Being Accused of a Hit-and-run accident I Didn’t Cause

Q: I received a notice from an insurance company that my van was involved in a hit-and-run. I do not recall hitting anyone and there doesn’t seem to be a new scratch on my van. It doesn’t mean it couldn’t have happened I just don’t recall it. It had to have been a very slight blemish because there’s no dents on my vehicle.

I will be contacting my insurance company to find out what I should do but I’m curious to know if I should first or also contact an attorney to fight this since I didn’t know that I had hit anyone and my insurance could be cancelled. Someone said that utilizing an attorney might get the hit-and-run removed but it might cost me a considerable amount. I live in California.

A: Actually, the first thing you need to do is to contact the insurance company that is accusing you of being involved in a hit-and -run accident you have no evidence on your vehicle for. Mistakes happen and sometimes we hit things with our vehicles we don’t even realize we hit, but if there is no damage to your vehicle you need to challenge this. Demand the details of the accident you are accused of being in and specifically ask why they think it was you. Sometimes all the insurance company has to go on is the make, model and color of vehicle that caused the accident. If they used this type of information to find you, they could easily be mistaken if there is a similar vehicle in your area. Even offer to take it to them or one of their local insurance agents to take pictures of where on your vehicle you supposedly hit the other person with.

If they refuse to work with you, demand the police report number for the police report that should have been filed for this accident.

If you are not able to get anywhere with the other insurance company talk to your insurance agent. They will be able to give you advice as to what to do, and it may be that you will need to file a claim with your company. Part of the liability coverage of your car insurance policy is that you will have your insurance company and their attorney’s defending you against this hit-and-run claim.