by Guest » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:29 am
I have a 2007 Hyundai Tuscon with 20,000 miles on it. On Sat we were rear ended and pushed into the car in front of us. We were at a complete stop and the girl who hit us was going about 40 mph. The estimates (before it has gone on a lift or a frame machine) are around $6,000 to repair with our mechanic telling us the repairs could be double that once they get inside and see the extent of frame damage (apparantly he has already determined there is frame damage). I want the insurance company to declare it a total since I don't see that the car will ever be the same after this much damage, not to mention the diminished value when/if we try to sell it now that its been in an accident. The accident was 100% (per the state police) the other drivers fault and I'm frustrated that I'm going to be left with a not so new, not so great, structurally compromised car all because a 17 yr old was texting behind the wheel.
Any thoughts about anything I could say/do to plead my case with the insurance company?
Any thoughts about anything I could say/do to plead my case with the insurance company?
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 03:19 pm Post Subject:
You're just not looking at it from the same perspective as repairers. I've personally seen state legistors that seem to make some insurers hop and skip to their tune but the same could not be said of the average mike or lori.
I face enough retribution and steering from the insurance company that practices paying for oem parts on insureds and a/m on claimants without naming them, but I could soon have a collection of their estimates to show pattern and practice to make the point. It's only a recent turn of events due to circumstances I would mention to you in person but not in posting or even in a phone conversation that could be taped to be used against me in a deposition.
I don't suppose either of you ever heard of the Yellow sheeting that took place in the industry years ago? Claims that came in on yellow sheets were a signal to the adjuster that the claimants most likely lived in poor areas, were minorities, were too poor to hire attorneys, were uneducated, etc. They were lowballed on their claims and the ones that came in on white sheets were handled entirely differently. That was well documented on news shows in the 90's. I'd like to think that stuff doesn't happen anymore, then you read about incidences where a judge ordered a flying pig out of a claims office. Everytime an adjuster was able to deny a claim, they would flip a switch on the pig and it's wings would flap. It would be nice to think these are only isolated incidences. I am sure these are not practices any insurance company CEO would authorize, they come from a much lower level I would think.
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 06:02 pm Post Subject:
I don't suppose either of you ever heard of the Yellow sheeting that took place in the industry years ago?
Been working in P&C insurance for 20 years... never heard of that. I did not find anything on a google search either. I've heard of Red Lining in the banking industry.I have opportunities to examine estimates prepared by the same insurer for both insureds and claimants. I have found oftentimes, it does matter, who you are, what you drive, or where you live with regard to the types of repairs or parts used in those estimates on which settlements are based.
What you drive? Sure, I write those up differently. Are you saying repairs made to a $100,000 BMW are the same as to a $3,000 Dodge Neon? Its my understanding that repairs are going to be made differently to these vehicle due to the materials and design. As far as to where you live? I've got better things to do then to somehow adjust what I write based on my location.Currently I am seeing one company write original equipment parts on their own insureds vehicle repairs because of the policy provisions and for claimants they are estimating with the use of alternative, generic, imitation parts and taiwan tin. It's a corporate decision and not the individual appraiser in those cases where they are given criteria in which to prepare their estimates
Sure... one is dictated by a contract another is dictated by law. what does the insured's contract call for, OEM? Also, if the carrier only owes for AM parts on an insured's vehicle but they pay for OEM, there is nothing wrong with that. I'd call that "good service"!Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 07:05 pm Post Subject: Help!!
I actually found all this information very interesting because about 12 days ago i got in a car accident myself. The person was driving a companys truck and I was driving my Honda Element 2007 SC model. I was hit in the front and my car is looking pretty bad. My insurance company after the inspectors look at it said that it can be fixed with about 7000. Now my car has not been taken to a body shop it is not drivable. I thought this was going to be total loss I dont feel like my car will ever be the same with a front hit that bad. what can I do? I was thinking about sending it to Honda's dealer to have them estimate the cost of repair with original parts because the insurance company is telling me about taking it to one of their body shops but I am not sure what parts they will be using on my car? what should I do?
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 08:04 pm Post Subject:
I thought this was going to be total loss I dont feel like my car will ever be the same with a front hit that bad
Many people think this, but that thought process is very dated. These days many vehicles don't even have traditional frames, they are unibody. So the body panels make up the frame. Frame straightening machines are also much more advanced as well. Much of the $7000 are probably for parts and labor, that is, a higher cost of repair does not need t indicate that a vehicle cannot be put back like it was prior to the accident.You _always_ have the choice where your vehicle is going to be repaired. Typically a vehicle won't have been moved into an insurance preferred shop without the owners consent. If you want to have it moved someplace else for the repaired, this is up to you. The insurance company will submit the written estimate to that new shop and the new shop will be able to make the same repairs for that amount.
Having an Honda dealer make the repairs is not going to change what parts the insurance company pays for.
If you don't want to have the vehicle repaired you can keep the money and sell the vehicle as it is. Or you can have it repaired and sell it.
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 08:39 am Post Subject: accident
[quote]because the insurance company is telling me about taking it to one of their body shops but I am not sure what parts they will be using on my car? what should I do?
Well......I would think you could take your car to ANY body shop. Insurance Co's can recommend to take it some where, but,..I think the decision is yours. If you're not sure about parts, etc., then you should ask ( I do all the time!!LOL). I would just use your 'gut feeling' about whether you're getting the right answers or the run-around..ya know? Maybe you can go to one ot two shops and get estimates, then compare them, etc.
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 08:03 pm Post Subject:
Been working in P&C insurance for 20 years... never heard of that. I did not find anything on a google search either. I've heard of Red Lining in the banking industry.
Allstate Insurance Co., many trial lawyers contend, tries to discourage ...... OUR COMMENTS: Allstate almost Never settles once you've been Yellow-Sheeted. ...... The General Accounting Office is launching an investigation into how and ...... Incredibly, the 60 minutes special on the corruption of the Texa Supreme ...
graham.main.nc.us/~bhammel/INS/crimelist.html - Similar
google link to only current reference I could find but looking for more. I saw the 60 minute story years ago.
http://graham.main.nc.us/~bhammel/INS/crimelist.html
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:28 pm Post Subject: Insurance
'Yellow sheeted...White sheeted'? Isn't that being almost prejudice? Depending on where the 'victim' lives, determines on when the police will 'get to it'? That sounds awful!!
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 06:40 am Post Subject:
References found on-line for Yellow Sheet
Yellow Sheet Report – For political news
Yellow Sheet Cake – For those with a sweet tooth
Yellow Sheets – For those 3 year olds and some adults :oops:
Yellow Sheet – Construction paper for you scrap bookers
Yellow Sheet – Slang for criminal records :twisted:
Caroline Yellow Sheet Set – For decorative bedding including dust ruffles
Yellow Sheet – Copy I left with written statement giver
Yellow Pages – Lots and lots of yellow sheets :lol:
Yellow Fever – Source of many bad epidemics :(
Yellow - The color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum :idea:
Yellow Sheeting – The only reference that seemed to fit is on ampminsure.com where apparently some TV “news” shows said it was happening so it must be true. I don’t know of any “news” organizations that make things up for ratings or a scoop. And the link from insurancejustice.com is about Allstate complaints 10 years ago and mentions nothing about what you speak of. :?:
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 04:31 pm Post Subject:
If it were not a biblical reference, you would think the term denial originated in the insurance industry.
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:51 am Post Subject:
I don't suppose either of you ever heard of the Yellow sheeting that took place in the industry years ago? Claims that came in on yellow sheets were a signal to the adjuster that the claimants most likely lived in poor areas, were minorities, were too poor to hire attorneys, were uneducated, etc. They were lowballed on their claims and the ones that came in on white sheets were handled entirely differently. That was well documented on news shows in the 90's. I'd like to think that stuff doesn't happen anymore, then you read about incidences where a judge ordered a flying pig out of a claims office. Everytime an adjuster was able to deny a claim, they would flip a switch on the pig and it's wings would flap. It would be nice to think these are only isolated incidences. I am sure these are not practices any insurance company CEO would authorize, they come from a much lower level I would think
Mike, I've been in this biz since 1987, NEVER EVER heard of either of these...I checked 60minutes for archieves nothing there...or on the pigs either ."Well documented" should show up somewhere on the net..your link appears to be (mainly) an allstate slam site..."too poor" to hire an attorney? These would be contingency cases, and big ones at that, for bad faith, so no payment for an attorney would be needed by the person making this bad faith claim...
I'm not saying there are no 'bad' adjusters there certainly are...but I've seen no proof of any carrier handling claims based on an address, nor (unless contractually so) handling a claimant repair differently than an insured one Mike.
If it were not a biblical reference, you would think the term denial originated in the insurance industry
:lol: It's a term certainly used a lot in the insurance industry that's for sure...But there are many 'denials' you too would quickly agree with Mike..I don't get your point with that one.. :?Add your comment