Hit by State Farm Driver....

[dsimms]

The other day I was hit by a insured driver of state farm, he admits to fault, so we will go past that. I tell state farm their is a body shop about a mile up the road, then they tell me they have to send someone out to give me an estimate; Why are they giving me an estimate? The shop has already given their estimate for the repair of my vehicle. The other party is at fault, so why does giving me an estimate matter? Are they limiting what they are paying for; We all know they will write an estimate lower then what a auto shop would charge; If I took my vehicle to a "preferred" shop then they would take pictures, and state farm does not have to come out, but if I take the vehicle to a shop that is not "referred" then they will not accept pictures, etc...etc..so I do not know what type of games they are playing; why is it ok for ShopA for their photos, but ShopB "we can not accept their photos" one photo from shopA compared to ShopB is not going to change how the vehicle was damaged.

My only question is: Are they going to pay for the
entire damages, and I do not think I got a straight
answer from State Farm on the phone, they were dancing
around like "we are going to send you a check on
the estimate our estimator writes up" When I told her
I dont want a check, I want the repairs made; I do
not think I got a complete answer from that question....

So there is something going on between shops that are "preferred"
compared to shops that are not "preferred" and I do not really
care about all that; I just want the vehicle fixed as it was before....

What do you guys think?

 

[Josh]

Them sending out an adjuster is routine. In most states (maybe all) you have the right to go to any body shop you want. That said, they're still going to want pictures and their own documentation on it. Usually they'll give you that check and you can give it to the body shop that can then bill them for anything above and beyond the cost of the initial check. At least that's how everything usually works. Just make sure you confirm that with them before the body shop starts the work, but you should be more than fine. Odds are the body shop has worked with State Farm a lot as well and will have a better idea of how exactly they'll handle it for you.

 

[djs]

This is pretty normal, don't sweat it to much.

Lets work backwards: They give you a check (or the body shop). Thats so the repairs can be done. Has to be paid for somehow. State Farm doesn't do the repairs, they pay to have the repairs done. The body shop will take the check they give you.

Body shops do vary, a lot. An estimate from one is not the same as an estimate from another. Many body shops will add on additional (even needed) repairs that were not caused by the accident. State Farm is only going to pay for damage caused by the accident.

Preferred body shops simply have agreed to a lot of terms from the insurance company, including audits of repairs. The adjuster is there, probably daily, anyway to make sure things are in accordance with the insurance company guidelines.

State Farm will pay a fair price to get the repairs done. If, after the work starts, more damage is found that was caused by the accident, they will approve a 'supplemental' to pay the additional repairs. Happens all the time.

Let the process work. I have nothing to do with State Farm, but they do have a reputation for taking car of the claimants once fault is established.

Issues usually only come up when you are trying to get damage repaired that wasn't caused by the accident.

Dan

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

1) They are going to make sure that the only damage that's approved to be repaired was damage caused by the accident. Some people think it's a free pass to get their entire car fixed.

2) The body shop might want to use new parts, however, depending on the state and carrier they only have to pay for re-manufactured parts is the vehicle has more than a certain amount of mileage on it

 

[VolAgent]

2) The body shop might want to use new parts, however, depending on the state and carrier they only have to pay for re-manufactured parts is the vehicle has more than a certain amount of mileage on it

This may be state specific, but I think they can only require the use of non-OEM parts or manufactured parts if it is their insured or nothing else is available. I seem to recall a lot of lawsuits over this.

But the big thing about this claim, if it isn't a preferred shop, then they need someone they trust to estimate out the damage. Namely their adjuster. Also, since it isn't a preferred shop, they don't have a mechanism in place to pay the shop directly. Therefore they will cut you a check for the estimate their adjuster comes up with. Now if there is a difference between his estimate and the shop's, there may be some conversations to see why the difference.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

This may be state specific, but I think they can only require the use of non-OEM parts or manufactured parts if it is their insured or nothing else is available. I seem to recall a lot of lawsuits over this.

But the big thing about this claim, if it isn't a preferred shop, then they need someone they trust to estimate out the damage. Namely their adjuster. Also, since it isn't a preferred shop, they don't have a mechanism in place to pay the shop directly. Therefore they will cut you a check for the estimate their adjuster comes up with. Now if there is a difference between his estimate and the shop's, there may be some conversations to see why the difference.

I believe (not sure) there's something where if there's still a lien holder a check can't be cut to to individual - only if the car is paid off. Maybe that's only if you go through your own carrier?

 

[VolAgent]

I believe (not sure) there's something where if there's still a lien holder a check can't be cut to to individual - only if the car is paid off. Maybe that's only if you go through your own carrier?

Good point. I'm not sure on that and as you mentioned, there is a difference if it is your carrier or third-party. Ultimately though, they are cutting a check if you use a non-affiliated shop. It may be to you and the lienholder, but they still have to cut a check if there isn't a mechanism to pay the shop directly.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Car insurance claims: Who gets the claim-payment check? | Insure.com

 

[dsimms]

Thanks guys...

My vehicle did not come with re-manuf parts, and I do not expect 2nd hand parts to be put back on, now if i had a junker, then I guess i would not care so much, but this is only a 2008 with just about 40k miles; The vehicle did not look like junk before it was hit, and i expect them to fix it like new; I do not expect them fix anything that is not related to the repair.

having said that; they said they will send someone out to look at the vehicle, then send a check based on that; As long as they pay for the repairs, then we have no future issues; But we will fight if they try to issue me a $1500 check on a $3200 repair bill; I can not force the shop lower their bid down to $1500, but this is just one of those, what if deals....

This is why we pay for insurance, and I do not know about some of you guys,
but I do not pay premium insurance rates to have 2nd hand parts put back on; If
they are doing to do that, then they can add on to the diminished value payment.
this car is not going to sell at the price as it would have sold before it got hit....

 

[VolAgent]

Thanks guys...

My vehicle did not come with re-manuf parts, and I do not expect 2nd hand parts to be put back on, now if i had a junker, then I guess i would not care so much, but this is only a 2008 with just about 40k miles; The vehicle did not look like junk before it was hit, and i expect them to fix it like new; I do not expect them fix anything that is not related to the repair.

having said that; they said they will send someone out to look at the vehicle, then send a check based on that; As long as they pay for the repairs, then we have no future issues; But we will fight if they try to issue me a $1500 check on a $3200 repair bill; I can not force the shop lower their bid down to $1500, but this is just one of those, what if deals....

This is why we pay for insurance, and I do not know about some of you guys,
but I do not pay premium insurance rates to have 2nd hand parts put back on; If
they are doing to do that, then they can add on to the diminished value payment.
this car is not going to sell at the price as it would have sold before it got hit....

Actually, you haven't been paying insurance premiums. The person you hit was paying the premiums for the coverage that is going to repair your car.

Just tell the adjuster that you'd like him to come out at his earliest opportunity and estimate out the damage. State Farm wants this to end well just as much as you do. While they want to limit the loss, they also don't want to act in bad faith and incur legal problems over it down the road.