End of a long chapter/bad day.

[letank]

if you have his name and address, time to serve him to appear in small claim court... limit is $10K in Cal

[rang-a-stang]

... they finally sent out an adjuster to "take a look @ it" today.
What a joke....

Did he say ANYTHING useful? Did he say when his estimate would be ready? How long does the other guy have to make a statement? 30 calendar days?

[babywag]

Did he say ANYTHING useful? Did he say when his estimate would be ready? How long does the other guy have to make a statement? 30 calendar days?

Last email from adjuster stated "hoped" to have update by end of day Friday.
Shocker...didn't happen.

No idea on limit if any, I don't believe there is any law requiring someone to give a statement/talk to an insurance company.

[GWNashville]

So Sorry to hear about your wagon. I was just thinking today about lowering my insurance to a lessor policy. Won't be doing that. Good luck Monday.

[DarkMonohue]

Any updates to share? I'm really sorry this happened. I had a terrible experience with my insurance provider when our very nice, but old, Camry got totalled by a drunk driver. Our insurance was through Progressive and the drunk's was also. Progressive took a look at the car, agreed that it was totalled, and offered me about a third of replacement cost. They refused to budge and wouldn't even follow reasonable logic when comparing values to similar cars listed locally - e.g. ours was a well-equipped V6 model, and my pointing out that I couldn't buy a base-model four-cylinder cars for what they were offering failed to sway them. Even alerting them that I was prepared to take my business elsewhere didn't seem to concern them in the slightest.

Unfortunately, the insurance provider is relying on the policyholder's impatience and desperation to force them into accepting a stupidly low offer. In my case, Progressive held that line, probably assuming that since we drove cheap old cars, that we must also be without resources to replace them, and would eagerly accept the few hundred dollars they waved in front of us.

One tactic that did help was to ask them to simply replace the vehicle with a like example. That's not something they do, but it brought the conversation back to realistic local replacement value, since that is where people purchase vehicles, rather than what a book said, since you can't buy cars from KBB or NADA.

The other approach that really added some leverage was to let them know that I felt that they were cheating me and had been in touch with the state insurance board regarding some of their statements. I made it clear that I was prepared to file a formal complaint if they were unable to work according to the law and, in doing so, produce an appropriate offer. Suddenly the adjuster "had a talk with the manager" and started to see some of my points, and the offer went up to a value that allowed me to take the check and be done with it.

I hate insurance.

[ShagWagon]

Any updates to share? I'm really sorry this happened. I had a terrible experience with my insurance provider when our very nice, but old, Camry got totalled by a drunk driver. Our insurance was through Progressive and the drunk's was also. Progressive took a look at the car, agreed that it was totalled, and offered me about a third of replacement cost. They refused to budge and wouldn't even follow reasonable logic when comparing values to similar cars listed locally - e.g. ours was a well-equipped V6 model, and my pointing out that I couldn't buy a base-model four-cylinder cars for what they were offering failed to sway them. Even alerting them that I was prepared to take my business elsewhere didn't seem to concern them in the slightest.

Unfortunately, the insurance provider is relying on the policyholder's impatience and desperation to force them into accepting a stupidly low offer. In my case, Progressive held that line, probably assuming that since we drove cheap old cars, that we must also be without resources to replace them, and would eagerly accept the few hundred dollars they waved in front of us.

One tactic that did help was to ask them to simply replace the vehicle with a like example. That's not something they do, but it brought the conversation back to realistic local replacement value, since that is where people purchase vehicles, rather than what a book said, since you can't buy cars from KBB or NADA.

The other approach that really added some leverage was to let them know that I felt that they were cheating me and had been in touch with the state insurance board regarding some of their statements. I made it clear that I was prepared to file a formal complaint if they were unable to work according to the law and, in doing so, produce an appropriate offer. Suddenly the adjuster "had a talk with the manager" and started to see some of my points, and the offer went up to a value that allowed me to take the check and be done with it.

I hate insurance.

Is based on how much or how far you are willing to take it.

Car worth 7k. Write you a check for 2k because they know it will cost you 5k in lawyers, 3 years and countless trips to court to get your full 7k.

Then they will raise your rates to make up any loss they incur. And if you go somewhere else they will charge you more because the other will tell them you are difficult to deal with.

I hate insurance too.

[babywag]

Thought I posted an update, but guess not??

Monday finally got my answer from AAA.
Insurance hassle is over...they had no coverage(shocker) why it took AAA a month to come to this determination is beyond me?
Which meant had to utilize my policy uninsured coverage.
This means the MAX payout is $3500 doesn't matter how much vehicle damage was done.
What AAA doesn't tell you is even though policy states higher amount of coverage all they're liable for is $3500.
CA insurance information website states the same, so way lame!!

Anyway the initial damage estimate was $4K, the adjuster missed/excluded some damage. I would easily say $5k or more actual repair cost.
They valued it @$8982.

My only recourse is small claims court to make up the difference.
Based on background checks and their lack of cooperation and communication I seriously doubt I'll see a dime, regardless if I win or not.
It is very easy for losers like this to get out of paying.

Next step will be a real damage estimate primarily to see about frame/axle/suspension.
Once I know what that will cost me will make the decision on fixing or ?

[Ristow]

next time tell them your neck is starting to hurt. lower back too....knee mighta hit the dash.....

Any updates to share? I'm really sorry this happened. I had a terrible experience with my insurance provider when our very nice, but old, Camry got totalled by a drunk driver. Our insurance was through Progressive and the drunk's was also. Progressive took a look at the car, agreed that it was totalled, and offered me about a third of replacement cost. They refused to budge and wouldn't even follow reasonable logic when comparing values to similar cars listed locally - e.g. ours was a well-equipped V6 model, and my pointing out that I couldn't buy a base-model four-cylinder cars for what they were offering failed to sway them. Even alerting them that I was prepared to take my business elsewhere didn't seem to concern them in the slightest.

Unfortunately, the insurance provider is relying on the policyholder's impatience and desperation to force them into accepting a stupidly low offer. In my case, Progressive held that line, probably assuming that since we drove cheap old cars, that we must also be without resources to replace them, and would eagerly accept the few hundred dollars they waved in front of us.

One tactic that did help was to ask them to simply replace the vehicle with a like example. That's not something they do, but it brought the conversation back to realistic local replacement value, since that is where people purchase vehicles, rather than what a book said, since you can't buy cars from KBB or NADA.

The other approach that really added some leverage was to let them know that I felt that they were cheating me and had been in touch with the state insurance board regarding some of their statements. I made it clear that I was prepared to file a formal complaint if they were unable to work according to the law and, in doing so, produce an appropriate offer. Suddenly the adjuster "had a talk with the manager" and started to see some of my points, and the offer went up to a value that allowed me to take the check and be done with it.

I hate insurance.

[Ristow]

absolutely sue them.

Thought I posted an update, but guess not??

Monday finally got my answer from AAA.
Insurance hassle is over...they had no coverage(shocker) why it took AAA a month to come to this determination is beyond me?
Which meant had to utilize my policy uninsured coverage.
This means the MAX payout is $3500 doesn't matter how much vehicle damage was done.
What AAA doesn't tell you is even though policy states higher amount of coverage all they're liable for is $3500.
CA insurance information website states the same, so way lame!!

Anyway the initial damage estimate was $4K, the adjuster missed/excluded some damage. I would easily say $5k or more actual repair cost.
They valued it @$8982.

My only recourse is small claims court to make up the difference.
Based on background checks and their lack of cooperation and communication I seriously doubt I'll see a dime, regardless if I win or not.
It is very easy for losers like this to get out of paying.

Next step will be a real damage estimate primarily to see about frame/axle/suspension.
Once I know what that will cost me will make the decision on fixing or ?

[blauvelt]

Thanks for the heads up on AAA uninsured motorist limits, I have my Wagoneer on AAA, going to review that and get on the phone with them ASAP.

Very sorry for your loss.

Thought I posted an update, but guess not??

Monday finally got my answer from AAA.
Insurance hassle is over...they had no coverage(shocker) why it took AAA a month to come to this determination is beyond me?
Which meant had to utilize my policy uninsured coverage.
This means the MAX payout is $3500 doesn't matter how much vehicle damage was done.
What AAA doesn't tell you is even though policy states higher amount of coverage all they're liable for is $3500.
CA insurance information website states the same, so way lame!!

Anyway the initial damage estimate was $4K, the adjuster missed/excluded some damage. I would easily say $5k or more actual repair cost.
They valued it @$8982.

My only recourse is small claims court to make up the difference.
Based on background checks and their lack of cooperation and communication I seriously doubt I'll see a dime, regardless if I win or not.
It is very easy for losers like this to get out of paying.

Next step will be a real damage estimate primarily to see about frame/axle/suspension.
Once I know what that will cost me will make the decision on fixing or ?

[Ristow]

Thanks for the heads up on AAA uninsured motorist limits, I have my Wagoneer on AAA, going to review that and get on the phone with them ASAP.

Very sorry for your loss.

i believe those laws will vary by state,and obviously CA will have the worst policy regs in the country.

[babywag]

i believe those laws will vary by state,and obviously CA will have the worst policy regs in the country.

Believe it or not, there are states that are worse than CA in regard to uninsured drivers.
My policy had coverage for uninsured & underinsured was $50k/$100k(bodily injury).
I wrongly assumed that property damage coverage was good enough...what they DO NOT tell you about is the $3500 max payout limit on property damage.
Partly my fault for not educating myself better/having collision insurance on the 'ole turd.

This situation was more that they did NOT have coverage.
Had they actually been insured my Jeep would be in the shop getting repaired.

But, doing the math I haven't even paid $3500 in 14yrs of insurance on the thing.

[DarkMonohue]

next time tell them your neck is starting to hurt. lower back too....knee mighta hit the dash.....

Fortunately, our car was parked when the drunk hit it, so no injuries could be claimed. But, yeah, that's a thought. Might open the corporate checkbook up a little wider.

[Ristow]

Fortunately, our car was parked when the drunk hit it, so no injuries could be claimed. But, yeah, that's a thought. Might open the corporate checkbook up a little wider.

right,and now i think im having panic attacks about parking my car anywhere......mental anguish........i think i need an ambulance.....

[661warwagon]

There's a couple out here in my neck of woods (central cal) for sale in that price range if you want to switch your interiors out