RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Graham Simpson, owner of Lost Sailor Mobile Bar, said his business has been impacted after an accident with a tow truck driver.
“I have a mobile bar for weddings and private events. That makes things difficult,” explained Simpson. “Not having my vehicle, because mobile is important to us.”
Lost Sailor Mobile Bar(Graham Simpson)
Simpson said his SUV sustained an estimated $5,000 to $7,000 worth of damage.
“There’s front headlight damage, and the hood is damaged. It has, there’s been damage to the thermostat, which has caused electrical problems, which now the car doesn’t run,” he said.
Simpson said he was in an accident in April at Cary and Cherry streets with a driver from On Demand Towing.
“The tow truck in front of me went into reverse and backed into my car. Driver denied responsibility. Cop showed up. It was deemed his fault,” Simpson said.
Graham Simpson says an On Demand Towing driver, reversed into his SUV on April 21st.(Graham Simpson)
With the summer bringing a calendar full of events and weddings, Simpson said it was important to get repairs done to continue his work.
What the small business owner hoped would be a somewhat simple claim, Simpson said, has turned into something frustrating.
“It has been determined that the driver is uninsured,” he said.
However, a police report shows the at-fault driver’s insurance listed as Progressive.
He started his own investigation, trying to get in touch with the owner of On Demand Towing, listed as Andre Crawley.
“I showed up to their business,” Simpson said. “I sent [the driver] an Instagram message, I was blocked.”
A search on the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services database shows the driver on the police report, Andre Crawley Jr., is listed as having an expired tow truck driver’s registration.
According to Virginia law, a tow truck driver failing to register with the Department of Criminal Justice Services could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.
Simpson said his insurance carrier, Geico, is still investigating.
The company told him it is requesting footage of the crash that was captured by a VCU security camera. That’s why he is still waiting for his car to be repaired.
The On Your Side Investigators called On Demand Towing to speak with the owner and also went to the business in South Richmond. In both cases, employees said the owner was not available.
The On Your Side Investigators called On Demand Towing to speak with the owner and also went to the business in South Richmond. In both cases, employees said the owner was not available.(12 On Your Side)
According to personal injury law firm Emroch and Kilduff, Virginia law mandates that all liability insurance policies also have uninsured motorist coverage.
“This is coverage that will apply to protect you in the event that you are hit by someone without insurance or if someone does not have enough coverage to cover your injuries,” explained Attorney Howard Bullock. “Uninsured motorist coverage also provides coverage for any damage to your vehicle caused by the other driver.”
Virginia law requires that insurance companies operate in good faith, so they cannot arbitrarily fail to pay certain types of claims that would be covered by the uninsured motorist policy.
“This situation has had a significant impact on both my personal life and my business. Insurance will only cover a small portion of the final cost. There’s over $7000 of damage,” explained Simpson. “The effects of this incident have extended beyond just vehicle damage. It has created stress, financial hardship, and challenges for my business operations.”
Bullock also says that in a situation with an uninsured driver, speaking with an attorney can help someone navigate the laws surrounding uninsured motorist coverage. If necessary, a lawsuit can be filed on a driver’s behalf for damages related to the crash.
“Me being a local business owner myself, also a little unfair. I try to do the right things. I just feel like the Richmond community should know that there’s a company out here driving Ram 4500’s around with no insurance,” Simpson said.
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