they handled it well, and made it really easy. it was a jeep so the bluebook value was strong. he bought it like 5 or more years ago for 8k. he got back 7,100. but you are right, bluebook and deductible.

the thing. he had added a lot onto the jeep and with receipt was able to give to the insurance company and get more money back

hubby has only had a couple, both taking the vehicle out, no injury. my son had an accident with his this fall and more to repair than worth.

too many to quickly, we think about an accident more. takes a while to get feet on ground again and not be so nervous.

...please for the love of whatever invisible man in the sky you prefer, get an attorney!

your fault or not, they'll play with you--if you don't threaten 'em with the state insurance authorities, you'll get a run-around like you wouldn't believe.

That's my experience with 'em. I dumped 'em the first chance I got.

can't we just threaten them with the state ins. board ourselves - if it comes to that?

And your husband needs to go to the doctor and chiropractor to make sure there's no damage. The atty will tell him this.

...you'll bring in a lawyer.

Oh, one other thing: Keep METICULOUS records of all contacts with them--dates, who you talk to (ask them specifically for their title), what they tell you. Remember, this is a company who automatically presumes that every housefire is arson until proven otherwise.

Edit to add: My car got broken into at a hotel for an office Christmas party; damaged steering column, broken window, stolen briefcase... It took Allstate seven weeks to decide to pay it off. I'd probably still be fighting their run-around if I hadn't mentioned that one of my old college friends was the state insurance commissioner.

Last edited Sun Mar 25, 2012, 08:59 PM - Edit history (1)

My ex hit a railroad tie (!) that dropped from the back of a truck on the freeway in front of her and destroyed the transmission and suspension of our Corolla; Allstate handled it well. A few years later I totalled my Matrix trying to avoid a dog (which I still ended up killing, btw) and they paid out without hesitation, even lowering my deductible because an animal was involved.

I keep hearing horror stories about Allstate, but they're probably the best company in my neck of the woods for residential insurance, for instance. (I'm also saying that as someone working with a restoration company; we have a Hierarchy of Increasing Nightmarishness for the other companies.)

Of course that doesn't mean they probably don't suck like crazy in other places; there's a few companies here that are horrible to work with at any level that seem to be okay elsewhere.

I got hit by an idiot running a red light. She had All State, and they paid for the $9K of repairs - including an original equipment rim, not a remanufactured one - without complaint or trouble. They were polite and prompt in paying, too. This was in California.

first, sorry to hear about this and i hope no one was hurt.

getting bluebook minus deductible is a "victory" in this situation.
the insurance company will look for ways to delay or deny or settle for less, but they're not liable for more than that. hopefully, they'll not be jerks about it, but this is what the claims adjuster is paid to do.

if you have certain add-ons, you may also be entitled to car rental and/or medical reimbursment, up to a (rather low) limit.

if you have some way of showing that your car was worth more than bluebook AND you were paying premiums consistent with a higher valuation (unlikely) then you would be entitled to more.

yours only kicks in on UI drivers.

I just went through this ... but, (sadly for me I am truly ignorant on the subject) ... all was paid ... but I guess I am not all that sure by whom ...?

have made a grave error.

The police assign fault.

... I did not have to pay my deductible ... but (I admit ignorance) ... I don't know which insurance company paid ... I suppose I am confused because of Michigan's no fault laws

and now you speak as all this is far past tense? ("I did not have to pay my deductible&quot

Go Away! You are making this shit up.

I am done with you.

... as is mine ... I shared my experience of last December in case it would help the poster (and was pretty clear about my story).

I don't understand the hostility ... but am hoping it was just the confusing of the two stories .... ?

I stand corrected. The E's did me in.

My mistake.

I was "pit maneuvered" (that's what they tell me though I don't really know what the term means) last December 23 ... My car in the end was not totaled it was repaired ... but there was talk of totaling it (it was all complicated due to the holidays) my understanding is that they will offer you the "Bluebook" value ... but you have a chance to argue it (say you had ridiculously low mileage ....).

The $8,000 paid to repair my car (came close to the total value of a 2 year old Ford Focus with 60,000 miles) ... anyway .... the driver that hit me received a citation and was deemed 100% responsible for the accident .... i did not have to pay any deductible ... the guy who hit me (and was deemed at fault) had to pay my deductible ... my understanding is that would have been true had they totaled my car.

The insurer was AAA

Edit to add: This is Michigan ... No fault

They do not use the retail blue book price for their payment offer, in fact, they do not use Kelly but use their own values. But I did argue the amount that they offered me, and they did up the amount by some. Have all the information prior to their offer, so you have ammunition against what they say they are paying. Argue that you cannot find a car in the same shape as yours for that amount, and have the as much evidence as you can get to support what you are claiming.

I remember some horseshit about "minor wear on my driver's seat and floor mat"----meaning that they could reduce the payout. I challenged that, saying that the wear was less than most, and the blue book price for a car with X miles on it is already accounting for that. It was more of a challenge than the negotiations to buy a car, but I would do it again....unless the offer from them was more than I expected. Then I would not want them to look too closely. Just get yourself educated right away.

Worry about the increase in your premiums. I recently had a small accident in a parking lot. My car was unscathed but the other car got a scratch on it. After forty years of accident free driving, Allstate, also my insurance company, raised my premium by double and a half. I HATE insurance of any sort. They are the worst parasites in the world!

Who was at fault?

I am driving a four hundred dollar (Blue Book) car that is 25 years old. Not too long ago, a jerk sideswiped me on the highway--a commercial carrier. He was at fault entirely. I was lucky to escape from the erratic nutcase with nothing worse than a damaged left side.

His insurance company (not mine, his) paid to have the entire side of the car repaired and repainted (and I threw a couple hundred bucks into the pot and got the whole thing done--now the car looks righteous), and they gave me a rental car (no subcompacts available so I got a very nice ride). They called ME, too. They probably coughed up two grand, at least, by the time all was said and done. I made the point to the police officer taking the report that my car was on the cusp of being a classic, and it had additional value as I was the original owner and that this guy really screwed me--I guess that found the way into the police report.

Start with his insurance company, and see how you do...if he was at fault, threaten to sue him blue. You have a right to be "made whole." That's how I approached it--and it worked. It was a real "trash to treasure" experience.

so all were doing a 4-way stop thing, he made a left into the intersection, the light turned green when he was halfway through, and a woman going about 50 blasted into him. Witnesses all stated the stoplight flashed red for a minute then just went to green and bam. Won't know the fault determination for like ten days.

1- insurance info from those involved
2- a police report

"Fault" will be determined later.

been in two accidents in my life. both were the other party's fault. first time...USAA. while the car was not totaled, they let me take it to a repair shop of my choice and got to use parts i wanted and they paid promptly.

the second time...not so good. other driver clearly at fault...cited with four notes on the ticket (like aggravating circumstance to include inattentive driving and pulling out while not being able to see). the other driver's insurance decided that because it was raining and there was heavy traffic that it was a 50/50 accident...unbelievably. my state ins commissioner explained (well, someone in the office) that the insurance company was the arbiter of that decision...which sounded like bullshit to me but did not leave me with any real recourse other than to sue the other driver.

i called the responsible driver and informed him of what had happened with his insurance company and what i was willing to settle for. he said only his insurance should pay and i said that was between him and them.

we went to court. i presented my evidence (photos of the scene, the actual accident photos, the traffic citation issued to the other driver and even a snapshot of the closest speed limit sign) and my side of the story. when the other driver's attorney didn't dispute any of the evidence or testimony and the other driver simply said something to the effect of, "well, the insurance company said it was both our faults."

the judge made an immediate decision in my favor...

good luck.

sP

if you get anything is it some 'book' value. hell, sometimes the amount they're willing to pay you won't even cover the note, let alone the replacement value.

sP

You may not be experiencing any pain right now, however, tomorrow is likely when you will notice it.

I was hit from behind twice in the same accident. I felt fine at the time, but the next day was another story. This was back in '93, and I still have a painful shoulder I have to deal with on a day to day basis.

Also having the medical attention within the first 24 hours will give you the documentation just in case you need down the road.

I was in an accident in 93 and had no pain for 5 years. Since then, it's been HORRIBLE. I have a pinched nerve. It flares up about once a year and the pain is excruciating. I have a friend who had the same deal. No pain at all when her car was hit and then a couple years later, a pinched nerve.

first things first.
Thinking of you!