I was recently in a wreck and I need to know if I should be able to designate who estimates the damages on the car? Also, should I be able to be there when the car is looked at by the insurance company's representative? Any help would be appreciated.
2007-01-22 05:51:53 · 8 answers · asked by wishing_i_could_sing 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
i was in a wreck this summer and it was the other guy's fault. he had a really weird insurance company that took forever to get things done. either way, they sent the guy over (someone from their company) and my dad and I were able to be there when he looked it over and point things out to him and stuff. also when we took the car to the dealership to be fixed they looked it over and found more stuff the other guy had not so they had to send the additional problems in to be approved by the insurance.
2007-01-22 05:56:47 · answer #1 · answered by infomonger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know in California, and it may be a federal law as well, that the consumer has the right to get their car repaired and estimated at any body shop they choose. Most insurance companies will try to corrale you into their "preferred" shops but that's only because they get discounts and a sort of volume discount for sending them business but all you have to do is tell them that you want it looked at by X company and repaired by X company.
As far as the estimator you can request that they come to your house if you'd like, but if you're just taking the car to a shop and letting the insurance company handle it you may have a harder time being there when the estimator shows up. You'll most likely have to hang out there all day because they will just show up when they show up, and mostly don't do anything they look at the body shop's estimate and look at the car and make sure that everything matches up. Sometimes the don't even come out in person, in the digital age now body shops will just take digital pictures and send them to the insurance estimator digitally.
If you are handling the claim on your own, in other words they are writing a check to you and you are getting the repairs done yourself instead of them paying the shops directly they will usually require that you obtain atleast 3 written estimates. As long as they're in the same price range they will let you choose which estimate/shop to go with and give you that amount of money. And yes, you can pick the highest estimate and take it to the lowest estimate for repair and pocket the difference but always remember you get what you pay for. :)
2007-01-22 16:32:51 · answer #2 · answered by Nate 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For minor damages the insurance company will often have you get 3 quotes. They'll generally pay the claim based on the average of the lowest 2.
Alternatively they may send an adjuster to inspect the car and work up an estimate. You can be there and observe as long as you don't pester him. He will probalby NOT make you an offer directly or tell you what the repair cost should be; that will come directly from the insurance company or your agent.
2007-01-22 14:02:32 · answer #3 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you reported your accident to the police and there is a police report, then the insurance company's appraisals will do the estimate. If you were at fault, your insurance company will appraise their vehicle. It is not necessary for you to be there while they do that. You also have to understand that your insurance company does not want to spend a lot of money fixing the other persons car. They try to limit their spending. You will have to pay any deductible that applies from your own insurance company. Now if the other person decides to go through their own insurance company to fix their car, then their insurance company will take care of everything. Once they've paid out their client, they will contact yours to subrogate for the money they laid out due to your fault.
Now if your accident wasn't reported, you designate where the estimate will be done. If I were you, I'd check out two different locations to see which rate is better.
You have insurance, in case **** happens, and it did. Don't worry about it. You are not the one who is officially being sued, its your insurance.
2007-01-22 14:20:15 · answer #4 · answered by Rica 82 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all. are u ok. if you are. do this. i was in an accident last july and am happy the way i took charges of things. first call your insurance company. if you were not at fault, your rates should not go up. but you need to get in touch with them and let them know what is going on.
next,. look at the police report,. it should tell you the person who crashed into you, their insurance information. it will either have a num,ber or not. if it doesnt, u might have to go online and find out their number through the yellowpages.com or if not you can try their name as a website and see what happens.
also your insurance provider, if it is a large one, might have he numebr also for you. call the person insurance company that crashed into you and place a claim with them. do not talk to the driver (some can get very hostil)and they will then make an appointment with you for you to go to their claim place for them to take pictures of your car. and then you usually have to wait about 4 to 6 weeks before you get a check from the insurance company. if you dont get one, start calling the insurance company (the other's person) once ev ery otehr week until it gets settled.
2007-01-22 14:00:01 · answer #5 · answered by lasalle_1986 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends upon the insurance carrier. Usually they will have a preferred estimator. If it is a minor wreck they may ask you to get an estimate. You can always get an additional estimate on your own. If you run into repair issues not covered by the estimator, the repair shop and the estimator will negotiate.
2007-01-22 14:00:36 · answer #6 · answered by kramerdnewf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who was at fault? You can request to have it estimated by both his/hers and yours, and sometimes can opt to go with the lesser cost, depending on injuries, damage, etc. I'd look it up on my policy or at the library. Look up for your state, your insurance company, their insurance company and federal rules. Sounds like a lot, but you need to know and go with that which costs you the least, but does good work. And, absolutely, be there. Have a list of questions and get good answers.
Libraries can be of great help when you need them, and librarians know where or how to access the information that you need. Hey. Write back and I'll see if I can be of more help.
2007-01-22 14:10:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well: under " Auto Insurance " there's an form to be filled out
and filed with "All State Insurance Company " because all claims
must have been reveiwed by "Certifide Agent " only ask him ok?
refer http://www.allstate.insurancecompany.com or visit
your "Department of Vechicles" today !
2007-01-22 14:10:54 · answer #8 · answered by toddk57@sbcglobal.net 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋