Ok, need some legal assistance/advice, car got hit, fighting with insurance. Options

[mark_426]

I'm going to try to keep this brief, but it's hard to do with proper details.

Anyway

My brother had my car at his boss's house. The wife backed into it with an electric truck.. hit the passenger side front quarter.

Well, we get three estimates for how much it will cost to repair. Neat.

The people who hit us have State Farm Insurance, and when they saw the figures, they wanted to let state farm cover it. Ok.

Hmm, we call, and try to get in touch with a claims adjuster, blah blah blah... Finally have "Melanie" calling the wrong number, etc, and another week goes by. Finally get another claims lady to call us and get Melanie. Great.

Schedule an appointment for an insurance adjuster to come. They give us a four hour timeframe, and a date, and never confirm it. How convienient when two of us need to get off work.

Well, almost three weeks later, an insurance adjuster comes and checks the car out. My insurance quotes were on my seat, and he looked inside. He grabbed them, looked at them, and told us he had to take them to check the prices... well ok, even though they're there from three companies. Next, what a suprise, he says, "Hmm, I don't know how much this stuff is worth, so I'll have to make some calls, and then I'll report it, and the office will send you your check."

Ok, this was Monday (that he said this). Today, we call to find out what's up, as we hadn't received a call or anything. Ok, here's the price. $2349.

Well, sh*t. Estimates all said 5200, 5600, 5900, for parts and labor. Replacement equivalent parts alone are $2399. Then, I need install, and paint and prep.


What can I do to try to get enough to pay for it/ what would you do?

heres what it looks like:

[ScoobyDooCruiser]

Also- don't cash that check. If you cash it, then you essentially agree to take that amount of money and be content (at least in CA, I assume its the same in other states)

Find out what agent the person who hit you has. Go by there office. Take the car (if its drivable) take the three estimates, and take the letter you recieved. Explain that the amount they gave you was not sufficient, and they need to have your car repaired. Tell them the shop you would like to get the work done at. Tell them the claim is not closed, and you need to get this resolved. What they offered did not resolve this.

Insurance companies are rated on how quickly they close claims. How long it takes from when an accident is reported to how long until the case is closed. So, drag your heels, take your time, be slow, methodical and systematic. They will hate it, and will be more willing to work with you.

Tell them you do not want to cash out. Tell them you will get it repaired, and they will pay for the reapir, not just the estimate.

Good luck!