by Guest » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:29 am
I have a 2007 Hyundai Tuscon with 20,000 miles on it. On Sat we were rear ended and pushed into the car in front of us. We were at a complete stop and the girl who hit us was going about 40 mph. The estimates (before it has gone on a lift or a frame machine) are around $6,000 to repair with our mechanic telling us the repairs could be double that once they get inside and see the extent of frame damage (apparantly he has already determined there is frame damage). I want the insurance company to declare it a total since I don't see that the car will ever be the same after this much damage, not to mention the diminished value when/if we try to sell it now that its been in an accident. The accident was 100% (per the state police) the other drivers fault and I'm frustrated that I'm going to be left with a not so new, not so great, structurally compromised car all because a 17 yr old was texting behind the wheel.
Any thoughts about anything I could say/do to plead my case with the insurance company?
Any thoughts about anything I could say/do to plead my case with the insurance company?
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:04 pm Post Subject:
Has the adjuster stated that this is a complete estimate? When does the shop intend to have it on a lift and torn down so that additional damage can be seen? If this is a preliminary estimate (and it sounds like it is)...I wouldn't get too shook up until I knew it had been throughly inspected.
Do you have any idea what your vehicles ACV (actual cash value) is? If you'd like to post all the options (also 2 or 4 wheel drive)...I'll run it and see what the ACV is...also what state are you in? Most states have a percent law on the books...meaning when the cost of repair reaches this percentage (70-80% usually) then the vehicle is an automatic total...(warning in some states ALL the repairs don't count)...also the vehicle totals, when the cost of repair is equal to or more than the ACV minus the salvage value.
Why don't you call the shop, ask if the adjuster has been back out or if they are ready for the adjuster to inspect it (is it torn down)...then call the adjuster ask that they call you when the supplement has been done. Ask what their critera is for a vehicle to be deemed a total.
Another option is to have your carrier also inspect it...I assume you have collision coverage, your carrier can handle the claim then subrogate the at fault carrier.
Do you have a lein on the vehicle? If so what is your pay off? Do you have GAP?
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:28 am Post Subject:
Yes, I have gap insurance... yes, there is a lien on the car.
It is a 2007 Hyundai Tuscon. 20,000 miles. Leather seats, sunroof, 2WD, multi cd player. Other than that just standard features.
I'm in NH.
I have called my insurance co. and they sent an appraiser to look at the car. Tomorrow the at fault party's appraiser is coming.
My understanding is that once the mechanic starts to "tear down" the car to uncover the rest of the damage, that constitutes beginning the repairs so at that point do insurance companies ever decide it is a total or do they say that since the work has started it's going to continue.
Thanks for any help you can give!
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:39 am Post Subject:
My understanding is that once the mechanic starts to "tear down" the car to uncover the rest of the damage, that constitutes beginning the repairs
That is not true, you can give your consent for tear down only to access and inspect the damage...that does NOT in anyway, shape or form constitue a repair authorization nor does it mean repairs have begun..so at that point do insurance companies ever decide it is a total or do they say that since the work has started it's going to continue
. sure...many times we write a preliminary estimate say in a tow yard, (prior to tear down) then get it in a shop have it torn down and complete the estimate, and total it then. The trouble is most of the time, adjusters cannot write to repair or replace a part that they cannot see or capture the damage in a picture. A rear body panel might be a good example. On most cars you can't see this part very well until the bumper cover is off the car.Let us know what your appraiser and the other carriers appraiser have to say after they have inspected it..
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 01:22 pm Post Subject:
Hi, do we expect that the appraisers belonging to both parties would work with the same interests? Or is it that they might have different look outs under such circumstances?
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:15 am Post Subject:
do we expect that the appraisers belonging to both parties would work with the same interests?
yes, I don't write an estimate any different if it's first or third party...Or is it that they might have different look outs under such circumstances
no, I wouldn't see why.Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 05:09 pm Post Subject:
One appraisal came back at $7000 and I quote the insurance agent who passed this info on. She said "the appraiser is really good and he doesn't think there's any supplemental damage". I told her that unless he has xray vision or brought a portable lift that I don't see how he has already determined that.
Can I call my mechanic and see if they will start to take the car apart and then look for more damage? Will I have to pay for that?
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 09:56 pm Post Subject:
Hi, do we expect that the appraisers belonging to both parties would work with the same interests? Or is it that they might have different look outs under such circumstances?
I have opportunities to examine estimates prepared by the same insurer for both insureds and claimants. I have found oftentimes, it does matter, who you are, what you drive, or where you live with regard to the types of repairs or parts used in those estimates on which settlements are based. Currently I am seeing one company write original equipment parts on their own insureds vehicle repairs because of the policy provisions and for claimants they are estimating with the use of alternative, generic, imitation parts and taiwan tin. It's a corporate decision and not the individual appraiser in those cases where they are given criteria in which to prepare their estimates.
In other cases some insurers write for certain procedures, oem parts on vehicles three years or newer, and some companies write a/m parts the day it's driven off the new car lot. So I would have to conclude that not all companies see indemnification under the same criteria or microscope.
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:53 am Post Subject:
I have found oftentimes, it does matter, who you are, what you drive, or where you live with regard to the types of repairs or parts used in those estimates on which settlements are based
Come on Mike, 'oftentimes' you are seeing bigoted adjusters? Who makes a decision on how to write an estimate based on where a person lives? Sorry, I don't buy that...I do agree that all company's have their own critera for a/m parts useage. I personally don't know any company's that write one way for first party and a different way for third party. I would like for you to provide the names of those company's that do that in our state Mike. The only way I could see this ever happening would be if there is a specific (first party) endorsement for new oem parts only...and that wouldn't be a 'company' thing that would be an individual policy thing. As far as I know, there are only one or two companys that even offer that endorsement.So I would have to conclude that not all companies see indemnification under the same criteria or microscope
I agree, as I've said all carriers have different critera for a/m part useage. But I've NEVER seen it differ within the same company for first and third party claims. Again, who are these company's? I know adjusters at about every company, so I'd like to find out how they get away with something like that. As well as determining repair decisions based on a home addressPosted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:02 am Post Subject: insurance
From MY experience, anyway,.....when the Adjuster was 'inspecting' my car, he said "Legally...even if what I ahve looked at, so far, has 'totaled' your car, I STILL have to look at ALL of the damage." I even took the vehicle to my mechanic to look at (the Jeep was still driveable). (Thinking outloud)..If ANYONE had gotten into an accident, what does it matter where you live?!
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:24 am Post Subject:
If ANYONE had gotten into an accident, what does it matter where you live?!
I don't know, doesn't make any sense to me either.. :roll: nor have I ever seen or heard of it.Add your comment