“the driver claimed he swerved to miss a pedestrian and hit my car”

“Dear PoPville,

My car was parked on a Sunday morning in a legal parking space on U St NW (in September.) When my daughter and came back to the car after exercising, we saw the note from the police officer and the damage to the front of my car (pics above).

A homeless man told us that the street sweeping vehicle backed into my car – which makes since given the damage. Mr. Chapman, the supervisor of the driver in the street sweeping vehicle, said the driver claimed he swerved to miss a pedestrian and hit my car. Interestingly, there is no damage to the driver side of the car. The damage is in the front. Also, this was early on a Sunday morning – not many people are out and about on U Street at that hour.

The timing could not be worse. It was right before I was scheduled to take my daughter to college, and due to my father recent passing, and I had to make frequent trips to take care of my my mother, and I had to go take care of my aunt after open heart surgery. I was not able to use my car.

Finally, in October, I was able to take my car to the repair shop. My car was in the shop for a week due to the extent of damages – behind the grill. I did go through my insurance, thinking it would be easier for them to get the money back from DC Gov. Not so, since this happened in September and it is February and still DC has not paid. I am still out my $500 deductible and the rental car expenses. My insurance reports, DC Gov has not reimbursed them and that is the reason I have not received my $500.00 deductible.

My insurance instructed me to file a claim for the rental car expenses directly with DC Gov since this expense was not covered under my policy. I did. And the response I got was ridiculous. Out of $1,700 for rental car, DC Gov states it will give me $60.00. And on top of that DC is requesting a W9! This tells me they are going to tax me on the $60.00. Does that sound right? Really the worst of it, is that my car still doesn’t run right. A car that I was hoping to last a lot longer, now has had its life shortened as a result of the negligence of a DC Gov employee and DC is not doing anything to make amends.

Is there anything else I can do?”