Dealing with Insurance Claim

[kane66]

My baby was side swiped the other day by some kid pulling out from a parking space    . He had insurance. And i expected them to take car of it. Everything was going well, until today when they came back with there offer. Totaled out and they will pay me 1100 dollars for my ride  . I expected them to low ball me, but come one $1100 for a good 1985 Jetta diesel. I bought mine for $2900 4 years ago and prices haven't come down that much, I've checked. I'm wondering if anyone here has had to deal with a similar problem, and what did the do. Any help appreciated.

[mystery3]

Find ads for similar vehicles. The bluebook value is probably $1100, it's your responsibility to prove otherwise.

Have pics of the damage?

[macka]

Get 3 local ads for the same car, or 3 state area ads for the same car in the same condition. Show them the value of the vehicles, and get them to purchase a replacement if they are writing your baby off. Odds are they'll fix it. Sadly most underwriters know didly squat about cars, just how to look up the value in a book.

[mystery3]

Here's one local to me:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/1416687604.html
$1850 and needs a bit of work sounds like.

[GEE-BEE]

I would take the eleven hundred dollars and your car , part out your car for parts and go from there

I have my 81 caddy with 35k original insured for 12k, it's still 360.00 per year full coverage

Gee-Bee

[kane66]

1100 is if they keep the car... I haven't found out what it would be when I get it back. I'm finding examples as we speak. I hope that's as far as it goes. I really hate insurance company's.

[catlin_cava]

It might not be much because of the year, My buddy's Cavalier got written off 2 years ago and they gave him 2100 plus he paid 300$ to get his car back, and This summer my Dad wrote his truck off and he bought it back for 800$ and its a 98 Dodge Ram

[janb]

I have had to do 3 claims for insurance companies under-valuing my Diesels. 

I put together a portfolio with lots of receipts for work I've done on the cars, do searching for comparables  (including special interest rides on TDI, Vortex, friends).
I write a concise argument about how tough it is to find decent used 50 mpg German built Diesel cars. (most are totally 'wrung-out').

I write very professional letters to the insurance companies, (usually takes 3 time with progressively more information and becoming insistent on your requirements).  Don't ever change your story or demands (know what you want up front),  Call them once per week, send a log of your calls, letters, and research.  Don't be unreasonable, don't let them be unreasonable. Be insistent but not demanding or defensive.   In one case I got PO'd and told them I was sick of seeing their client (at fault) drive buy in their new $40,000 replacement car, while they are griping about my $2000 legitimate claim.  Keep notes, if you catch them changing their story, use that as ammunition. The next communication will be your check.

Were you in the vehicle?, if so, start complaining about whiplash or back pain, your check will be expedited.

If the above fails, pay an attorney $200 to send a letter that you provide the details and they draft and put on their letterhead.

$1100 is not bad if it is an NA and not been rebuilt. I would want $1800 for a TD. I got $1700 for my 86 and also got to keep the car (it had a new AAZ). Usually you can get the car for $100, so they don't have to deal with towing it away.

I would...
1) take money and car; and drive it...
2) take money and car; find a good GLI or GTI body and do a weekend swap
3) Take money and car; part it out & find a cheap A3 or B4 TDI to buy and drive (I have found 3 B4's for under $2000)

[Jay]

I had a newish Merc smack me up the arse not long after I bought mine, I bought it for £750 they made me an offer of £700 and I keep the car as a CAT C write off (just need to get it checked by the DVLA (SVA check) here before I sell or put it in for another yearly MOT).

But when they called up to speak to me and say they're making me an offer in the next few days I said "Don't even bother offering me anything below £700", call them or when they call you have a collection of adverts for SAME spec car (everything has to be the same, at least in the UK for the adverts to count) although I didn't have to because I had a bill of sale (which they never checked either, damn should have said I paid more!  ).


Fight with them to the death - they will die before you    is the car actually irreparable? If it's repairable (apparently) you can have them repair it no matter the cost, I was going to go down that route until they offered me almost what I paid and saw $$$$$ in the eyes     mine was a smallish dent in the rear panel which I've now mostly knocked out and just need to paint up.

Free car FTW.

[burn_your_money]

I was offered 1000 for my very clean Oklahoma 85 Jetta coupe (gasser). I had to find ads for similar vehicles for sale in my area. They would not accept anything from another province. Initially I told them I wanted 2000 but then after about 2 weeks of phone calls I told them I'd take $1500 plus my car back and they went for it.

Best of luck, insurance companies are a pain.

[kane66]

I did some searching last night, but couldn't find any 1985 1.6 NA Jetta. The best I could come up with was a 1985 turbo Jetta. So I sent that along with a few golfs that were similar enough, and also a add for a golf that was thrashed for a $1000. I'm hoping they will see my side but.... It turns out that State Farm is the 4th worst insurance company for paying out claims properly. They actually go to classes to learn how to screw people over. I know its a business and all, but honestly.
 As far as complaining about "injuries" sustained during the accident. People told me I should, but I figured since I wasn't, I shouldn't as I'm a fairly honest person and expect others to be so. It appears I was wrong. All the insurance companies are proving by dealing with people this way, is that if they want the value of there car they need to go for the throat. Sad state this country is coming to. I guess we'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice and I'll keep you updated with how it goes.

[janb]

...
 As far as complaining about "injuries" sustained during the accident. People told me I should, but I figured since I wasn't, I shouldn't as I'm a fairly honest person ...

I can appreciate that, but I trust you were checked out, as these injuries can hount you when you get older... 

[catlin_cava]

...
 As far as complaining about "injuries" sustained during the accident. People told me I should, but I figured since I wasn't, I shouldn't as I'm a fairly honest person ...

I can appreciate that, but I trust you were checked out, as these injuries can hount you when you get older... 

Hurt my back 3 years ago goofing around and ended up nailing a stop sign sideways(atleast I made the stop lol) and I'm still having problems with my back.

[burnt_servo]

by dad owns a body shop , and 90% of his work is with icbc ( b.c's insurance comapany ) .

most insurance companies  offer cash because it is easier .

in your dealings with them tell them you want an EXACT replacement for your car .
if your not at fault why should you run around for them ... AND TELL THEM THAT , it is like being assumed guilty before proven inocent .

but still do your homework  .
also get 2 or 3 estimates from body shops to have your car properly repaired .
this value of the repairs  and the value of a equivalent replacement car is the dollar value your looking for .

insurance companies will try to rape you , bring lube  and a rape kit ... and if needed a lawyer .

if you are not at fault , keep reminding them of the fact that you are a a innocent victim  here , and why are they trying to make your life a living hell .

you need to treat this more like a rare vintage type colectors car , rather than a every day " beater "  , that they are trying to treat it as

[macka]

 As far as complaining about "injuries" sustained during the accident. People told me I should, but I figured since I wasn't, I shouldn't as I'm a fairly honest person and expect others to be so. It appears I was wrong. All the insurance companies are proving by dealing with people this way, is that if they want the value of there car they need to go for the throat. Sad state this country is coming to. I guess we'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice and I'll keep you updated with how it goes.

  In any accident you should get checked out and have any bruises or marks recorded. If you start feeling stiff a few days later, go back for a checkup. You never know how or when an accident injury can pop up. Having a paper trail makes things easier, and most people won't build one, and it gives insurance companies a loophole they can drive through.