I was involved in a hit-and-run accident in January. I use my personal cars as work vehicles, and I was on a call when I was hit. A white van struck me from behind as I was on a freeway off-ramp, striking me so hard that the driver's seat was partially torn from its mounts. My glasses were flung off.
As my car came to rest, I looked in my rearview mirror and could see the white van motionless on the offramp behind me. The driver shut off his lights and sped past. I couldn't get the license number as I hadn't regained my glasses as yet.
I made my 911 call from my cell phone, and when I found out that my car was still operational (It was night, and I couldn't see any major damage), the 911 operator told me to get it off the freeway. I finished my work call and went home.
The next morning I discovered that there were some new folds in my rear fenders, and that my frame had been tweaked a little. I reported this to the 1-800-PROGRESSIVE number, and was assured that hit-and-run was covered by my uninsured motorist policy. One of the persons I spoke with was named Jemmina.
They sent me to the San Diego office and Mr. Ed Devine, who immediately told me that hit-and-run was covered by collision insurance, which I did not have. I said that the 1-800 operator said differently, and Mr. Devine became animated and asked who I spoke with.
A few more phone calls, and Mr. Devine said that I definitely wasn't covered, but that if Progressive had mis-stated my coverage, a reversal may be had. He was going to review the phone tapes.
The phone tapes backed my story up, but then Progressive decided not to honor my claim as I hadn't raised the coverage question until after the accident. I responded no, I had questions about uninsured motorist coverage about one year prior to this incident, and that Progressive should have telephone records of this also.By now I was speaking with Mr. O'Grady, Mr. Devine's associate. Mr. O'Grady said that he could order these tapes if I was "ready to face the consequences." I asked him what consequences, and he said that he wouldn't "compromise himself."
Then I saw that Progressive employees had made an error when selling me my policy. The different types of accident insurance coverages had never been explained to me succinctly, and when attempts were made, the employees themselves misrepresented the policies. Mr. O'Grady, in stating that he didn't wish to "compromise himself, " actually said that if Progressive helped me with my claim, some employee's jobs may be in jeopardy. Mr. Devine actually no longer works there.
Finally the office manager, Gordon Eckstrom, contacted me to say that Progressive couldn't honor my claim. He said that they never found any record of my questioning the type of policy I have, and that I should have read my policy long ago. He was contrite, but said there basically was nothing he could do.
On thinking about it, I couldn't remember receiving a policy from Progressive. All the business was conducted over the telephone. I called and asked that a copy of my policy be sent me, and I received something that didn't mention hit-and-run at all. There was a signature page included with it, and my guess is that this was something that I was supposed to have received long ago. My signature was nowhere on it.
I called the San Diego office back and spoke with Ms. Spaulding. She said that she had a copy of the contract with the hit-and-run exclusion in her hand, and that she would send me a copy. I have yet to receive it.
To sum it up, Progressive isn't honoring my claim because I should have known what I was buying. But Progressive has yet to show me my policy. Progressive has given me conflicting definitions of what uninsured motorist and collision coverages are, and has actually told me that yes, I am presently covered for hit-and-run on more than one occasion. Progressive employees have even used mild forms of intimidation to hamper my claim process.
I have been reading excerpts of policies over the telephone. None of these make sense when read out of context. And at least one Progressive employee that worked on my claim is no longer employed there.
I was on a work call when this accident happened. I got to the call late, which "compromised" my employment. I hope that efficiently handling my Progressive claim won't "compromise" any more of their employees.
Curt
San Diego, California
U.S.A.
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