Help! Any insurance people here? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

RideOrDie · 02-28-2012, 03:28 PM

Anyone work for insurance as an adjuster or know how insurance works?

Here's the story:

Someone backed up into my parked 240 and crunched up the front fender and mirror. I called the driver's insurance to put in a claim, in which they said they would fully cover. That's the good news...

I went and got estimates of my own. After talking to their agent, they recommended some shops to get the adjuster to make estimates of their own. So I took it in to one of their shops and now comparing my estimates and theirs, it's quite different in amounts.

I'd rather cash the money out to repair this stuff on my own. The agent I'm working with will not allow me to go and have their adjuster come out to the body shop I got a higher quote from, knowing that I want to cash out rather than repair. She said only way is if I go with another body shop, that I'd actually have to get the repairs done and will only issue a check to the body shop. I'm thinking she's BS'ing me, but I need to hear people from the industry how this works.

- Is this true that I can't have their adjuster readjust and talk to another body shop to claim a higher amount, since I've already taken it into one of their "approved" shops?

- Could I claim Loss of Use coverage (rental car) as well? I have my daily driver, so I wouldn't need one anyway. This part isn't so important, but if she's trying to nickle and dime me, I'd like to repay her kindness.

I know she wants to pay as least out as possible and I'm trying to get as much as possible to cover the damages. I just want to make sure I'm not getting screwed over. If this matters, I'm located in California.

blueshark123 · 02-29-2012, 12:59 PM

I'm pretty sure you cant do what your trying to do. Since you could just take it to a buddies shop and tell him to give you a higher estimate.
Your best bet is to take it to another approved shop they have listed get you another estimate.

As far as rentals im not sure

Take whatever you can get a new fender and mirror only cost 2-300. you can get used for dirt cheap.

DJ-of-E · 02-29-2012, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueshark123

I'm pretty sure you cant do what your trying to do. Since you could just take it to a buddies shop and tell him to give you a higher estimate.
Your best bet is to take it to another approved shop they have listed get you another estimate.

As far as rentals im not sure

Take whatever you can get a new fender and mirror only cost 2-300. you can get used for dirt cheap.

I'd just rather take it to a high quality body shop know of rep to make things perfect and agree to a point to get your car repainted. haha.

KendallH · 02-29-2012, 02:28 PM

Same thing happened to me. Some girl who was high off her ass backed into me at a mcdonalds. Tore my front bumper off, cracked my fender and bent my intercooler. What did I get from State Farm? $140.

hockeyrules · 02-29-2012, 02:50 PM

I worked for sf, I believe what ever the adjuster came up with is the amount they will pay you for, and if you take it to a shop and it's more they will pay the shop directly. If I understand what your asking.
To the comment above me, either your agent did not help at all because sf will pay you what damages they owe. If you have proff that the fender/bumper/intercooler was more they will pay the difference.

***Future240*** · 03-03-2012, 10:04 PM

I work for a rather larger company as a claims agent.

First off insurance companies pay different rate than consumers.
2ndly whatever the adjuster/claims body shop writes is what you get. If you got it fixed at a shop any difference and they shop would submit a supplement estimate for extra damages foud. Yes you can claim loss of use. It would be better to ask if they have a cash out of pocket option. Basically they pay you cash for the amount it would cost you to pay rental.

RideOrDie · 03-06-2012, 05:36 PM

Sweet, thx for your reply hockeyrules and Future240.

The other insurance will write me a check for just the estimates, but will NOT pay loss of use. Agent will NOT budge and only pay for the estimate amount.

***Future240*** · 03-06-2012, 06:54 PM

They won't pay LOU? Hmmm..... that is strange. What state?

RideOrDie · 03-06-2012, 08:29 PM

Yeah, she said since I'm cashing out and not getting it fixed, shes not going to give me LOU. I'm in cali.

***Future240*** · 03-06-2012, 09:42 PM

Oh that's why. Ask for what's called cash out of pocket. It's the money they would have to pay for a rental but you get it cash. I will check that out at work tomorrow.

02-28-2012, 03:28 PM	#1
RideOrDie Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Left Coast Posts: 114 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Help! Any insurance people here? Anyone work for insurance as an adjuster or know how insurance works? Here's the story: Someone backed up into my parked 240 and crunched up the front fender and mirror. I called the driver's insurance to put in a claim, in which they said they would fully cover. That's the good news... I went and got estimates of my own. After talking to their agent, they recommended some shops to get the adjuster to make estimates of their own. So I took it in to one of their shops and now comparing my estimates and theirs, it's quite different in amounts. I'd rather cash the money out to repair this stuff on my own. The agent I'm working with will not allow me to go and have their adjuster come out to the body shop I got a higher quote from, knowing that I want to cash out rather than repair. She said only way is if I go with another body shop, that I'd actually have to get the repairs done and will only issue a check to the body shop. I'm thinking she's BS'ing me, but I need to hear people from the industry how this works. - Is this true that I can't have their adjuster readjust and talk to another body shop to claim a higher amount, since I've already taken it into one of their "approved" shops? - Could I claim Loss of Use coverage (rental car) as well? I have my daily driver, so I wouldn't need one anyway. This part isn't so important, but if she's trying to nickle and dime me, I'd like to repay her kindness. I know she wants to pay as least out as possible and I'm trying to get as much as possible to cover the damages. I just want to make sure I'm not getting screwed over. If this matters, I'm located in California.

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02-29-2012, 12:59 PM	#2
blueshark123 Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Jersey Posts: 4,993 Trader Rating: (54) Feedback Score: 54 reviews	I'm pretty sure you cant do what your trying to do. Since you could just take it to a buddies shop and tell him to give you a higher estimate. Your best bet is to take it to another approved shop they have listed get you another estimate. As far as rentals im not sure Take whatever you can get a new fender and mirror only cost 2-300. you can get used for dirt cheap.

02-29-2012, 02:28 PM	#4
KendallH Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Clearwater, FL Level: Master Troll Age: 21 Posts: 670 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Same thing happened to me. Some girl who was high off her ass backed into me at a mcdonalds. Tore my front bumper off, cracked my fender and bent my intercooler. What did I get from State Farm? $140.

02-29-2012, 02:50 PM	#5
hockeyrules Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Peoria, az Posts: 447 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	I worked for sf, I believe what ever the adjuster came up with is the amount they will pay you for, and if you take it to a shop and it's more they will pay the shop directly. If I understand what your asking. To the comment above me, either your agent did not help at all because sf will pay you what damages they owe. If you have proff that the fender/bumper/intercooler was more they will pay the difference.

03-06-2012, 05:36 PM	#7
RideOrDie Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Left Coast Posts: 114 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Sweet, thx for your reply hockeyrules and Future240. The other insurance will write me a check for just the estimates, but will NOT pay loss of use. Agent will NOT budge and only pay for the estimate amount.

03-06-2012, 08:29 PM	#9
RideOrDie Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Left Coast Posts: 114 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Yeah, she said since I'm cashing out and not getting it fixed, shes not going to give me LOU. I'm in cali.

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