As I have said before Progressive is backed by George Soros with a front man as President. Let the buyer beware.
Once again, I'm playin' poker with an insurance adjuster
- Thread starter P&R Fan
- Start date
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
So you're sayin' that Flo is George Soros' woman
As a car guy I hang out on a few car forums and accidents are a big topic. Unless I missed it no one here mentioned diminished value. You get in an accident and rest assured most times any dealer knows that and they will make a substantial deduction in what your vehicle is worth. (Even if it is fixed up a 100% and drives and handles perfectly.) This is very common on Vette, Porsche and Viper type forums where most enthusiasts are very knowledgeable and understand what they have.
Common on many threads by people in the know is to hit the insurance company for more in order to recoup that now diminished value. O they will argue and throw a hissy fit about it but if you're sharp you can recoup some or all of that hidden loss.
It really hits people hard, their pride and joy is in an accident normally the other drivers fault that your car is smashed up and then you lose more at trade-in/sell time.
Common on many threads by people in the know is to hit the insurance company for more in order to recoup that now diminished value. O they will argue and throw a hissy fit about it but if you're sharp you can recoup some or all of that hidden loss.
It really hits people hard, their pride and joy is in an accident normally the other drivers fault that your car is smashed up and then you lose more at trade-in/sell time.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
But it is difficult if not impossible to pursue successfully a diminished value claim on a 1999 Suburban with 366,000 miles on it. Sentimental value maybe.....
I always go into any negotiation assuming I'm going to get a fair shake and I'm always a pleasant person to deal with. I'm even pleasant after an adjuster tries to nick me, after all we are just talking about money and it's still a negotiation. It isn't personal, it's just business and there is no need to turn it into anything else. I'm finding that a good attorney can get people to focus more clearly on their obligations per the contract. I always like to plead ignorance. This looks like it's way over my head and I probably should have my attorney take a look at it. Here is her card, give her a call and we can work it out.
Something to remember. An adjuster can work for you also.
Awhile back my wife had a cleaning service doing some work for us and one of the services employees parked her car behind my truck. I didn't see it when I backed up and put a very small dent in her fender. I looked at it and told her I could pop it out or she could file a claim with my insurance and they would take care of it. Her car was about 25 years old. She told me she had bought it for $400 and it ran pretty well. A week later she tells me she had two estimates and they were both $1200 +/-. She asks if I wanted to just give her the money so it wouldn't raise my rates. I guess she thought I had more money than good sense. I told her to file a claim if there was that much damage. My agent said she contacted the company and they offered her a few hundred dollars but they would have to total her car. Never heard anymore about it and my rates didn't go up. I also told the cleaning service to send someone else next time.
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Doug M.
Member
About 21 years I ago, I got T-boned by someone who pulled out of an intersection at which he could not see because of an unlawfully parked car. The adjuster (an employee of a contractor used by the insurance company) told me that the owner of the parked car was 10% at fault and that I would have to get that from him. That caused me to convey to him my viewpoint of just how wrong he was and the exposure he was creating for the insurance company. He replied with "I won't be threatened by a lawyer". That seems to have been an error of staggering proportions.
After a call to the insurance company's legal division, and a pleasant chat with a very unhappy lawyer, I had a check 3 days later with a nice request that I sign the release. They ended their relationship with that contract appraisal company, and that adjuster lost his job. I think he got to understand the difference between a threat and a prophecy.
After a call to the insurance company's legal division, and a pleasant chat with a very unhappy lawyer, I had a check 3 days later with a nice request that I sign the release. They ended their relationship with that contract appraisal company, and that adjuster lost his job. I think he got to understand the difference between a threat and a prophecy.
I just had my first auto insurance claim since the early 90's, and the first one since I've been with State Farm, (mid 90's). My fault, backed into a neighbors mail box (that was hiding from my view below the liftgate of my SUV). Stopped by my agent's office, where they put me on the phone to the claim office which took the information was very pleasant and advised me an adjuster would call in a few days (this was on a Fri.) On Sat. the adjuster called and went overboard to be sure I wasn't hurt, etc. Approved the shop I had selected to do the work and emailed him the approval. It wasn't a great claim, just over $1000, but I was treated as a valued customer. I will continue to carry my coverage for both home and auto with State Farm.
Doug M.
Member
That's consistent with our experience.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I have a 43 year old airplane that just now has been totally restored. Just this morning I insured it. After a half dozen quotes I found one that was half as much as a couple of the others with the same terms. I hope to go to california next week and pick it up and fly it home. Pray for me! Its been a loooong time!
+1 USAA...
JIM..............
JIM..............
bgrone
Member
Claims
Most property and casualty policies are written from a standard form published by IIA (Insurance Institute of America).
The biggest difference in how claims are handled is usually determined by middle management, get a jacka** in charge and the attitude rolls downhill. If an appraiser seems to be shooting from the hip ask to see his/her IAA certificate or ASE certification, ASE has separate classification for damage appraisal. Another solution if a company appraiser presents you with a lowball estimate take a copy of it to one of their authorized repair facilities with the header blacked out and ask if the shop will repair and guarantee the work per that estimate. The insurance company I worked for had a first choice program whereby if your shop of choice was enrolled they would accept the shop's estimate with digital photos, the shops were informed of the insurance companies policies and expectations of quality. If a discrepancy arose a home office appraiser was sent out to review the damage. As some posters have noted often auto claims particularly "fender-benders" are handled by newer/less experienced representatives, this can lead to frustration when a newbie tries to impress his boss with the money he saved the company.
A good appraiser tries to write an estimate that will return the vehicle to pre-collision condition within the limits and terms of the policy. Sometimes this means subtracting a percentage of the damage in consideration of prior unrepaired damage or damage not involved in the current incident. Sometimes this requires some comprise on both sides; maybe the exact same part is no longer available of a tire that was half worn out was ruined. A good appraiser saves his company money by: weeding out: inflated repair times; unneeded parts ;sourcing quality parts from other vendors; identifying prior damage; verifying the facts of the loss; identifying other parties legally liable for the loss.
As for a total loss, in most cases it is simple math if the cost of repairs + the salvage value (post loss) = or exceeds the ACV (actual cash value) the vehicle is totaled. The sticking point comes when a vehicle is rare; in unusually good condition; or has features that cannot be duplicated in the local market.
In cases of disputes most states have an arbitration process, some states allow the claimant to use a "public adjuster" (a qualified adjuster not beholden to either party) .
That's enough for now, if I haven't put you to sleep you'll just have to have a toddy or an Ambien.
In another post I'll tell you about my first big truck claim as an Heavy Truck Appraiser, not as riveting as a Badger/Mushroom/Snake video but and insight into how co-operation can make a win/win out of a bad event.
Jim in Iowa
Most property and casualty policies are written from a standard form published by IIA (Insurance Institute of America).
The biggest difference in how claims are handled is usually determined by middle management, get a jacka** in charge and the attitude rolls downhill. If an appraiser seems to be shooting from the hip ask to see his/her IAA certificate or ASE certification, ASE has separate classification for damage appraisal. Another solution if a company appraiser presents you with a lowball estimate take a copy of it to one of their authorized repair facilities with the header blacked out and ask if the shop will repair and guarantee the work per that estimate. The insurance company I worked for had a first choice program whereby if your shop of choice was enrolled they would accept the shop's estimate with digital photos, the shops were informed of the insurance companies policies and expectations of quality. If a discrepancy arose a home office appraiser was sent out to review the damage. As some posters have noted often auto claims particularly "fender-benders" are handled by newer/less experienced representatives, this can lead to frustration when a newbie tries to impress his boss with the money he saved the company.
A good appraiser tries to write an estimate that will return the vehicle to pre-collision condition within the limits and terms of the policy. Sometimes this means subtracting a percentage of the damage in consideration of prior unrepaired damage or damage not involved in the current incident. Sometimes this requires some comprise on both sides; maybe the exact same part is no longer available of a tire that was half worn out was ruined. A good appraiser saves his company money by: weeding out: inflated repair times; unneeded parts ;sourcing quality parts from other vendors; identifying prior damage; verifying the facts of the loss; identifying other parties legally liable for the loss.
As for a total loss, in most cases it is simple math if the cost of repairs + the salvage value (post loss) = or exceeds the ACV (actual cash value) the vehicle is totaled. The sticking point comes when a vehicle is rare; in unusually good condition; or has features that cannot be duplicated in the local market.
In cases of disputes most states have an arbitration process, some states allow the claimant to use a "public adjuster" (a qualified adjuster not beholden to either party) .
That's enough for now, if I haven't put you to sleep you'll just have to have a toddy or an Ambien.
In another post I'll tell you about my first big truck claim as an Heavy Truck Appraiser, not as riveting as a Badger/Mushroom/Snake video but and insight into how co-operation can make a win/win out of a bad event.
Jim in Iowa
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