by Guest » Fri Jan 01, 2010 01:25 am
Please anyone with any good advise. I was in a 3 car accident in NJ almost 2 wks ago and just yesterday I finally received the police report specifying the driver who hit me from behind being at fault as I was driving the car in the middle. I received damage front and back. It is a 08 Infiniti G35. I've filed a claim with my own insurance company and so far their service wasn't good, I took a day off and drove the car to their drive in to get appraised only to be told he estimates around $8k in damage but he couldn't do a good enough appraisal so I decided to have it towed to one of their preferred body shop. This shop has since been urging me to sign a authorization to start the repair for almost 2 weeks and meanwhile I asked them to send me an estimate 1st and had lots of resistance to a point I'm thinking to go elsewhere as the car is actually still drivable. Their excuse was oh it will always change once they tare it down and start the work. Anyways he finally sent me a preliminary estimate totaling $13300 subject to go higher being that it omitted my request to fix seat thigh support, wheel alignment and re-apply Simonize which I guess to be worth an extra $700 together. Here are my questions:
1. I just filed a separate claim with the party at fault's insurance company, will this cause a problem or will I be best to drop the claim with my own ins since I've hard no matter who's at fault my ins premium may still get raised (in NJ we hear crazy things often)
2. the bodyshop is affiliated to the insurance company of the driver at fault, should I stick to my own ins company the fact they back the repair for life even if I move out of state. However I drive $35K miles a year so I don't hold a car more than 4 years anyways.
3. I would rather they total the car, the currently value is around $21 to 25K. Would this be possible considering the loss of market value after the repair, aka diminished value. How should I approach this.
4. the rental allowance from his ins is only $27/day up to intermediate sized car. My car is what I called near luxury and I'm currently in a compact rental that's costing me $40/day so if the repair takes 30 days which i'm told it might I'd be upside down by alot
1. I just filed a separate claim with the party at fault's insurance company, will this cause a problem or will I be best to drop the claim with my own ins since I've hard no matter who's at fault my ins premium may still get raised (in NJ we hear crazy things often)
2. the bodyshop is affiliated to the insurance company of the driver at fault, should I stick to my own ins company the fact they back the repair for life even if I move out of state. However I drive $35K miles a year so I don't hold a car more than 4 years anyways.
3. I would rather they total the car, the currently value is around $21 to 25K. Would this be possible considering the loss of market value after the repair, aka diminished value. How should I approach this.
4. the rental allowance from his ins is only $27/day up to intermediate sized car. My car is what I called near luxury and I'm currently in a compact rental that's costing me $40/day so if the repair takes 30 days which i'm told it might I'd be upside down by alot
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 03:02 pm Post Subject:
08844 is a zip code in NJ =)
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 09:46 pm Post Subject: salvaging it myself
Hi Lori, If i'm able to get someone (salvage yard) to buy it from me without repairing it. Does state farm need to know about this? and will they still pay storage charges if there are any? thanks.
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:31 pm Post Subject:
Does state farm need to know about this?
nope...and will they still pay storage charges if there are any? thanks.
probably but only up to the day that payment is made (after full tear down) you will have to pay the shop some tear down too most likely, unless of course they buy the car from youPosted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 05:24 pm Post Subject: claim update
turned out the body shop didn't start the tare down last week so I pushed them to start today. However a salvage yard maybe interested in buying it from me and I will give them until tomorrow to decide as they're going to check the car this afternoon. I asked the salvage person if they end up buying it, will they have it fixed at that very shop or tow it away and he said tow it away. Therefore if that's the case, I'll have to talk to state farm about those storage charges, it's around $1500 now. Too many ifs.
You mentioned ins probably pays storage up to the day payment is made, do u mean when I make payment to the bodyshop or when ins. cut me a check? I have a check from them that's dated 1/8/2010.
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 06:12 pm Post Subject:
The yard pays the storage fees.
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 01:18 am Post Subject:
What Trench means is 'if' this yard buys your car they will pay the fees, and subtract them from what they agreed to pay you for the car...ie they agree to pay you 6500.00 they will give you 5000 and the shop the 1500 in fees...
I'd wait until I had a full estimate and payment...tell the adjuster RIGHT NOW that you are still not 100% certain that you will repair the vehicle. It depends on the extent of the damage..and you want to know AFTER tear down, 'if' additional damage is found...
1. when or how fast can they get an appraiser there for the supp
2. since you are unsure about repairing you want the supp made payable to you as well
3. they will be paying for the tow, storage and tear down up to and including the date they issue payment for the supp (right?).
4. tell them you will make your decision within 48 hours of the reinspection and/or supplemental payment.
5. that you will return the rental car within 24-48 hours after making your decision 'if' you chose to not repair
this of course negates, your dv claim
let us know what they say
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 03:28 pm Post Subject: claim update
Thanks for those advise. It's very informative. I'm giving up the battle with state farm, it's like talking to a wall trying to get more money out of them for items that did not require a tare down such as torn trunk mat, broken seat support, simonize. .. etc. One of the team just told me to have the shop call them, they won't listen to me. And they told me they won't pay for storage charge since car is deemed repairable.
Regarding the salvage yard, they are interested, however he's trying to low ball me. I asked for $8500 and they're offering me $7500. I can't accept that considering storage charges and I can't wait until tare down so ins co will pay storage b/c there's no telling salvage will be still interested then . . . (i'm sure I can find someone. . . but more time consuming). He tells me he's going to sell it too. It's too much pain and I've given in, repair it is.
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 09:56 pm Post Subject:
repair it is.
probably the best choice...back to the DV claim :wink:Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:48 pm Post Subject:
Are you planning on hiring an independent to handle your DV?
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 01:18 am Post Subject: update
the body shop won't charge me storage fee other than towing which ins already paid me for. I made a deal with a salvage place the body shop referred me to who will buy my car and flip it to an auction place. I just paid my loan off and now waiting for the title to arrive so I can make the transaction with my buyer. then it'll be time to look for a new car! DV sounds do-able but having been dealing with the Farm and the time and effort it will take I won't be looking forward to it. The agent had told me DV can't be based on assumed loss in value, has to be actual loss in value experienced which means I will have to get quotes from dealers like I'm trading it in.. . etc. Not something I will have the time for as I'm enslaved at work always.
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