What happens when you had an accident in America?

Accident. It is a thundering moment when you met with one.  This word is more heart shaking, when you hear it from your beloved one.

I was in India with my new born second baby. Generally Vetri used to call me after his dinner that is around 9 am IST, I waited till 12 pm, and called him several times. Once he picked up, and said that he was busy and will call back in sometime. I assumed it to be some escalation or other off shore calls to him.

Got the call from Vetri after 12pm. He said that he committed a blunder. I am scared but believed it to be in his office work only, but he continued that he had an accident. I was froze for seconds, from then my thought is only to see him. My voice call quality took his words perfectly to my ears, but my brain system, not accepted any sound and completely out of action.

I asked him to come on skype. Vetri did not want to get irritated with the skype quality at that crucial time. He wanted me to listen everything over the phone and assured me to come on skype at the end of the call. 

 "Are you injured?", I questioned him. 

"No, No one injured", he replied. 

 He confirmed with a patience that no one was injured but the damage is high. 

Me: What happened?

He started narrating then. It was a weekend, he went out for the dinner with his room mate. Everything was cool until he reached the apartment. The moment he stopped the car, an ordinary day turned out to be an unforgettable one. 

It took him some minutes to realize that his car was dashed to the wall in front of his parking area and that wall belonged to a flat, where a nuclear family resided. He was blank but got out of the car and rushed to that flat. The kid in that Indian family was much scared to that loud noise and was screaming. The husband and wife was also at shock and clueless at what happened. Then Vetri confessed that it was his mistake and he did that accident. 

Call 911

"It is a norm at US to inform 911 about any accident",the person in that flat said to Vetri. He called 911. He reported the accident in front of Vetri.

Cops wanted 2 clarifications: 

1. Is it a drunk and drive case?  - No.

2. Any bodily injured? -  No

Then they confirmed that no case filing was required and adked to go ahead with insurance procedure.

Vetri's room mate suggested him to take pictures for insurance purpose. Vetri who still could n't come out of the shock and felt helpless, just followed as instructed. He got approval from that family to take photos and entered the house. He realized that it was a colossal damage. He hit the wall that was a side of their kitchen and dining hall. He could see the number plate of his car inside their house. 

Thank God, his car was front wheel drive, else his car would have entered their home fully and made much more damage. Fortunately, none was near that wall when it got stumbled. That wall was made up of wood and this accident shattered pieces from it. Things kept beside the wall was damaged. Vetri took pictures around the wall and things that are damaged. 

Then, Vetri rushed to Apartment Manager's flat, who lives in the same apartment, but that irresponsible lady not even visited the place of accident and not shown any concern to his words. That lady least worried about Vetri's words and had no concern for the flat and people living in it. Vetri came back helpless and no strike to do anything further. Apologized for the family, they were also defenseless at that time, (only at that time).

The next day, Vetri reported to Insurance company and our car was towed to overhaul. The big hole in that wall was temporarily closed. Apartment owner visited the accident place and questioned Vetri about the accident. Vetri confessed his mistake but defended strongly when his questions turned out be an interrogation. He asked Vetri whether he planned to kill the family. Who will stay calm when someone tries to accuse you for a murder?!

Then the flat man and property owner asked Vetri for his maximum insurance coverage amount. Vetri did not disclose it to anyone. It is none of their business. But they can take advantage, if they get to know it.

Vetri discussed with his colleagues about the accident and further settlement procedures. Many had came across road accidents that involved vehicle damage but this was a property damage.

 In general

Insurance company will appoint a claim adjuster, who considers the report from insured and the victims.  Victims will submit the

1. estimated cost for restoring the damaged property
2. reimbursement costs
3. cost of mental stress they have undergone(if any)

Claim adjuster will notify the victim's claim amount to insured and get approval from insured. If Insured accepts, and the amount was within the maximum coverage, claim will be settled. If it exceeds, the insured will pay from his hand (in this digital world, transfer from his bank account). Monthly premium also will get increased.

In our case, same thing happened. claim adjuster was appointed. Victims here are two persons: Apartment owner and the residing family. Owner claimed amount to restore the wall. 

The ultimate was that family, they claimed for everything in their house. TV, mobile phones, sofa, table, chair, grocery, vegetables, kitchen utensils, exercise kit, mat etc.

They also claimed for medical expenses that is, because of this accident, his wife's bp got shoot up and reimbursement for their medical check up and dental treatment. There are people who can make advantage on everything. There must be someone who guided them so perfectly, they might have got legal assistance I guess. 

Claim exceeded our coverage amount, Vetri could have approached legal for defending these false claims, but we are out of country, not sure about the legal fee, what if the lawyer fee exceeded the excess claim amount. Moreover, by heart, he was guilty for his mistake and often thanks God that none was near the wall and no one was injured and that is enough. I feel, false claim and paying for false claim are also guilty. 

But I give a suggestion, there was an insurance for legal assistance too, we failed to add that. In your automobile insurance, don't fail to add property damage coverage and legal assistance. None knows what awaits in our next step. 

Finally why this accident happened? Machines do not go out of mind, they do what they are programmed to do. Vetri, when he was about to stop the car, tiptoed on accelerator instead of brake :(