Here's the scenario, Cliff Notes first:
I found a truck I want to buy to put a snow plow on, the truck was recently in a fender bender, the police gave the other driver (not the seller) a ticket, if I bought it can I persue the insurance claim?

Now the story:
Brother-in-law calls to tell me a friend of his, Randy, has a company truck that the lease is up on and he is returning it for a new one. The company he works for offers the employees or friends or family of the employee to purchase the vehicles from the leasing company at turn in time or just turn it in and get their new vehicle. Randy has offered me the opportunity to buy it from the lease company. I can buy the truck for wholesale - it's a pretty good deal that i don't want to pass up. Here's the rub. Randy was in a fender bender with it a week before his lease was up. I can pursue the insurance claim if I want. Can I or does he have to?

 

Answer is no. And as he was his company's truck at the time of loss, it's a commercial policy. Any payout resulting from the claim would go to the named insured (you brother in law's co), not to your brother in law, and not to you.

 

If he doesn't get it fixed before the lease is up the leasing company is going to have an issue with that.

 

Guys, I went ahead and bought it anyway because even with the dented bumper it was still too good of a deal to pass up. It's in getting a snowplow installed now. Unfortunately not in time for the 4.5" of snow that fell here yesterday

So I read your posts and figured oh well no luck on pursuing the insurance claim. Get this, true story, State Farm called me and asked me to send them my ownership info so they can process the claim for me. Unreal! The previous owner gave the agent my number. We'll see where this goes.

Here's the damage:


Another angle:


Not too bad. I could maybe pull the bumper out. The truck is not my daily driver, just to be used for plowing my drive in the winter and Home Depot runs.

 

^ Wow that's totally unexpected.
I'm shopping around for insurance and I think I might get State Farm.

 

i've got state farm for insurance. i have never had a single problem from them. they pay quick and pay whatever a body shop tells them it will cost.

 

I agree. The way, I am told, the business lease is set up is every 2 years he gets a new truck. The Fleet Manager calls him up and tells him to drop off his truck and pick up the new one. He doesn't get to pick what it is or anything. Everyone gets the same vehicle. The lease company gets it and sends it to auction. If the auction sells it for less than the predetermined price the company pays the difference. So the lease company didn't know of the damage or doesn't care. So basically I bought it for the predetermined price so the business doesn't pay any differnce to what the auction may sell it for. It was still too good of a deal to pass up.

I still have not had time to fax my ownership info in. I'll post an update as to what happens.

 

I have Allstate, and I hear people say they deny everything. I'm definitely switching.

 

UPDATE:

State Farm mailed me a check for $667.00 to pay for damages! Talk about suite!

A new "used" bumper is under $200 and I'll be doing the work myself.

By the way, got the plow installed:


....and have made over $1200 plowing 2 small commercial lots so far this December. Not bad. The truck is filthy dirty in the pic; haven't washed it since getting it. The back is sitting low because I have 1500 lbs of bagged rock salt in the the bed.

 

they are assholes to deal with. we have state farm and they are very good

 

looks good, great money maker