Gotta hate insurance companies. I watch as some old guys gets out of the back of an old Toyota. As I walk over to my 3 month old car I notice a dent and silver paint on my driver side back door. I ask the passenger of the other car if someone hit my door and she says no on got out of the car. I tell them I saw a man get out they said no. So I call the police and while waiting this mystery man come out of the store. I asked him if he hit my door and he starts to scream that I am scam artist and a lair, he evens threatens to hit me, so I comely go to the other side of my car and wait for the police. The Policeman asked if he hit the door and he says no. The Policeman opens his door and the dent is a perfect match and the same silver paint on the door. I contact the drivers insurance company and fax the police report over saying how it was hit by the other car. The next day I call and they schedule an adjuster to look at my car. A week goes by and no word from the issuance company. So again I call and get the repose that they can not get a statement from the other driver and have 30 days from the time the claim was filed to do so. At the end of the 30 days I call again and the insurance company says that they got hold of the other driver that day the other driver denied everything, and further investigation was required. Call today month and a half later and they still can not get an adjuster to see the other drivers car to make their decision. An I going to have to take this person to small claims? I have the police report in my favor. What can I do to get the other insurance to pay what they is coming to me?

Geez, one would think the police report would be enough for them to go on.

I would start getting things in writing - send demand letters via registered mail and keep all response.

Contact your State Insurance Commissioner. Squeeky wheels get grease

Speaking of insurance companies.....what the hell is YOUR insurance company doing in all this.....they should be doing ALL the follow-up....it's the only reason to have one.....

Jimtab is dead on. This is where you drive to your agents office, give him a copy of the police report, and take pictures. File it as a vandalism claim. This will not be used against you. You'll be amazed at the speed at which the other company responds. This is a common tactic these dicks use....stalling, in fact, seasoned insurance people will tell you they actually throw away 1 in 3 claims. This works for them, as pissed off people end up taking less $$$$ as a result of dealing with c#%@-suckers. The insurance buis is, in my opinion an evil empire. This means if they bring a knife you bring a gun. Look at the last page of the parking lot rc crash thread to get an idea of how -not to get rogered.http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=106313&st=40 The only way to come out of this kind of a situation is for you to be the bigger dick. Good luck.

Ditto the last two posts. We had to pay our deductible, let our insurance pick up the difference for the repair, then my insurance company sued the !@#$! that hit me's insurance company for the full amount. Eventually I got my deductible back. Your insurance company should work for you. A shame they don't bother to suggest this to you. Oh, and then in my case the other insurance company only wants to put aftermarket parts on my car. I held firm that they hit Honda parts, and Honda parts were going back on. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW I was VERY frustrated when shopping for insurance for Buttercup. I know a claim on a car no longer made would be a hair-pulling nightmare...
GOOD LUCK!

Unfortunately, auto insurance law varies widely by state. Here in CA we have "no fault" - so you can go to your own insurance company & they'll fight it for you, although perhaps not too diligently!

In IN my sister was rear ended & flipped over back-to-front by a drunk in a company truck on work time, & their insurance is still delaying it with lawyers in court 5+ years later!

In all states & with all insurance companies, the adjusters jobs are to minimize the cost to the company - not to save you money. So the following story may help you ....

Back in 1985 before CA went to no fault, a gal hit my 914 in a UCLA parking structure while I was in MBA classes & pushed it 2 feet into the concrete wall mashing both ends when "....she forgot to turn left to go up the ramp...." (her words). I had to fight with her daddy's insurance (Farmers IIRC) for 6+ weeks to get them to cover, & they still tried to low ball me for a $3500 totalling.

I'd done a $6500+ "rolling resto" (paint/rustoration, engine & transaxle overhauls, 4 Koni reds, susp. bushings, tires, etc.) 1980-84, so I had receipts for everything - plus I had to go out & find comp 914s in good original or restored condition to "prove up" a value of $6500-8500 then, the then required 3 body shop estimates, & sent copies of all of that to them.

However, the adjuster still stalled & refused to return my calls, so I asked for the manager - told him the story, that they had all the paperwork to justify the full $6k repair pmt. to me - & not to "total it" on me since I was not bound by the other party's insurance policy terms & conditions (unfortunately no fault now binds you to uniform terms) - since I wasn't their insured,but an innocent victim needing to be made whole. After the mgr. hemmed-n-hawed a bit, I said that my next call would be to my lawyer & would add legal fees, bad faith, months of rental cars, etc. to their costs ~ to which he replied would a check for $6000+/- by Friday resolve it (it was a Wed or so)? I agreed.

So do your homework on values & repair costs & your NY insurance laws - then call a manager at their insurance company to give an ultimatum, before you try going to small claims or full court. BTW - the cost of the repair must be under each state's small claims max. to go there, or you eat the difference, plus you have to take care of all the paperwork & service of papers at your cost also in small claims.

I just gave my neighbor a bunch of Hemmings to research values, cuz Sat nite.Sun wee-hours some drunk front-ended his classic 82 El Camino which he'd had about 90% restored, then the culprit fled the scene!

Everyone will have horror stories about insurance companies. The evil doer's. My suggestion: If you have full coverage insurance on your new car use it. Let them earn your premium. With the facts you have they will pursue subrogation against the other parties insurance company. I have done it many times with parking lot accidents.

Insurance companies have rules and laws they need to abide by in order to sell insurance in your state. Claims people are just that. People with a job. Some of them are better at their job than others, some have more laditude to settle claims with less management looking over their shoulder. Some have huge territories and spend many un-billable hours looking through a windsheild to keep their jobs. Is that your problem? No. Can you do something about it? Yes. Do a search for the fair claims practices act in your state. sit down an send a letter to your states insurance commissioner an start a formal complaint process based on the infraction (s) you discover in your research. Will this do anything? Yes, If the infraction is found to be valid the company will be fined. If they are fined enough their license to sell insurance in your state will be revoked.

You guys rock, I hate those bastards, they take, and take, and bitch about fraud, then they have the unmitigated gall to jerk us around on premiums and claims. Not me, not any more, it really has changed my perspective on accidents I didn't cause. I always get three of the highest bids I can find, then I get an attorney to right the letter that accompanies the bids. Those dicks move heaven and earth to bust out the check, try it, it really works.

Your funny. You really think your the first guy to bring an attorney? We welcome an intellectual debate with a guy that has his right hand in yours shaking it and grinning while his left hand is in your pocket.

Ya, I'm one of those bastards. I'm just out to fuck you dry. Every chance I get.

Adjusters spend every working hour lowballing every bid ask any good body and paint shop, unless you are their friend or relative. You will earn every dollar you ever get from a insurance company. They know exactly how far they can go, it's all a learning curve each time it happens.

I used to be an adjuster. The company I worked for fucked me. Pretty bad.
Threaten to file a complaint with your state's Insurance Commissioner or Department of Insurance or whatever they call in in your case. Get the name or number of the actual complaint form that you fill out so they know you're for real. In California that usually gets them jumping. YMMV.

If your insurance company is violating the law contact your insurance commisioner. Until then get a life and quite generalizing. There are many people working in the field that go out of their way to make claims settlement a pleasant experience. Did you ever think you may be the Asshat not your adjuster?

Now, I've had enough of the bashing people as a whole. I am going to get this thread locked down now with politics.

If you don't like the insurance you have why not complain to BHO. He'll give you a new GM car and free insurance. Provide a mortgage you can't afford and force the banknig industry to write off your loan instead of throwing your sorry ass out on the street.

My point? This country has laws. Use the laws to your advantage. Don't come crying about my mean adjuster didn't give me 2010 parts for my 1999 rollscanardly. Read your policy, read the fair claims practices guide lines. If you don't like the law work to change it.

BTW: Threats don't work. Actions work. Oooo.... I'm going to tell if you don't give me my way... Give me a break.

I offered sound advise based on real world experience. If you guys choose to be ignorant have at.

To use a doctor right, you need to understand how doctors work, to use insurance right, you need to understand how insurance works, and to live life as well as you can, you need to understand the laws...

Knowing more that the opponent is usually your best bet... unless its politics.. then nothing really applies...

I'd rather not fight about somebody else's insurance problem. I'm simply sharing my experiences.

We have had many insurance questions asked here over the years. Every time it turns into a bash fest. I've offered sound advise in the past for getting your claim handled. This is the last time. Getting educated is your best offense. Use your brain not your emotion.

insurance adjusters are teh worst in my experience,. delays, lies and low ball offers. Top it off with rude service (rude service lies and low ball offers to a ten year accident free customer who gets hit (rear ended) by another person. (who is insured by the same company as me (AAA), my pristine 35 year old classic that I got from my Dad who bought it new is now hit. they told me the car was not worth much cuase that it "might" have been hit before since it was so old. I claim it had never been hit before (Dad as my witness) god damn bitch insurance adjuster tells me that SHE does not know that fact as true (the little bitch called me a liar basically)

I take them to court over the last $500 of the bill they argued aginst (they didnt want to pay for color matching) the day before trial, the insurance bitch calls me and says that they will settle for my amount, and that i shoudl go to court the next day and get it dismissed (there fore eliminating my chance to ever file suite again) and that they would mail me a check later. Hahahaha. I would not fall for that one, I told the lying little insurance bitch to get that check in my hand before court , else it was going down anyway. she said she could not do it. I say see ya in court tommorrow morning. she calls back all pissy like and tells me I can come and get the check that evening. what a bitch attitude.

so much for AAA insurance, I dropped them like a hot rock.

Unfortunaly I have been hit again my a AAA insured driver. again lies and crap from the adjusters.

the lawyer is your freind, he can help get thru all the crap they bitch adjusters throw at you. actually per the lawyers adivce I upped my un-insured driver protection, and a few year later I needed it when i was hit by a driver that only had state minimal insurance ($30,000) with a broken back, I need a bit more than that to pay the med bilss and such.


play hard ball with these pukes, they are only trying to save the insurance company money by screwing you out of your rightfull payments. otherwise I am sure they are nice people, just doing a nasty dirty job.

When my car got totaled last year, the Progressive agent offered me what would have been on the high end for a car its age, plus medical expenses. Seemed like a fair deal so I took it and moved on. Granted, this was a '94 Camry and not my pride and joy.

Intelligence first then education is the best weapon in the arsenal for any challenge. But really everyone knows that money and political support from the group in control is where the power is. I haven't had many ins claims but I remember some were good for me but that was also along time ago. I got ripped big time on the cosmetic damage to my harley on my last claim, it took 3-4 months to settle, only after I took it to a harley shop for the estimate to challenge the ins co's estimate, then they put a low value on it and it will have a salvage title if I ever sell it. I got 4100.00 to fix it and they said the value was 6500. The ins co wanted to give me 3250 for the repair and no salvage title. It's a 1200 sportster. The normal sportster was selling from individuals for the 6500 price. These bikes were nothing like mine. I had the receits for 15k and it only had 6k miles on it. Not a scratch anywhere. Dyno at 600 miles with 80 hp. 90 when I wrecked it. It would have taken a lot more effort it seemed to me to get the salvage title thing resolved. The money was ok. The salvage title wasn't.

I do use my brain ,I also understand the system and the laws. I have reported experiences to the insurance commission. I pay 80.00 for a letter from the attorney, not a rip in my experience, as it does speed things up. Just try to get a fair shake on an injury accident w/o a lawyer! The ONLY reason insurance exists is because of limp-wristed politicians that wont allow people to be held accountable for there actions. I'm with you on the whole big brother socialist thing , it bugs me too, but don't you think it's just a bit odd that a system set up to absolve us of financial responsibility tries to skirt the burden that they have taken on? Just an observation from years of personal experience. The whole concept of insurance to me is communistic, this I guess is my biggest gripe. I made a generalization, please accept my apologies, it obviously offended you. That was not the intent your obviously a good guy.

So... Make up your mind. Is she a "goddamn bitch insurance adjuster" or a "nice person doing a nasty dirty job". Why not take the advice of rick918-S, deal with this in a non-emotional, intelligent way and stop sounding so bitchy yourself.

when your lied too by an agent, and your prized car is at stake you may feel otherwise. AAA has been bad news for me three times, crooked at best. Each time, dealys, lies, decete is how they operate. I take my cars seriusly, I dont need no, failure as a person telling me my car is junk and not worth much, dispite documented evidence that they are given.

The bitchy agent ought not be so damn emotional about lossing her suck ass job that requires her to minimize payments to legitiment losses. If she was less emotional about lossing her suck ass job, maybe she would treat folks decently. But no way, she wants to keep her suck ass job (probably cause she has no other skills cept to lie and cheat) and hence goes about ripping folks off and taking advantage of them.


PS I am emotional about my money too. dont like getting ripped off you know, a crooked insurance agent is no better than a burgler. Fact is I respect the burgler more, takes more balls to break into a house than deny a legitiment claim. the end result is the same to the consumer, they are ripped off.

I had a '92 Pontiac that I bought new In '91. A tree limb fell on it a couple of years ago, totaling it. First insurance offered me $500, then $800, then $1400. Finally settled for a little over 2 grand.

I had paid for full coverage on it,with the same company, for over 15 years.

If they weren't trying to rip me off, what were they doing?

They were maximizing profits. It's the American way. What are you? A communist??

I went through the same thing Yes I got paid and yes they took for ever,
....they still owe me

Nothing like having a community of your friends, in an open forum, tell you that you suck massively at your job.

I am a property claims adjuster. I can't speak for the actions of every auto adjuster for every insurance company in every state, but I believe I do an honorable job at adjusting property claims and make a positive difference in peoples lives.

My territory is 1/4 of a state. I easily drive 1000 miles a week. Any week where I can be done in 40 hrs is like a day of vacation.

My company standards are that I have to call you back in 6 hrs from the time your claim is reported to set up our meeting and inspection. I have 3 days to inspect your claim. 7 days to conclude it. (unless there are circumstances that would prevent this) I travel with a laptop, printer, construction estimating software, checks, and if you don't like a check, I can issue you a debit card charged up with the claim proceeds. My files are all reviewed, and if I don't score 90% or greater on 90% of my files, I am beat until bloody by my employer. In 22 yrs of doing this, I have had exactly one claim involve atty's, and that was settled by the company out of court. The contractor ran off with the insureds money. How this was my/our fault I still don't understand.

I view my job as being more of a teacher and referee rather than a judge. I spend the first 30 minutes of any meeting just explaining the coverage you have. As others have stated, knowledge is power. Understanding what your policy can and can't do is the start. Identify the damage, pay a fair price, and move on. I have far to much work and territory to be focusing on ripping each person off for $50 bucks and making that stick.

Not all adjusters are the spawn of the devil. Some might be your neighbors or go to your church or autocross with you. Know what your coverage is. Search out claims handling standards for your state thru the DOI (department of insurance). If your company is treating you poorly, I'm sorry for that, it frustrates you and makes me look bad.

(rant mode off now)

seeing as communists take other peoples money and either keep it or give it to someone else, I'd say the insurance company is more like communism than a person attempting to get a fair deal with the insurance company that refuses to deal fairly. but really communism example does not apply.

but if you must, communism envolves taking other folks wealth, kind of like when an insurance company refuses to pay out in a fair way.

I liken the bad insurance agents to be more like crooks, rather than capitalists nor communists. I have dealt with about half dozen insurance company claims, only one was exceptional in that it paid fast and fairly some of the other times they were damn crooks, lies, delays, and deceit.

aways be ready to defend your claim, have lots of documentation showing value, and press home on it, they know that making low ball offers costs them nothing, and every now and them they get a sucker to accept the low ball offer. dont be a sucker!!!!!

[quote name='Elliot Cannon' date='May 18 2010, 11:13 PM' post='1320427']

[/quote]

They were maximizing profits. It's the American way. What are you? A communist??
[/quote]

Well yes, I am a communist. That's why I don't have any cash to forfeit to them.