Dealing with insurance adjuster

DWalt

DWalt

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
35,583
Reaction score
32,162
Location
South Texas & San Antonio
Last Friday, my beloved 2003 Ford Ranger was backed into by a truck, and will probably be totaled. It is (was) in great condition and had low mileage for its age. I made a claim to the other party’s insurer and sent them pictures. So far, no action on their part. Looking through all of the local used car websites, I found nothing even close to mine for sale for less than $9K, and anything I would buy is more like $12K. I am fully expecting that when the adjuster shows up I will probably get a ridiculously lowball settlement price. Question is, what is your advice on the best way to deal with the adjuster in a situation like this? This is actually a first for me, never had an accident where the other party was at fault.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
I would call my insurance agent and get him to act on your behalf. I would then download ads for vehicles in similar condition, if you can find them, and between the two of those, perhaps you can get the true replacement value. My son has a similar concern driving a 19 year old BMW 325 convertible with only 60k miles on it. The book value is next to nothing, but to try and buy a like replacement will cost nearly double the 'book value."

Good luck and don't take no for an answer.

Robert
 
DWalt said:
Last Friday, my beloved 2003 Ford Ranger was backed into by a truck, and will probably be totaled. It is (was) in great condition and had low mileage for its age. I made a claim to the other party’s insurer and sent them pictures. So far, no action on their part. Looking through all of the local used car websites, I found nothing even close to mine for sale for less than $9K, and anything I would buy is more like $12K. I am fully expecting that when the adjuster shows up I will probably get a ridiculously lowball settlement price. Question is, what is your advice on the best way to deal with the adjuster in a situation like this? This is actually a first for me, never had an accident where the other party was at fault.
Click to expand...

Based on the age (you did not specify the mileage) so I will assume over 100,000 miles they most certainly will total it and offer you what they classify as their black book value and will probably be very small.....Unfortunately on a total loss you really have no options....but anywho.....best of luck........
 
Tell everyone you want a FAIR price for a "Quality" old car or
you will take them to court.

They do not want it to go to court, beleive me.

I got 20k for my 2014 Rav 4 that had only 37k on it and no dings,
this November on my new car deal.
 
Last edited:
Ohio has an "Insurance Commission" (Under one name or another I bet Texas has one too!) Direct you phone call to their complaint department!

My best friend had a similar problem with a totaled Nisson P/U. The commission got the offending insurance company to cough up the $3000 to buy a comparable replacement truck!

Just remember. The guy who hit you is the responsible party, Tell HIM if thing don't work out, HE is the one you have to sue.

Ivan
 
I was involved in a 3 car pileup, I was hit from behind and was then pushed into the back of the vehicle in front of me. The woman who hit me from behind was ticketed for causing the accident. My vehicle was old and had a lot of miles on it but I had owned it since new and had just put a bunch of money into it. I contacted my insurance company and filed a claim with them, not with the insurance of the woman who caused the whole mess. When the adjuster came out I told him I realized the vehicle was old and had pretty extensive front and rear damage that would probably total it. I told him I had owned it since new and really wanted to keep it. He wrote the estimate and told me that it should be totaled based on the cost of repairs versus the book value of the vehicle. He said that if I wanted it fixed they would fix it and go after the the other insurance company. He told me I would have to pay my deductible and said I may or may not get my deductible back, he said it depended on the settlement with the other insurance company. It took a while but I eventually got my deductible back.

My wife got hit once and we contacted the sub-standard insurance company of the person that hit her to make a claim. They told me to take it to some fly by night back alley body shop for repairs, I refused. I again contacted my insurance company who paid for the repairs at the body shop of my choice. I paid my deductible but again I got it back after the other insurance company paid off.

If the other insurance company want's to total it you should contact your insurance company and let them know what is going on and that you would like to keep it and see what happens.
 
It sounds like you’re never gonna be able to replace your vehicle with one of similar condition. If you think you can rebuild it yourself, as mentioned, that could be an option. But you still need a vehicle in the meantime.
What got my attention was the fact that this is your first claim that wasn’t your fault. The heck with everything else. I’d wear that claim like a badge of honor!
 
This is an interesting topic. Please keep us posted on outcome. I can’t stand insurance companies.
 
Book value on vehicles over 15 years old are a lottery. The thing is none of these books take into account some of the weird times we live in. The prices on new pickup trucks are stupid high right now, to the point I think a market crash has to come. Trouble is, these prices have pushed up the retail "value" of any old collection of iron oxide that looks remotely like a pickup.

Meanwhile, the insurance company has an entirely different view. They are looking at repair costs versus their "value" which is likely just based on original cost and straight depreciation. It puts the average person in a corner if they get in any substantial wreck.
 
I have no idea what your options are. I like the filing a claim with your insurer then they will sue or negotiate a settlement. I am interested in the outcomes for educational purposes.
 
My sister was involved in an accident recently that was clearly the other driver's fault. The other driver readily admitted she was at fault. My sister thought about going after the other driver's insurance company but took my advice to let her insurance company to do the dirty work and stay out of it. She got her car repaired properly for a very low cost to her.
 
I was in an accident years ago and my car was totaled. It was an out of state trucking company that did it. Long story short, I tried to file a claim with the other party's ins and they gave me a low ball offer then ignored me. I ended up going after the driver, personally, THEN they agreed to settle. It took forever.

I should've let my ins deal with it all.

I ended up buying my totaled car back and pulling all the parts I needed and sold the rest.

LMC-Truck should have ell the parts needed to repair your Ranger if it comes to that.
 
When I hit the red light runner last New Year's Day I let my insurance company handle everything. They gave me a much higher settlement than I expected ($10K more than I had paid for the vehicle new) and then recovered it from the other driver's insurance.

I did wind up around $6K out of pocket for medical bills that the other insurance refused to pay for whatever reason. Yeah, I could sue, but it's not worth it for $6K in my mind.
 
Last edited:
My experience says even if your '03 Ranger was in factory-fresh, mint condition--you are screwed. Insurance companies are rarely--if ever--your friend.
 
My guess is you just had liability insurance for the truck? If so, the other insurance co. will probably use that against you in a settlement.
 
Last wreck I was in someone slammed into me from behind while i was stopped waiting for the driver two cars ahead to turn left. 8 or 9 year old car with a little over 100K miles BUT it had 4 new tires a month old AND I had just left the dealer after getting a new (rebuilt) engine ( on the dealers dime as the tech had an oops when working on it) The at fault insurance company asked for proof of the engine and tires and they actually factored them in and pain me a fair price that was well over book for the car and miles. Sometimes they step up and do right.
 
Start collecting comps for the value of your truck. Autotrader, other online car sales sites, and auction sites like BringATrailer and Cars and Bids. The auction sites will probably have the nicest examples and highest prices, here's BAT for Ford Ranger '98-11 for example:

Ford Ranger 1998-2011 For Sale - BaT Auctions

A good thing about the auction sites is they show an actual sale price.

To get top value, you will have to show examples that are equivalent to your truck. A couple years ago, my enclosed car hauler trailer got wiped out in a hailstorm. No structural damage, but totaled due to cosmetic damage. I had to fight with State Farm for four months because they kept trying to value my trailer by comparing it to the cheapest stuff on the market, when it had a finished interior and many options and upgrades. I finally got what I wanted for it, but it was a fight, and I had to provide comps for the value to prove my point.

Buying back at salvage is also an option, but you have to consider that the truck will always be devalued by a branded title and balance that with the cost of repairs. I bought my trailer back, and continue to use it to this day... it looks like a golf ball, but it still functions 100%. It was a no-brainer, because the only actual repair was a $100 roof vent.
 
I have only liability coverage on my Ranger. I spoke with a highly recommended private body shop owner yesterday (not one of the big chain body shops) and he was very helpful in understanding how the system works. He is coming later to look over the damage on my Ranger, then we will go from there. So far, not a peep from any insurance adjuster.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Narragansett
Gun insurance
2
Replies
20
Views
734
Waxster60
W
Nevada Ed
Medical Insurance cost
2
Replies
25
Views
785
GypsmJim
GypsmJim
Narragansett
The 3 P's of Life Insurance
2 3
Replies
46
Views
1K
BC38
BC38
NYlakesider
Home insurance!
2
Replies
26
Views
680
SMSgt
SMSgt
G
part D insurance 2025
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
CalifEd
C

Latest posts

Back
Top