Insurance adjusters....HELP!

[lovin diz]

I have a new 2009 Toyota Corolla. DH and i were stopped at a red light, and the car behind us rearended us.

She got out of her car screaming at me, and i was furious

She caused this, and now she is screaming at me?? I said do you have insurance, she said yes, but there is nothing wrong with your car....Well DH and i had to block her car from leaving the scene while we called the police... (that has nothing to do with my question....that was just a vent

My bumper was damaged, and now one of my break lights dont work.....

I called her insurance company...They want me to get an estimate from someone affiliated with THEM, and this is in a horrible part of town?? I want to go to the dealership, b/c it is a new car!!!! Now they are saying that yes, i can go to the dealership, but i still have to have their people estimate the damages...I know their person will lowball the estimate. I would have to pay the difference in price

Do i have to get their person to give me an estimate. I dont mind getting other estimates, i just dont want to get a lowball from THEM!

 

[mtdevine615]

Sorry not sure about your state, but most states it is against the law to require you to go somewhere you don't want to go. They cannot force you to get three estimates like in the old days or to go to their garage. Check with your insurance company/agent they should have all the informations you need. If not try your insurance commisonor at the state level. Oh, by the way sorry you got hit.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Have you contacted your insurance company? In the beginning of April I had a drunk driver hit a car parked behind me, which pushed that car into mine (2008 Toyota Camry) and caused major damage to my bumper and muffler. I immediately called my insurance company. They sent out their estimator (if that's even a word). They indicated I could bring the car to their repair shop, also in a bad neighborhood. I asked if I could bring it back to the dealer's autobody shop and they said yes. Because I had such low mileage on my car, they allowed for all brand new factory parts. I needed a new bumper and a muffler. I had the car back within a few days and they didn't settle with the drunk drivers insurance company until recently. I had to pay my deductible, but once my insurance company received word from her insurance company that they were taking complete responsibility, my insurance company sent me a check for my deductible.

 

[lovin diz]

I had the car back within a few days and they didn't settle with the drunk drivers insurance company until recently. I had to pay my deductible, but once my insurance company received word from her insurance company that they were taking complete responsibility, my insurance company sent me a check for my deductible.

I have a feeling this is what i am going to have to do....

 

[PrincessKsMom]

They'll also require you to send them a copy of the police report, which will include the other driver's insurance info, etc. Good luck. It's very inconvenient to have to pay for your deductible, but it's more inconvenient to go without a car for months. In my case, I finally got my deductible back after 2 months, and that was after she pleaded guilty to DUI in court, even though she was arrested at the hospital after the accident. Apparently she was driving behind a police car when she swerved and hit the parked cars, so they saw it happen and were there immediately. When they approached, she just kept repeating that she'd only had 4 drinks.

 

[DizBelle]

I hate stupid people....

I just had to chime in with that.

 

[dansamy]

That's why you pay your insurance company. They work for you. Let them deal with her insurance company's bull$#@!. Yeah, you'll have to pay your deductible and wait for her insurance company to pay out to get it refunded.

 

[DMickey28]

Most states have laws that require the insurance estimates to be written a certain way. Being that it's a brand new car you will get the same parts that you had on it, you can't get used parts until you hit a certain mileage/age.

They can't force you to go anywhere. What company is it? When I worked doing insurance claims we had shops that we were affiliated with that could write estimates to our specs/rules and then we had shops that our adjusters were at to write the estimates. It's not shady at all as long as it's a legit. company.

 

[Lisa_M]

Call your insurance company and see if they can advise you.

 

[Tina]

I was also rear-ended a couple of weeks ago. I called my insurance company. She told me I can file through my insurance and pay the deductible or file through the other driver's insurance and pay no deductible. I called their insurance and they were great. Since I only had bumper/tailpipe damage, the adjuster told me to go to any shop of my choice for a written estimate. I did, faxed them the estimate, and had a check in hand 5 days later.

You shouldn't have to pay for an estimate. If you are concerned about their estimate, get one of your own for comparison. Ask that they price it for Toyota parts, since your car is new.

Good luck!

 

[lovin diz]

QUOTE=DMickey28;32230136]Most states have laws that require the insurance estimates to be written a certain way. Being that it's a brand new car you will get the same parts that you had on it, you can't get used parts until you hit a certain mileage/age.

They can't force you to go anywhere. What company is it? When I worked doing insurance claims we had shops that we were affiliated with that could write estimates to our specs/rules and then we had shops that our adjusters were at to write the estimates. It's not shady at all as long as it's a legit. company.[/QUOTE]

She has US Agencies, and we have Geico.

I dont think it will cost that much to fix the car....I just dont want a "jack leg" to put duck tape on it, and say it is Magically fixed

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP,

You take it to the dealer and tell the other parties insurance adjustor to meet you there. As he's looking over the car start complaining about a sore neck! I'm sure he will be happy to get the car fixed your way!

TC

 

[robinb]

It's just me, but I would never take my car to the DEALER for body work. I would take it to a body shop where all they do all day is put cars back together. You would also be amazed at how much the repair will cost.

 

[dennis99ss]

Take the car to your dealership, and have them give you an estimate. Make sure they connect all of the damage, non-working light, etc. with the accident. Call and tell the other insurance company where the vehicle is and advise that they can look at it where it is, or they can come to you. Then, insist that the vehicle be fixed at a dealership. Your damages are the cost to put the vehicle back into the same condition it was. That means certified parts from the mfgr. as well as certified trained staff of the mfgr at the dealer. Although they try to bully you into doing things their way, you are the one that is in control.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

It's just me, but I would never take my car to the DEALER for body work. I would take it to a body shop where all they do all day is put cars back together. You would also be amazed at how much the repair will cost.

My dealership has a separate body shop. I figured who knows a Toyota better than people who work on nothing but Toyota's all day long?

Also, I think my estimate for the damages (new bumper, muffler and the shock absorber between the bumper and the car) was about $1600. Might not seem like much when you look at it, but it adds up quickly. It's not just the parts, it's the paint, labor, etc. that also add to the total.

 

[lovin diz]

My dealership has a separate body shop. I figured who knows a Toyota better than people who work on nothing but Toyota's all day long?

Also, I think my estimate for the damages (new bumper, muffler and the shock absorber between the bumper and the car) was about $1600. Might not seem like much when you look at it, but it adds up quickly. It's not just the parts, it's the paint, labor, etc. that also add to the total.

That is another thing. I have a LONNNNGGGG scratch on the bumper. I feel so guilty for being nit-picky, but gosh, i want my car back the way it was. I am going to the dealership sometime tomorrow....I will let ya'll know how it goes. Thanks for the support!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Good luck! If it's just a scratch, they might be able to buff it out and paint it. Either way, please let us know how you make out.

 

[Disney Doll]

I had a spate of accidents back in my 20's...none of them my fault. I was rear-ended, broad-sided, backed over by a flatbed...you name it, it happened to me. My insurance company (Amica) got to know me on a first name basis.

Anyhow, got broadsided by a drunk. He had Allstate. They called my house about 65 times asking me to detail the accident for them again. When they called the 66th time, I asked them how many times I was going to have to tell the story, I asked them how many times they were going to hear the story before they realized that the story was not going to magically change so that it turned out that their drunken insured person didn't blow through a red light at an intersection and broadside my 9 month old car, and I also asked them how many times they had called their insured. Of course, once they knew I was on to what they were trying to do, they told me they had contacted their insured several times, he had not called them back. My response "So then who do you think is the guilty party". Keep in mind, that all this back and forth with phone calls meant that no one was giving me permission to get the car fixed. I then told them not to contact me again, that any other questions they had about this accident were to be referred to my insurance company (Amica ). I then called Amica again (I had called them to report the accident), they told me get the car fixed, they'd pay for it and go after Allstate. The car was fixed in about 3 days, and about 2 weeks later I got my deductible cost back.

Have I mentioned that I Amica??????

 

[disbridemimi]

You need to call YOUR insurance ASAP! They will act on your behalf, that is why you have them. I got sucked into a scenario like that when a truck hit my house. Their agency appraised the damage at 2k, my insurance company was took care of it and fought with them for me, and we got everything repaired for a total of 16K. That 2k wouldnt have even covered the deposits.

Call YOUR insurance NOW!

 

[tazdev3225]

Call GEICO. I have them for insurance also. My DD was in an accident a couple of years ago when a woman made a left turn in front of her. Her insurance only wanted to give us a minimum payout because it was an older car. Even though my DD had basic coverage GEICO went after the other insurance and got us the full value. Good luck.