[Marioni888]

Trying to help my friend, he had car accident last night.

Car is damaged, my estimate is 3000 $ for repair.

Its clear to me that car accident was not his fault, other person just cut his way and he could not avoid it. That person also admited it to police officer.

Now, because my friend has only liability insurance we found him a lawyer and he will see him in 2 days.

I would like to know this - how long it takes for police report, should he pay to fix his car now and wait for lawyer...

Also he told me that in police report he can not see name of other person envolved,just insurance info. Is that normal in Nevada? I remember in CA when i had accident i could see name,plate and ins info of other person involved in police report.

I would like to hear from someone from similar (unfortunate) experience and if there is something else we have to be aware of?

thx

[SoCalCpl2]

There is no actual timeframe for a police report.. It depends on a lot of things...How busy the police officer is, the info he needs to gather together, whether his superior signs off on the report in a timely manner or whether he has to redo the report, etc.......

I have had police reports within 2 days and other times it has taken a week or more.. The longest I have had to wait was 22 days.....

[Packrat1]

The Police Officer should have given him the full name of the driver and vehicle information no matter who is at fault. NRS: CHAPTER 484E - ACCIDENTS AND REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS (NRS 484E.030 Duty to give information and render aid)
Perhaps the Officer was in a hurry to get to another call but should have given the driver's license number, full name dob and address of the other driver. Be sure to have your friend get that information by going to the Police Precinct during normal business hours and maybe the accident report will be ready too.

[airics]

If he didnt get hurt, why are you getting a lawyer?

[vtvette]

I would not pay for the car to be fixed out of pocket, there are too many variables involved in the repair the opposing insurance company could argue after the fact to argue against paying a portion of the bill.

If it were me I would rent a car comparable to the one your friend owns which was damaged (compact, sub-compact, full size, SUV, pickup, etc) from a rental car company and notify the insurance company of the person who struck your friends vehicle that your friends vehicle was damaged beyond the limit of safe operation and your friend is in possession of a rental vehicle which will be retained by your friend until their car is repaired to your friends satisfaction. This should get the opposing insurance company motivated to cooperate in the repair of your friends vehicle as they are on the hook to pay the rental of a replacement vehicle for your friend which is similar to the vehicle he owns and was taken out of commission by the actions of their client.

Even thought your friend only has liability insurance on their vehicle if your friend has any questions he/she might still try contacting their insurance company for council on how to proceed with this matter. They may be able to offer good advice on how to deal with the insurance company of the party that hit them.

If they are of no help they can check with a lawyer.

In a case like this it is always harder to get reimbursement for damages after the bill has been paid than it is to collect before damages are paid for.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a lawyer and my post should not be construed as legal counsel.

[jpk]

In my experience this can go easy or be a PITA. If the other driver has already admitted fault and you know they were ticketed, and you have their insurance info, then you can call their insurance and file a claim. The insurance for the other guy won't just pay up, they will first try to contact the other guy and if you are lucky he will admit fault right away and you will get your claim going. You likely don't need a lawyer at that point as the insurance will handle the repairs. If you are unlucky and he changes his story and denies he was ever there or says you hit him, then you need the lawyer.

[vtvette]

Originally Posted by jpk

In my experience this can go easy or be a PITA. If the other driver has already admitted fault and you know they were ticketed, and you have their insurance info, then you can call their insurance and file a claim. The insurance for the other guy won't just pay up, they will first try to contact the other guy and if you are lucky he will admit fault right away and you will get your claim going. You likely don't need a lawyer at that point as the insurance will handle the repairs. If you are unlucky and he changes his story and denies he was ever there or says you hit him, then you need the lawyer.

I realize I may have jumped the gun a bit with my post above advising to go out and rent a car.

I assumed your friend had already tried to contact the other drivers insurance company and met with some kind of resistance. Hence the reason one might hire a lawyer.

If this is not the case as jpk says simply contact the other drivers insurance and start a claim. Hopefully the other driver does not change their story after the fact.

Even if the other driver does change their story if it's been documented in the police report that they admitted fault at the scene of the accident this will carry a lot of weight as the claim proceeds.

Your friend may find this to be a nice, easy claim with no need for unnecessary drama or lawyers involved.

[WestieJeff]

Don't you need an attorney to send you to a fake chiropractor so you can get a pain and injury settlement though?

<sarcasm>

[Marioni888]

thank you guys.

we dont know if other person got a ticket but its clear its his fault.

My friend just decided to get a lawyer, who told him to get rent a car .
My understanding is that lawyer wouldn`t take the case if he thinks he can not win...

We will see what will happen.....