The Hertz Corporation Don't get in an accident with a Hertz Rental Car because they won't pay - Park Ridge, New Jersey

On the evening of December 30, 2012 at 10:15pm an individual driving a car lost control or was drunk and took out my mail box, some landscaping and slammed into my into the drivers side rear end of my Ford Van.  My dogs started barking and I went out to see what they were barking at.  When I walked out I seen a black individual running down the street and turning the corner.  I noticed my Van was knocked off it's normal parking spot and when I went to get a closer look at what happened I noticed this 2012 Chrysler Town & Country Mini Van's rear end was smashed into my left rear quarter panel.  The van was still running and in Reverse.  The guy who was driving it just booked it and ran.  I decided to take a closer look at the inside and found a drivers license and a soc ial security card and also found drugs both pills and marijuana in the center console of the front seats.  Both names matched on the drivers license and social security card.  I then turned off the motor and pulled the keys out and went inside to call the Police.  20 minutes later an officer showed up and filled out a report.  I explained to him what had happened.  He then typed in the license plate number of the van into his car to see if he could find out who the owner is.  It came back as a rental through Hertz.  The officer felt bad for me bud said that since it was rented from Hertz that their Insurance would pay to have my van, landscapping and mail box fixed.  I ageed and figured that if this had to happen that at least through Hertz they have insurance for this type of thing.  Boy was I wrong...

This all happened on a Sunday night but after the Police officer had the van picked up and towed to the police department because drugs were found inside.  I went inside and got online to call Hertz and report the accident.  I called their number for accidents and to my surprise got a live person and reported the accident.  I gave her the police report # and phone number to call to get a copy.  She asked that since it was Sunday night that I wait until Tuesday or Wednesday for their associated to get up to speed and read the report.  I agreed.  I called them on Wednesday morning and that's when things changed.  I kept getting recordings, I left messages and called several times.  No one ever returned my call over 3 days.  I just had to keep calling.  I finally reached someone on the 3rd day and the lady said that the report had to be turned over to an adjuster.  This took another 5 days before it was finally assigned to an adjuster.  When I finally reached this adjuster she looked over the file and found out that a stolen vehicle report had been filed and she would have to wait until she read that over or until she got her own copy before making a decision on what to do next.

I called the adjuster 2 days later and she said that since they have a stolen vehicle report that they won't be paying for any damages on my property of Van.  I said wait a minute, do esn't this van have insurance on it?  She said yes, so why do I have to wait to have my property repaired?  She said that once a vehicle has been stolen that they hold NO responsibility for any damages.  I was beginning to get upset and said BS!!!!  She said there was no reason for me to start cussing and hung up the phone.

I was so upset I decided to start doing my own detective work.  I found out the the Van was rented up in Evansville, IN and was driven down to Nashville, TN...  The renter filed the stolen car report 2 days after my accident.  While I was speaking with the officer of the stolen car division and he said that when a report is filed 1-2 or 3 days after an accident than something is fishy.  Usually people trying to plan out their story to tell the rental car company to avoid paying for repairs.  He said that this sounds like one of those cases.  The rental claims the Van was stolen on the 30th of December or January 1,2013 (this lady didn't even know where her rental van was for 3 days)...

So because of this bogus report that was filed Hertz is now not going to pay for my damages.  My only recourse is to file suit in small claims court to try and recover damages.

I also found out that Hertz is self insured and doesn't have an Insurance company they go through when they rent a car.  Hertz has run me around and around and refuses to even talk with me anymore since I told them I am going to sue.  You would think they would want to resolve this so it doesn't go to court.  They don't seem to care.

I have estimated of $3,500 to repair my landscaping, mail box and van.  I can't go to my homeowners insurance because I only have fire insurance on my home due to my low income.  I also can't go through my auto insurance because I don't carry full coverage and only Liability Insurance.  So I am basically screwed and Hertz could care less.

Watch for updates as I take this to small claims court and let's see what the Judge has to say.