Advice to people involved in an accident #1

by Guest » Tue Dec 30, 2008 05:27 am
Guest

If you get into an accident, whether or not you caused it, do not act like it is someone else's fault that you chose lousy coverage or worse yet, coverage you can't afford.

When you picked a $1000 deductible and your truck got rear-ended by a hit and run driver, and you don't have the money to fix your car, it is your fault for choosing that coverage.

Because you decided to save the $13.70 to purchase the $25/day rental coverage over the $50/day coverage you complain that you can't get into a rental for that amount (which you can easily, by the way) or that "I normally drive a BMW why should I have to drive an economy car?"

The purpose of insurance is to protect you in the case of an accident. If you are going to be unhappy with your coverage when the unfortunate happens, then take action now. Make the decision to pay slightly higher premiums now (even $100 every year can drastically change your premiums) to avoid a potentially larger amount of out of pocket expense later.

Don't blame your claims adjuster for your own poor coverage decisions. Even if the accident's not your fault, you're responsible for choosing your coverage and only you are to blame if you cannot meet the financial obligation of your deductible or refuse to drive around in an economy car.

Total Comments: 11

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 06:49 am Post Subject: get off your high horse

If you can't stand people complaining to you why'd you become a claims adjuster?

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:45 am Post Subject:

Hi Accident Prone, I think you have misread the adjuster. He isn't saying that you can't complain to the claim adjuster if you're not satisfied the way the claim has been handled, but can well protect yourself by choosing a smart coverage.

Its always important that you read the coverage details after buying the policy and know what and what not your are covered for. If you don't have certain coverage, you won't get the compensation for it. Blaming the claim adjuster is useless in such case.

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 01:28 pm Post Subject:

When you picked a $1000 deductible and your truck got rear-ended by a hit and run driver, and you don't have the money to fix your car, it is your fault for choosing that coverage.


How much should be the right kinda deductible that one should go for ideally?

He isn't saying that you can't complain to the claim adjuster if you're not satisfied the way the claim has been handled, but can well protect yourself by choosing a smart coverage.


He just wants to eliminate or reduce the risk of getting mishandled!

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 01:43 pm Post Subject:

Something I have figured out is that you have to do more on your policy to protect yourself. I carry low deductibles, rental coverage and alot of extras. After my last accident I also relized it was time to increase my under insurance. I know all these little things add up but you have to relize there are way too many people out there driving around with just the bare minimum. Your best line of defense if your own insurance policy.

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 03:24 pm Post Subject:

How much should be the right kinda deductible that one should go for ideally?

The amount that they can afford to pay in the instance that they have to use their coverage, that's how much...

He just wants to eliminate or reduce the risk of getting mishandled!

no there is no chance of mishandling the point being made by the OP is that the insured is the one that chose and bought their coverage, not the adjuster, and I know EXACTLY what this adjuster means...people will actually say (IMO really stupid stuff) things like, 'This isn't my fault, why do i have to pay my 1k deductible?' (ah because that's what YOU bought), or 'It's an act of God, so I don't have to pay my deductible!" (ah, yes you do you chose that 1k deductible on Comp too)....believe it or not adjusters are yelled and screamed at by irrational people weekly....the OP's point is, yelling at an adjuster about their (insured's) own choice in coverage makes as much sense as yelling at the mail man about it...we had nothing to do with that decision, however we must handle claims based on their own decisions...it's really crazy the way some people behave...and in a nut shell...if you don't have 1k at the ready to pay your deductible, then you should lower it to an amount you can afford...same with any other coverages including liability...don't scream at me because you were the one that only took out state min. limits, say 5k property damage, and now you've caused 10k worth of damages, and you're pissed because the innocent person you damaged is going to sue you....tough noogies...again, how did the adjuster have anything to do with it?

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 05:00 pm Post Subject:

Its all true. When I first signed up I had the bare minimum to get the cheapest coverage but I saw I was not protected. I then started to mess around with the coverage and saw for an extra $12/every 6 months I could increase my property damage from $10,000 to $100,000 and reducing my comprehensive deductible from $1000 to $50 would only cost my an extra $16/every 6 months.

I knew nothing about car insurance but if you sit down and read your policy documents while a little research you are able to understand what it all means. Ignorance really isn't an excuse.

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 04:40 pm Post Subject:

What a great way to make money. Legislate to make coverage mandatory (good idea), fail to develope penalties sufficient to deter those who drive without or drop their coverage (bad idea). Write a policy in which it makes the insurer the expert at determining the cost of repairs (save insurers money) if anyone ever files a claim. Have agents push 1000 dollar deductibles and instill the fear that using your policy could cause non renewal or possible cancelation or increase in premiums. Considering the average claim is 2700 per year and many fear using their policy, many pay for those repairs themselves. Micromanage the risk factor of insuring people for optimum non payment on policies , deny, and delay when possible and you have a pretty profitable deal going there all with protection from someone that is appointed to protect the consumer from the insurance industry abuse as the watchdog commissioner and keep lobbying for more laws which protect insurers and harm consumers. Good plan. Can you say wind driven rain?

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:04 pm Post Subject:

"Informed" bitter are we? :?

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:46 pm Post Subject:

Not bitter at all, just informed and understand how the game is played. You low level appraisers are just the tools of commerce for the greed at the corporate level. You can't be blamed for what you only understand is your job.

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 01:26 pm Post Subject:

Not bitter at all, just informed and understand how the game is played.


And just how have you acquired this wealth of knowledge? And what experience makes you an expert? Not saying I disagree with everything you've said, just curious...a bubble (small area of experience) is not full knowledge...

You low level appraisers are just the tools of commerce for the greed at the corporate level. You can't be blamed for what you only understand is your job.

I'm not 'just' an appraiser, but sure I guess I'm a tool same as you are for whomever you work for, or your employees are a tool for your ultimate goal of financial security.

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