A deer hit my car, now needs repairs..insurance question.?

Question

I was driving home from work on Friday night when a deer hit the drivers side of my car. The damage is along the drivers side door and the front fender. Due to this damage I can't even use that door, to drive it I have to crawl through the passenger side. I told my husband that the adjuster is supposed to come to the house, and he said don't bother with the adjuster right now and take it to a body shop he has used in the past. He said that what usually happens with an adjuster is that they cut you a check and if the repair cost is more than the check is for then you can get screwed. He says that the adjusters work on comission from the insurance company and that it is in their benefit to save them money. As of today I still haven't spoken with an adjuster. What happens if I just take my car to the shop without the adjuster seeing it? I have already taken pictures of the damage as well to back my claim.

thanks for any advice

I do have full coverage by the way

Answer 1

Funny the way you worded this it sounds like the deer needs repairs. And it probably does. Anyway, since the deer has no insurance, this will be covered on your full coverage insurance. Yes, the adjuster has to look first. Then you can take it to be fixed. If there is a deductible, you will pay that, but the rest of the cost will be covered by your insurance. If the cost turns out to be more the body shop will get it from the insurance company.

Answer 2

If you have the car repaired before the insurance company sees it there is a very good chance they will not pay for anything, you can take it to the garage and have them give you an estimate, if thier estimate is drastically different than yours you may be able to fight that but whatever you do dont fix anything until the insurance company comes and takes a look, this is all of course depending on the fact that you have full coverage cause if you have basic they dont cover deers.

good luck

PS the insurance companies all have a book to go by tells the cost of the parts and the amount of time that it should take to fix it and a base rate of labor thats what they go by there not out to screw anyone

Answer 3

Your insurance company is only obligated to pay "reasonable" costs toward the repair of your car in the case of a covered loss.

Unless you are trained in auditing repair estimates to eliminate fraud or other types of dishonest dealings perpetrated by body shops, best wait for the appraiser.

Answer 4

call the adjuster and let him inspect the car, most adjusters are trained to know all the repairs needed and local costs and come pretty close to getting it right, if the body shop found internal damage that the adjuster couldn't see, then the adjuster will issue a supplemental payment
dont let your husband handle claims!

Answer 5

yes take it to the shop you are comfortable with,but get the appraisal done by the adjuster first,if more repairs are required then the body shop will work with the insurance company to get it covered

Answer 6

SOUNDS LIKE YOUR HUBBY IS TRYING TO SCREW YOU....THE ADJUSTER NEEDS TO SEE THE DAMAGE NOT WHERE THE DAMAGE WAS!!!

Answer 7

If you fail to have a insurance adjuster look at your car and give a detailed estimate then you are on your own.They can and will reject your claim.call your insurance company and demand they get out to look at your car. If you don`t its your word against theirs.You must follow you insurance rules.And as far as commision thats a new one.

Answer 8

Um, it sounds like your husband has it backwards. And since when do insurance adjusters get a commission? I have never heard of that, and I work for an insurance company!!

If the vehicle is driveable, take it to a body shop and get an estimate for repair. DO NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED just get an estimate. You then need to turn in the estimate and those pictures you have to the adjuster. The adjuster may also wish to assess the damage in person.

At my company, the customer turns in an estimate and pictures and we cut a check for the cost indicated on the estimate minus any deductible that may apply (in your case, your comprehensive deductible will apply).

Some companies differ on how they determine the amount of the check they cut, so you'll just need to take that up with the adjuster. But just so you know, you won't be getting a check if the adjuster doesn't see the vehicle. Contact him ASAP and set up a time to do this.

And tell your husband to stop telling you what to do when he has no idea what he is talking about!!!! He he...

Good luck

Answer 9

I would strongly suggest NOT taking your vehicle in for repairs without the adjuster seeing it first. My ex-husband owns a body shop and I know how tricky the insurance companies can be. If you dont do every little thing exactly by their rules they will try to get out of paying you at all.

Check with the insurance company first and follows their directions, but the scenario usually goes alot like this........
You generally get around 3 quotes from body shops and turn them in to your insurance company. Usually the company will go for the lowest quote and ask that you use that shop. The adjuster basically just comes out to take pictures and verify the damage. You take your car to the body shop and the insurance company will write and send you a check for the total cost of the repair minus your deductable. If your car is still financed the check will be made out to you and the finance company, in both names. If the car is paid for then the check will be made out to only you, or you and the body shop, in both names.

Like I said, I strongly recommend not getting any repairs done until the insurance company has had their say or they may very well not pay you. Trust me, I have seen this happen before.

Best of luck to you. :)

Answer 10

I am going under the assumption that you have full coverage on the vehicle. Allow the adjuster to inspect the vehicle first, then take it to a body repair shop.