Dealing with a Car Insurance Dilemma After a Crime-Related Accident
When Unexpected Incidents Occur: Navigating Insurance Claims for Damaged Vehicles
Recently, my parked vehicle was damaged by a drunk driver while I was asleep. Fortunately, law enforcement apprehended the individual and provided me with their insurance details. The culprit’s insurer is Erie Insurance; however, I’ve encountered a significant obstacle—their systems are currently offline, likely due to a ransomware attack or similar technical issue. This has resulted in their switch to manual, paper-based claims processing, which could potentially delay the resolution process by several weeks.
My Question to the Community: Should I proceed with using my own collision coverage through Geico to expedite repairs, and then allow them to seek reimbursement from Erie Insurance once their systems are back online?
Key Details:
– My vehicle was parked and unoccupied at the time of the incident.
– The responsible party’s insurance details are in my possession.
– Erie Insurance’s system outage might prolong claim processing times.
– Geico’s collision coverage includes a $500 deductible, which they’ve assured me will be reimbursed if they recover costs from Erie.
Considering these factors, I am contemplating whether leveraging my insurance for immediate repairs might be the most efficient course of action, despite the deductible, rather than waiting for Erie’s potentially lengthy claims process.
Insights or experiences regarding similar situations would be greatly appreciated. What would be the most prudent approach to ensure timely repair of my vehicle while correctly managing the reimbursement process?
