by Guest » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:30 am
I had an accident recently.
My car is now at the body shop. I have had my insurance adjuster report that I have $10,000 worth of damage to the body alone, before surveying the damage under the hood. My insurance company wants to fix the vehicle, worth $16,000 and said they would go about doing so, and if they find that anything under the hood is deemed in need of repair, then that would be added to the gross estimate and the car will be totaled at that point if need be...
My question is...why isn't the damage under the hood being consider before beginning the reconstruction??
From some people I've talked to, they say that it's because the body shop or dealer will want the car rebuilt even if it is totaled so that they can sell to an auction company or something like that...
This is all very confusing, and time consuming. I've never been in an accident before. Is this protocol to start the reconstruction on the vehicle before the total gross estimate is available?
My car is now at the body shop. I have had my insurance adjuster report that I have $10,000 worth of damage to the body alone, before surveying the damage under the hood. My insurance company wants to fix the vehicle, worth $16,000 and said they would go about doing so, and if they find that anything under the hood is deemed in need of repair, then that would be added to the gross estimate and the car will be totaled at that point if need be...
My question is...why isn't the damage under the hood being consider before beginning the reconstruction??
From some people I've talked to, they say that it's because the body shop or dealer will want the car rebuilt even if it is totaled so that they can sell to an auction company or something like that...
This is all very confusing, and time consuming. I've never been in an accident before. Is this protocol to start the reconstruction on the vehicle before the total gross estimate is available?
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:41 pm Post Subject:
That does sound a little backwards. Surely with the added damages,were there any, under the hood they wouldn't get back what they put ionto the vechicle, especiallt at an auction. Maybe they are waitnig for it to go in for repair and then gonna have the garage look under the hood then. In any case I would definately call the adjuster back and get some answers to your questions.
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:35 am Post Subject:
Is this protocol to start the reconstruction on the vehicle before the total gross estimate is available?
I've never heard of this...doesn't mean some adjuster/company doesn't do it this way, IMO it's pretty goofy though, they are not going to get that much more on the salvage, and they are keeping you in a rental a lot longer than necessary, (if it totals)....Does the shop feel there is significant additional damage to total it? I agree with fireyone, you should call this adjuster back (after talking with the shop re: additional damage)...Do let us know know the outcome of those conversations, and if there is anything else we can do to assist you..
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 01:36 pm Post Subject:
Don't know if I'm missing something but I understand it perfectly. The appraiser for the insurance company is not sure what is wrong with the engine mechanically, it will need to be given the once over by a mechanic to determine this. Right now the car is a borderline total loss. Any significant engine damage will make it a total loss. So the insurance company just needs to have a mechanic check out the engine to see if anything is wrong and if so, what.
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:03 pm Post Subject:
I hope this is true tscope. It does sound more reasonable. I think it would be scary to have a vehicle repaired that is really close to a total loss. I would probaly sell it and get another after it was fixed. I wouldn't feel safe in it. I relize sometimes this is not an option for alot of people but it is one I would definately consider.
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:19 pm Post Subject:
So the insurance company just needs to have a mechanic check out the engine to see if anything is wrong and if so, what.
THAT would make sense, what I understood was they were proceeding with the REPAIRS...THEN were going to address the engine damage AFTER the body repairs were completed...this to me is nuts!My insurance company wants to fix the vehicle, worth $16,000 and said they would go about doing so, and if they find that anything under the hood is deemed in need of repair, then that would be added to the gross estimate and the car will be totaled at that point if need be...
why isn't the damage under the hood being consider before beginning the reconstruction??
will want the car rebuilt even if it is totaled
I might be reading it wrong, but sounds to me like they are fixing everything they know for sure, then after that is done will assess any mechanical issues, and if that tips it over the thresold they will then total it...could be too from the adjusters perspective, there is likely no mechanical damage, and that is why they are proceeding with the repair.
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