Anyone have experience trying to negotiate with an insurance adjuster?

[Chris2597]

I have been posting about my ds19's car accident in Aug. Another driver ran a red light and collided with my ds truck. Thank goodness witnesses stopped to render aid to my son as the other driver took off on foot, leaving his business truck behind...It was determined that he was a relative of the business owner.
The other drivers insurance co has really low balled us on a settlement on the truck. We have determined our price by averaging kbb, nada, edmunds estimates on worth. The adjuster says there are 11 similiar truck for his settlement in the area....we say show them to us....He has admitted they are high high mileage and dont have as many amentities and are not in as good of shape as our truck. The adjuster told us he agrees that our truck was in excellent shape and very low mileage. Dh told him he is coming up short on the settlement....he says they are right on and only pay as if you are buying from a private individual.
We have never been through anything like this and dont know if we are fighting a loosing battle...Should we battle on or consede?

 

[C.Ann]

I was in an accident last February.. I was stopped at a stop sign and an old lady came around the corner too fast, panicked and hit the gas instead of the brake, and plowed right into me.. Totaled my van.. Her insurance company tried to low-ball me and I just couldn't deal with it (I had just buried my husband a week before) so I had my son-in-law fight it out with them.. He got a thousand dollars more than the ridiculous amount they were offering.. He just flat out refused to settle until they came up with the figure that HE was quoting and they knew he wouldn't budge..

YOU tell THEM what is agreeable to you (within reason, of course) and tell them you will NOT settle for anything less.. Believe me, they'll "find" a way to meet your price..

 

[Rozzie]

my mom was the "insurance adjuster" that you speak of for 25 years. A darn good one, too. Don't sign anything until you are happy with the settlement, I was amazed about how much she got for my car after a accident. She said you just have to be tough as them. Good luck!

 

[Papa Deuce]

We have never been through anything like this and dont know if we are fighting a loosing battle...Should we battle on or consede?

Do not concede! If the difference is huge, just get a free consult from an attorney. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, do not sign a check from them until you are satisfied.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I was in an accident last February.. I was stopped at a stop sign and an old lady came around the corner too fast, panicked and hit the gas instead of the brake, and plowed right into me.. Totaled my van.. Her insurance company tried to low-ball me and I just couldn't deal with it (I had just buried my husband a week before) so I had my son-in-law fight it out with them.. He got a thousand dollars more than the ridiculous amount they were offering.. He just flat out refused to settle until they came up with the figure that HE was quoting and they knew he wouldn't budge..

YOU tell THEM what is agreeable to you (within reason, of course) and tell them you will NOT settle for anything less.. Believe me, they'll "find" a way to meet your price..

ABSOLUTELY.

 

[ducklite]

Put it into terms they understand.

"All we want is to be made whole. If you choose to not be reasonable, then we will persue legal action, and it will cost much more to lititgate this matter than what we are asking for at this point."

I've used that line several times, they cower and you will quickly get a check.

You can also make a written complaint to your state department of insurance--that usually gets their attention.

Anne

 

[Southern4sure]

Keep in mind you do not have to accept any money from the ins. company if you feel they are trying to low ball you. You have every right to take the owner of the vehicle and the driver that hit your DS to small claims court. You will need several estimates, police report and etc.

You are not stuck with what the ins. says they will do. Be strong and tough and stay on the ins. company with phone calls but record everything and who you talked with.

 

[Bildmouse]

My DD's car was totaled two years ago by an unlicensed driver who had his cousin's car. Luckily the cousin's car was insured but they tried to lay blame on my DD. It was a 4 way stop and she had stopped and was turning while he was speeding and never even slowed up for his stop sign. They wanted to deduct 25% because they said she was that much at fault. My DH refused to accept any blame on her part. We had a witness who said she had stopped and the other driver never slowed down. They finally agreed and settled for the full amount. That was about two months after the accident. She is just now getting a settlement check for pain and suffering from the insurance company.

 

[Chris2597]

We do have an attorney for the pain and suffering part....The attorney can handle this part if it gets to that point. He offered but dh wanted to try to settle the property damage himself as we thought it would be cut and dry. My dh is talking to the adjusters manager. He initially said they would go higher...that he felt it was a fair settlement. Dh was at work when the manager called him back and he didnt have all of his info with him....but he will pursue this next week.

 

[kellydizfan]

I would let your insurance co deal with the other company. Go thru yours - saves you the headache of dealing with them. Your company will go to bat for you. You will have to pay your deductible for collision coverage if you have it and then your company will subrogate against the other company and get your deductible back.

 

[DWDreams]

I actually am an insurance adjuster. I'm surprised your property damages aren't going through your own company first, then they'll look to the at fault carrier for reimbursement. Standardly, that's how it works. If fault is clearly on the other party, your own company probably won't even charge you the deductible since they know they are getting the money back 100%. I'd go that route if you can, your own ins. co. will be fair to you I'm sure. If you can't go that route for some reason, then make sure you have sound reasoning behind your figure and stick to it. If it's realistic and makes sense, they'll either agree or at least compromise.