CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Cheek was sitting in traffic. The next thing he knew, he was in a chain reaction car accident.
"I heard a bam. Then I heard another bam. Then the third bam was me in the back," he said. "[I] sat there for a few minutes and got out and looked and I was like, 'Lord have mercy.' There was car parts just everywhere."
Cheek showed Action 9 pictures of the damage. The back window was shattered, the liftgate was smashed in, and the bumper was damaged. Plus, he said, "The windshield wiper was hanging, just flopping around."
He wasn't at fault. Fortunately, the driver who caused the wreck had insurance, National General. But Cheek said the company was dragging its feet.
"[The representative] said, 'Well, it's probably going to take six months to a year before we can do anything.' And I'm like, 'Are you kidding me?'"
So Cheek paid to fix his SUV himself. It cost $2,500. Then he started emailing complaints. "I contacted [Action 9] and I contacted the insurance commissioner in Raleigh. The insurance commissioner in Raleigh, I didn't get any results."
But Action 9 did get results. Action 9 emailed National General. It wouldn't discuss Cheek's case with Action 9, but sent him a check fewer than 10 days later. "If y'all had not gotten in touch with them, I think I'd been waiting a long, long time," Cheek said.
If you're in a wreck and you're not at fault, the other driver's insurance should pay. If it doesn't, you can ask your own insurance to cover the damage, but you have to have collision insurance, not just liability.
Plus, your premium could go up. If you don't like that option, you can always sue the other driver. But ask yourself if it's worth it financially.
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Cox Media Group