INsurance Professional about your situation and ask for a recommendation in the event you are involved in an accident again.
    Answered on May 26, 2016
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