‘We Have Leverage’: State Farm Says They’ll Pay for Work Truck Damage After Fatal Accident. Then the Driver Gets a $30,000 Bill
Some days, everything seems like it runs on premium-grade nonsense. And few things fuel that feeling more than insurance. Companies lure you in with promises of protection against mayhem. With comparisons to good hands and better neighbors, they make it seem like it’s their only goal to protect you, your loved ones, and your property. Why, then, do so many people end up fighting for promised coverage?
That’s a question Dustin Rosen (@caraccidentexpert832-925-2030) tackles in a recent TikTok. His explanation has been watched over 9,000 times.
So a little niche? Yes. But valuable information when you need it most: when the insurance company is making promises that Rosen alleges it has no plans to keep.
State Farm Promises Compensation After Man’s Work Truck Is Damaged In Accident
Behind bold text that says, “State Farm denies again! Now an innocent driver is stuck holding the bill,” Rosen does a little walk-and-talk. “Just hung up the phone with someone that was involved in a car accident where the other driver died.”
He goes on to explain that the man who passed away was at fault for the accident. But the person who was not at fault is now having to deal with the insurance company, State Farm. It’s a terribly sad situation, agrees Rosen, but it’s being made worse by the action of the insurance company.
The problem, says Rosen, is getting the damages paid for. The surviving driver has a business, and to go along with it, he’s got a truck, trailer, and equipment—all of which he needs in order to run his company.
According to Rosen, in this scenario, “State Farm is really nice on the phone, [saying] ‘Go do what you need to do, submit the receipts, and we’ll get everything paid for.’”
Why Insurance Companies Will Make Promises They Won’t Keep
Three and a half months go by.
Rosen recaps, “Long story short, State Farm is saying they’re not going to pay for everything.” He then mimes a random executive pointing at various line items, “We’ll pay for that, and we’ll pay for this,” he says, “but we’re not gonna pay for this, this, this, and this,” he says as he gestures toward an invisible itemized list.
By Rosen’s count, the driver is $30,000 “in the hole” with no recourse. “What can he do about it? Really, he could file a complaint. Or he could file a lawsuit,” suggests Rosen.
The problem with that option? Rosen says he’s never going to find a law firm that will take on a property-damage-only case. And insurance companies know this.
In Rosen’s words: “The moment that they [the insurance companies] know that someone is not hurt in an accident, they go, ‘We have leverage here. What’s he gonna do about it? No one’s going to file a lawsuit.’”
How Drivers Can Protect Themselves and Get Paid
So what’s the average Joe to do? How do you avoid getting stuck with thousands of dollars in bills? Simple: Don’t wait.
“I always say, regardless of whether you’re injured or not, get a free case evaluation as soon as possible,” Rosen says.
Bottom line? “Don’t trust what the insurance company says to you early on.”
After a Crash: the To-Do List
After a collision, all the chaos can make it hard to forget the basics. But a standard post-crash checklist still stands:
Multiple sites (attorney and insurance agree) that after you check to make sure everyone is OK, and move your vehicle from the lane of traffic, it is time to:
- Call the police and get a police report.
- Call for medical help if needed.
- Exchange information and take photos.
- Contact your insurance company.
- Call a lawyer.
Of course, you should also keep records of everything. And considering the complex nature of the insurance industry, Rosen might be right; getting help from an expert advocate could help save you money and time.
Motor1 reached out to Dustin Rosen via his website’s contact form and to State Farm via press email. We will update this article if either party gets back to us.
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