Husband was in an accident - Question

I guess it was the "best" kind of accident to be in. Husband was stopped and a guy on a bicycle wasn't looking and ran full steam into the back of the car. He dented the trunk and broke one of the tail lights. Poor guy was knocked unconscious, but seemed O.K. when the ambulance took him away.

Problem: no one got the guy's last name. We tried to call the hospital to see how he was doing but couldn't find out anything. The police report doesn't have his last name, either.

What do you do in a case like this, if someone in an accident isn't lucid enough to give you information? You can't rifle through his wallet, besides he couldn't be moved until the ambulance came. Any ideas?

I would think the police would follow up at the hospital, they have to get his full name eventually to contact family. If they couldn't find out his last name there, sounds like an interesting House episode! They have to know how he was injured at the emergency room to treat him and look for injuries, I would try going to the emergency room of the hospital.....

I would think that the police would be able to find that out and give you the information for your report. You may have to insist (nicely? ). The hospital won't tell you due to the new privacy laws. If you have collision insurance, they should be able to track it down for you pretty quickly. If not, and just have liability, they might still help. Good luck- how frustrating! (and I do hope he's okay- and feeling a bit stupid )

If it was really recent, maybe his name will be in the newspaper!

We have collision insurance, but there's a deductable. It doesn't seem fair that we would have to pay anything, though. It just happened tonight; Husband has appointments tomorrow with the insurance companies.

Thanks for the replies! We'll check with the police, and the newspaper's not a bad idea. I hope the guy is O.K. He was answering questions, but faded in and out of consciousness.

When I was bumped a few weeks ago and filed a claim we were not charged a deductiable. That was do to the fact that the other driver was found to be at fault. I am gonna go out on a limb and assume because he was on a bike that he did not have insurance and that is why you have to pay a deductiable.

As for getting the guys last name I would go back up to the PD and ask them if they have the guys last name yet. And be sure they know it was not on the report you recieved and you need to know it.

Best not to look into it yourself. Let the insurance company deal with it. Do you have the police report # to get a copy of the report?

My co-worker was involved in an accident but it was worst. No one would tell her anything. Legally you can't do much but wait.

Originally Posted by Ping

...I am gonna go out on a limb and assume because he was on a bike that he did not have insurance and that is why you have to pay a deductiable...

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That's what we are thinking. When we were bumped a couple of years ago by another car, we didn't have to pay anything to get the bumper replaced, but she had insurance.

Originally Posted by crazyforinfo

Best not to look into it yourself. Let the insurance company deal with it. Do you have the police report # to get a copy of the report?...

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We have a copy of the report, but maybe there's another one. Guess we'll get answers tomorrow. Husband has to meet with the insurance in case the guy tries to sue us. Wouldn't that be a burn?

I'd contact the police and let them know what happened. You need to file a police report anyway since there was a physical injury.

The police will contact hospitals etc to locate the guy.

Also contact your insurance company and tell them what happened and provide them with the police report.

Also were there witnesses? You need names and addresses and phone numbers in case the guy tries to say it was your husband's fault. Bike vs car and the police and insurance companies tend to take the biker's version of it because they are "small" and difficult to see on the road.

Thanks, guys!

Yeah, there were two witnesses, and the police questioned them, we have their names and addresses. Husband saw the bicyclist not looking, and speeding up, in his rear view mirror, and honked twice to try to get his attention. The bicyclist looked up and saw our car at the last minute, but it was too late.

What a lousy day. I think I'm going to bed now.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

We have a copy of the report, but maybe there's another one. Guess we'll get answers tomorrow. Husband has to meet with the insurance in case the guy tries to sue us. Wouldn't that be a burn?

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I hope he doesn't try to sue but it sounds like it. That's what happened to my co-worker. I think the guy died that she hit. It was 3 cars and she was the one in the middle.

Get some rest.

I do hope that everything is gonna be ok, and just the way that I have read this thread, your husband didn't hit the guy on the bicycle, the guy hit him. He guy hit him in the rear, so I don't understand how it can me your husbands fault.

Please keep us updated on it anyways.

The police will find out his name..and just be sure that you do report it to the police as I'm sure you already have.

Generally pedestrians will try to sue whether its your fault or not, so be prepared for that. Good thing, your auto insurance should cover that

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

The police will find out his name..and just be sure that you do report it to the police as I'm sure you already have.

Generally pedestrians will try to sue whether its your fault or not, so be prepared for that. Good thing, your auto insurance should cover that

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I agree, make sure that you keep your witness statments close at hand if it does come to that point.

that would be so frusterating, I'm glad your DH is ok though....

I would talk to the police. Once the guy is concious and doing okay, they'll probably question him and get all his information. The accident wasn't your fault, so you shouldn't have to pay anything. Good Luck.

If you have a police report, the number that is on the report is what everything else about the incident will be attached to.

The police will need to get the guy's name and address, that is not something that you can do.

You pay your insurance company anyway, so let them fight with the police to get the info.

Hang on to that report and number, it is worth it's weight in gold.