auto insurance claim

[WildWestDesigns]

And if i was you, i would go somewhere that could look under the vehicle for the estimate.

Depending on the results of the accident, that might actually not be as easily done. Unless they do work to go in there and find out if there has been other damage that can't be easily seen and that would take it out of the quote phase and into doing work on the vehicle to get in there.

I've always had shops do that same caveat, so I think it's pro forma.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

When I was in previous accidents, none my fault.... same deal. I was never sent a check. They just handled everything. Sounds like they are hoping I just accept it and move on.

This has been a nightmare since the beginning. The insurance company could not get a hold of them for several weeks after the accident and said if they did not hear back the case would be closed and they would be dropped. It would then be up to me to repair the vehicle and have my insurance pursue it. They were cited in the police report

I have done all the work and wasted hours of my time

 

[The Vector Doctor]

I called the guy who hit me and asked if he was avoiding the insurance company and would consider just paying out of pocket. He said he "forgot", the next day the insurance company said he finally contacted them.

I had to light the fire I guess.

 

[ellsmako]

My last "incident" cost me $500 in legal fees and netted about $2200. Money I would have otherwise never seen since it was an out of state guy that hit my wife's car.
That included letters to the idiot who wrecked our car, letters to the insurance company, talking to the DA, negotiations, counter-offers and setting a court date. Plus all the additional paperwork required to bring him back from Oregon if necessary. I feel I got good value.

It was a complicated mess and I won't go into specifics.

Just curious was that recent or a few years ago. What States.

 

[Gene@mpls]

I owned a body shop for 20 years and this is pretty much the norm-
the idea is if you just cash the check you never realize that there was
more damage than what shows. Take the car to a reputable body shop
(not Earl Scheib or Macco) and they will work out the rest of the damages
after the car is disassemble so the Ins co can actually see what needs to
be done. They will not pay for anything they cannot see. Gene

 

[Border]

Gene is correct. I also worked in heavy collision for about 20 years.
Any reputable body shop will deal directly with the Ins. co once they have the car in their shop. They will file an accurate estimate with the ins. company that is responsible and that company will send an adjuster out to reinspect your car once it is torn down where they can see everything.
As far as that check goes, you can sign it over to the body shop doing the repairs and let them handle collecting the balance. That's what they do all the time and the Ins. company won't try to jack them around the way they will with you.

 

[klemgraphics]

Gene is correct. I also worked in heavy collision for about 20 years.
Any reputable body shop will deal directly with the Ins. co once they have the car in their shop. They will file an accurate estimate with the ins. company that is responsible and that company will send an adjuster out to reinspect your car once it is torn down where they can see everything.
As far as that check goes, you can sign it over to the body shop doing the repairs and let them handle collecting the balance. That's what they do all the time and the Ins. company won't try to jack them around the way they will with you.

Exactly.

We too have been in the body shop business for 25 or so years and I bet they are thinking you will just cash the check and not get the repairs completed(happens ALL the time), in which case they would not have a body shop calling them for a supplement. It can't be major damage for that low of estimate.

I would take it to the shop along with the check and the insurance estimate(assuming they must have given you one since the claim amount is different), let the shop compare estimates and they should be able to clear things up and get the correct amount without any hassle to you.

If all else fails....call complaining of back & neck pain....seen it done by a customer and it works wonders at resolving these issues quickly.

 

[Gino]

My wife was recently hit in her SUV by someone cutting through a parking lot sideways and not paying attention to what was in front of them.

Needless to say, the lady was offered a cash settlement, but her husband said no and reported it to their insurance company. Within a day or so, their insurance company had a check in our hands for the bid of OUR choice and all the paper work to give us a loaner while hers was in the shop. And WHAT a loaner it was.

I think you're getting the shaft. Most insurance companies regardless of what the need is... usually denies something 8 or 10 times until they finally give in. It takes a lota persistence and patience on your end to get things finalized. It shouldn't be that way, but that's the world we live in today. No one takes responsibility for their actions.

 

[FireSprint.com]

Get another repair shop to quote it just to back up the original quote. Go to the nicest/most expensive one in town. They should also pay for a rental car (Not a 'loaner' while your car is in the shop, even if it's just for a day.

I would keep pushing. Doesn't seem right that they wouldn't give you the full claim.

EVERY time I or a close friend/family member have been in an accident, full payment of the claim and rental car have been standard. Of course we're in a different state.

 

[Gino]

Get another repair shop to quote it just to back up the original quote. Go to the nicest/most expensive one in town. They should also pay for a rental car (Not a 'loaner' while your car is in the shop, even if it's just for a day.

I would keep pushing. Doesn't seem right that they wouldn't give you the full claim.

EVERY time I or a close friend/family member have been in an accident, full payment of the claim and rental car have been standard. Of course we're in a different state.

Sorry, I said loaner, I meant it was a rental car, but I said it wrong.

 

[jfiscus]

How many quotes did you get?
I should be worth your while to get 2-3 quotes from different body shops (assuming the car is still drive-able). That will show them that the cost to fix the vehicle is higher than their check; which should cover the repair in full.

Another body shop may also find that there is more damage than the first shop found, making the repair even more costly, when you were clearly not at fault in a rear-end collision in Ohio.

 

[rjssigns]

Just curious was that recent or a few years ago. What States.

Last summer about this time. Wisconsin for me. Oregon for the clown on a bicycle that did $2400 damage to our car. He had no intention whatsoever of paying a dime. Some people have no integrity.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

How many quotes did you get?
I should be worth your while to get 2-3 quotes from different body shops (assuming the car is still drive-able). That will show them that the cost to fix the vehicle is higher than their check; which should cover the repair in full.

Another body shop may also find that there is more damage than the first shop found, making the repair even more costly, when you were clearly not at fault in a rear-end collision in Ohio.

Just the one. I was not paying for it so I did not think it was needed to do all the legwork which takes me away from my job. This has already taken way too many phone calls and their rep is slow to reply.

I figured if the price was too high they would suggest finding another shop or sending out their own adjuster. I did not expect a check for less than the estimate

 

[royster13]

This is a liability claim, therefore, the other insurer is obligated to pay you "actual cash value"...Which in the simplest terms means the "used" value...So if the repair estimate included new parts, they may have depreciated them...

 

[fixtureman]

Go to a different collision center and see if their price is higher submit the highest bid as they told you to choose a center of your choice.

 

[Gino]

This isn't about Auto Insurance, but it shows how dumb these companies really are.

Back in I believe 1995, we had two back to back Nor-Easters and we got close to 5' of snow within about three days. Well, our screened-in back porch was 21' x 28' with a shed roof of 4 to 1 ratio on top. The snow drifted up there and we had close to 7' of snow up there and Sunday afternoon, it collapsed. 100% drop of all that snow demolished the entire porch and everything on it.

Insurance company says to get three estimates, so we did. They turned all three down and said they were too high. They suggested our using their recommended company. Just so happens we do all of their lettering so we had them come out for a quote. They were almost $20,000 higher than the highest guy we had gotten. The insurance company told us to go back to our guys and we said, too late, you turned them down and they've moved on and can't fit us into their schedules any longer. So, we got a check for the highest of all bids and called the one guy back and talked him into squeezing us in.

The insurance adjustor came out and Okayed an even higher amount when he saw the damage to our house. Made out another check for an additional $12,000 and said...... use it for whatever you want.

Sometimes they screw themselves............. ​

 

[WCSign]

#1 always get a lawyer... let them handle it, you pay zero out of pockets and get your car fixed plus a little cash...

#2 sorry if you mentioned, is the car paid for or have a lein?

#3 yeah, insurance companies will do whatever possible to try and screw you, DO NOT cash the check and DO NOT talk to them on the phone anymore.. have the lawyer do it, everything by letters

#4 or just call em once more and say "I want a check for $2000 or im calling a lawyer.." I bet they will settle at $1750

 

[phototec]

Been through this and learned the hard way, advice to you:

DO NOT CASH THAT CHECK, no way jose...

If you do, you will not see another dime.