Insurance claim question...

[Duwelon]

I got into a car accident recently. The cops gave the other driver a ticket and I submitted a claim to his insurance company.

I proceded to get an estimate from a local GM dealer and the estimate was for $3175 to repair the damage.

The Insurance agency sent an adjuster out to take pictures of the damage. About 2 days later I got a call from the other driver's insurance company offering me $2500 to settle the claim. I told him it was too low and *looking back, stupidly i think* asked for 2750. He said he wasn't sure about it and then I *stupidly again* counter offered my own offer with $2600. The guy, probably wetting himself, said "i'll submit it for approval".

Today I got a letter from them offering $2600. I haven't signed the paperwork yet. i'm wondering is it too late to re-negotiate the full estimate value? If i send them the estimate of $3175 do they have to pay it? I'd be happy with $3000 but looking back $2600 is way too low unless I fix some of it myself or go to a budget body shop.

Edit: I don't have full coverage on my car so any money i'm going to get will come from the other driver's insurance company.

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: Duwelon
I got into a car accident recently. The cops gave the other driver a ticket and I submitted a claim to his insurance company.

I proceded to get an estimate from a local GM dealer and the estimate was for $3175 to repair the damage.

The Insurance agency sent an adjuster out to take pictures of the damage. About 2 days later I got a call from the other driver's insurance company offering me $2500 to settle the claim. I told him it was too low and *looking back, stupidly i think* asked for 2750. He said he wasn't sure about it and then I *stupidly again* counter offered my own offer with $2600. The guy, probably wetting himself, said "i'll submit it for approval".

Today I got a letter from them offering $2600. I haven't signed the paperwork yet. i'm wondering is it too late to re-negotiate the full estimate value? If i send them the estimate of $3175 do they have to pay it? I'd be happy with $3000 but looking back $2600 is way too low unless I fix some of it myself or go to a budget body shop.

Edit: I don't have full coverage on my car so any money i'm going to get will come from the other driver's insurance company.

How do they figure they arent on the hook to pay for the entire repair? Did insurance determine that you shared a percentage of fault?

 

[Duwelon]

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Duwelon
I got into a car accident recently. The cops gave the other driver a ticket and I submitted a claim to his insurance company.

I proceded to get an estimate from a local GM dealer and the estimate was for $3175 to repair the damage.

The Insurance agency sent an adjuster out to take pictures of the damage. About 2 days later I got a call from the other driver's insurance company offering me $2500 to settle the claim. I told him it was too low and *looking back, stupidly i think* asked for 2750. He said he wasn't sure about it and then I *stupidly again* counter offered my own offer with $2600. The guy, probably wetting himself, said "i'll submit it for approval".

Today I got a letter from them offering $2600. I haven't signed the paperwork yet. i'm wondering is it too late to re-negotiate the full estimate value? If i send them the estimate of $3175 do they have to pay it? I'd be happy with $3000 but looking back $2600 is way too low unless I fix some of it myself or go to a budget body shop.

Edit: I don't have full coverage on my car so any money i'm going to get will come from the other driver's insurance company.

How do they figure they arent on the hook to pay for the entire repair? Did insurance determine that you shared a percentage of fault?

No, it was clearly the other driver's fault and we actually never even talked about fault other than me telling them what happened and a witness's account in the police report i suppose. Part of the problem i think is they haven't actually seen the estimate yet. They took pictures and determined the offer in an office basically.

 

[LTC8K6]

Get another estimate? Dealer costs tend to be high.

 

[Duwelon]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Get another estimate? Dealer costs tend to be high.

The quality of the repair should be better than a random body shop though right? or the overall service quality, gaurantee, etc?

 

[Dman877]

Tell them you had it looked at by a dealer after you got their offer and now you want 3200 (the whole cost) not 2600.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Duwelon

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Get another estimate? Dealer costs tend to be high.

The quality of the repair should be better than a random body shop though right? or the overall service quality, gaurantee, etc?

POSSIBLY but I do know a lot of dealerships simply outsource bodywork.

But no, they should pay for the entire repair and the shop of YOUR choice. Fax them the estimate you received and tell them that that's the price you'll accept.

If they refuse, it'll probably be in your best interest to contact your insurance company so they can fight for you.

 

[Rio Rebel]

So you negotiated in a situation that you didn't need to negotiate...then you countered your own offer...then they offered you what you asked, and now you want to refuse and ask for more?

 

[Duwelon]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
So you negotiated in a situation that you didn't need to negotiate...then you countered your own offer...then they offered you what you asked, and now you want to refuse and ask for more?

No.

 

[Duwelon]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: Duwelon

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Get another estimate? Dealer costs tend to be high.

The quality of the repair should be better than a random body shop though right? or the overall service quality, gaurantee, etc?

POSSIBLY but I do know a lot of dealerships simply outsource bodywork.

But no, they should pay for the entire repair and the shop of YOUR choice. Fax them the estimate you received and tell them that that's the price you'll accept.

If they refuse, it'll probably be in your best interest to contact your insurance company so they can fight for you.

Thanks, i'll give it a shot on monday.

 

[bctbct]

typical insurance fraud...the companies

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Duwelon

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: Duwelon

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Get another estimate? Dealer costs tend to be high.

The quality of the repair should be better than a random body shop though right? or the overall service quality, gaurantee, etc?

POSSIBLY but I do know a lot of dealerships simply outsource bodywork.

But no, they should pay for the entire repair and the shop of YOUR choice. Fax them the estimate you received and tell them that that's the price you'll accept.

If they refuse, it'll probably be in your best interest to contact your insurance company so they can fight for you.

Thanks, i'll give it a shot on monday.

Yep, argue with them and if they don't comply, get your own insurance on their asses. This is why you pay for insurance.

 

[LTC8K6]

A good body shop could well be considerably better than the dealer and even cheaper.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I still think there is an issue with the fact that you negotiated a settlement, they accepted it, and now you want to ask for more. I'm not sure what I'd do in your situation, because they do owe you the cost of repairs and you shouldn't have had to negotiate with them in first place. I'm just suggesting you recognize that it's an issue when you negotiate something and then back out and demand more.

My suggestion would be to simply tell the insurance adjuster that you made a mistake, that you want your car fixed, and if they have a "preferred" repair shop you would be willing to take it there. As stated above, the dealership isn't better than another reputable body shop.

 

[fstime]

Normally, the estimate will be below what a good body shop will ask for.

The body shop should do all the negotiating with the insurance company, not you.