In Dec. 2014 I ran over a stop sign. Call it daydreaming, not paying attention, whatever, I simply came through a wooded area on an unfamiliar 55mph rural road and saw the stop sign too late. No cell phone involved, I assure you. I was approaching a major highway with cars potentially crossing at 65mph. Rather than run through the intersection unimpeded, I locked 'em up and tried to skid to where I was parallel with the highway, as to turn onto the shoulder/turn lane, in an effort to avoid getting t-boned by high speed traffic. That's not an easy maneuver in a 2000 Land Rover Discovery II, but I was partly successful in that I'm still alive, however I did mow over the stop sign in the process.
Some guy stopped with me to look at the sign and offered to call it in. I accepted. Additionally, while on-site flagging traffic, I called the sheriff, which sent me to an automated system, then to another person, then to another who stated it wasn't their jurisdiction, then gave me the number to the state troopers. That caused about a 20 minute delay total (literally) before I could get through to someone who could take the report, however they'd already received it as I suspected. While I was on the phone with that person, they told me there was someone one the way and that I could leave if I wanted. Against my better judgement, I did that only to learn via a phone call from my insurance company a week or two later (I filed a claim for stop sign and damage to my vehicle) that there was an accident at that intersection shortly after the event.
Two parties were filing suit against me and each other, and speaking with the insurance company attorney, she assured me I had nothing to worry about and blame would likely go to one of the other drivers, as they were driving with a suspended license, and crossed into the intersection, causing the accident while intoxicated. She suggested that Colorado law does not require a citizen to flag traffic as long as they report the downed sign (even though I did until I was told I could leave.)
Long story short, I go to renew my insurance the other day and there's a $120k claim on my report. I immediately get a letter of experience from my ins. company at the time, and they closed the claim, settling for $120k. Nobody notified me, the last thing I heard is "nothing to worry about." This was approx 1.5 years ago that I last communicated with that attorney, it seems to have been settled recently. Any requirement for my participation and/or notification?
Not looking for legal advice (I'll talk with my own attorney about it,) just looking opinions, thoughts on the matter, or similar experience from others. Also, how long does such a claim show up on reports ins. companies use for rating, if anyone knows. The renewal for my current ins. company hasn't gone up, I was just out looking for quotes when I discovered this.
Some guy stopped with me to look at the sign and offered to call it in. I accepted. Additionally, while on-site flagging traffic, I called the sheriff, which sent me to an automated system, then to another person, then to another who stated it wasn't their jurisdiction, then gave me the number to the state troopers. That caused about a 20 minute delay total (literally) before I could get through to someone who could take the report, however they'd already received it as I suspected. While I was on the phone with that person, they told me there was someone one the way and that I could leave if I wanted. Against my better judgement, I did that only to learn via a phone call from my insurance company a week or two later (I filed a claim for stop sign and damage to my vehicle) that there was an accident at that intersection shortly after the event.
Two parties were filing suit against me and each other, and speaking with the insurance company attorney, she assured me I had nothing to worry about and blame would likely go to one of the other drivers, as they were driving with a suspended license, and crossed into the intersection, causing the accident while intoxicated. She suggested that Colorado law does not require a citizen to flag traffic as long as they report the downed sign (even though I did until I was told I could leave.)
Long story short, I go to renew my insurance the other day and there's a $120k claim on my report. I immediately get a letter of experience from my ins. company at the time, and they closed the claim, settling for $120k. Nobody notified me, the last thing I heard is "nothing to worry about." This was approx 1.5 years ago that I last communicated with that attorney, it seems to have been settled recently. Any requirement for my participation and/or notification?
Not looking for legal advice (I'll talk with my own attorney about it,) just looking opinions, thoughts on the matter, or similar experience from others. Also, how long does such a claim show up on reports ins. companies use for rating, if anyone knows. The renewal for my current ins. company hasn't gone up, I was just out looking for quotes when I discovered this.