Fender bender...please help

[oz16us]

this is turning out to not be so bad...progressive is willing to just cut me a check from their own estimates minus the deductible, but they left out the cost of the passenger side turn signal housing and the driver side wheel bearing in their initial estimate (i would rather get a bigger check from them)...i was able to get another estimate from another shop that is $200+ more than progressive's estimate....
basically, what is the strategy for a larger payout since you did mention that they lowball you in the beginning? can i negotiate for a larger payout... I didn't want to ask the inspection manager directly cause i'm sure he wants to do the opposite. All he said was, if there are any other supplemental repairs needed, they'll take care of them too... but I would rather just take the money that should be going to ALL the repairs and fix it myself

 

[MidnightRebel07]

I still don't understand why you have a $1,000 deductible for comp, they did put it under comp since it was a hit and run, correct? This will save your rating but if they put it under collision as Progressive likes to do to screw you than it'll hurt your insurance rating which in turn affects your Credit Score believe it or not. How much was left over after the "deductible"?

 

[oz16us]

see when i got into an accident, it was with a tax cab with rowdy college students. We both were trying to get in the center medium coming from the opposite sides. I got there slightly ahead of him but for some reason, he was distracted and went right into me. Anyway, the policeman on scene didn't give anyone a ticket. I'm hoping to at least resolve this as a 50/50 claim or completely zero liability cause it wasn't my fault. Proving it in court is a whole different story. Anyway, progressive said it could sometimes take upto a month to get a police report in from the local county...I don't have rental coverage (i'm borrowing someone's vehicle in the meantime), so I gotta do what I gotta do now hoping my insurance won't go up and maybe I'll get $500 (half of my deductible back from progressive for a 50/50 outcome). Now that i think of it, would progressive give me back the $500 (half the deductible) afterwards if I accept them cutting me a check now

 

[429CJ-3X2]

NO! Never accept a settlement expecting more to come later. You'll probably have to sign something that says you are accepting payment as full settlement.

 

[oz16us]

i just spoke to progressive and i asked that question to the adjuster and she said that accepting a check from them will not mean i am signing off to settle the case

 

[sr139fox]

Last time i dealt with an adjuster i played hard ball. Told them i wanted more because of new tires and the good condition of the car. I also made it a point no one went to the hospital. Then i said i was in no hurry for a fair price, but would settle now for x amount. Had the check the next day. But it was a totaled out escort and their drivers fault.

 

[OffTrac]

i just spoke to progressive and i asked that question to the adjuster and she said that accepting a check from them will not mean i am signing off to settle the case

I haven't heard much good about dealing with claims through progressive. I'd be wary.

Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Forum Runner

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Like I said before, don't trust Progressive. They will screw anyway possible, I'm speaking from my own experience and many other people I know.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Last time i dealt with an adjuster i played hard ball. Told them i wanted more because of new tires and the good condition of the car. I also made it a point no one went to the hospital. Then i said i was in no hurry for a fair price, but would settle now for x amount. Had the check the next day. But it was a totaled out escort and their drivers fault.

I tried that when my son's Mountaineer got totaled last March. In the end, I pretty much got what I wanted after the adjuster said the tires (only 1200 miles) and wheels were only worth $25 to them. I got the tires and wheels by putting some old ones on the wreck. One was ruined, but I really wanted those tires, and getting 3 was better than none. I didn't get as much cash as I wanted, but the cash and 3 nearly new tires on the Mountaineer rims got me close to what I thought was fair.

 

[oz16us]

the progressive adjuster said that they will only cut me a check based on progressive's initial estimate (and maybe if i find supplemental damage which i'm unsure about)....when i told her that i got another estimate which was higher from another shop, she said that I can go to that repair shop but I can't get a check based off that amount....is this how it's always done? I chose to go with the check, since she clearly said that there is no negotiating

 

[NewTrac17]

the progressive adjuster said that they will only cut me a check based on progressive's initial estimate (and maybe if i find supplemental damage which i'm unsure about)....when i told her that i got another estimate which was higher from another shop, she said that I can go to that repair shop but I can't get a check based off that amount....is this how it's always done? I chose to go with the check, since she clearly said that there is no negotiating

That's not how it went down in my experience. When I got rear ended once, I took my vehicle to the best auto shop in town and got a quote. Decided to take the money and fix the damage myself. The insurance company of the person who hit me, I believe it was farmers, wrote me a check for the same amount as the shop estimated it would cost to fix the damage.

 

[oz16us]

I took the cash cause I need to get my vehicle partially fixed. Progressive wouldn't budget on giving me a bigger check saying that this is how they do it. I assumed negotiating for a higher payout was reserved for totaled vehicles only

 

[429CJ-3X2]

I think it's fairly common that insurance companies will pay the full bill at a body shop, even if it's not the lowest estimate, but will write you a check for a cash settlement based on the lower estimate. I can see their reasoning - the chances for fraud are much greater with the cash settlement if they pay based on the higher estimate. Some companies have a list of preferred shops and they'll pay based on the estimates from those shops, no questions asked.

Some companies negotiate, and some don't. My '89 Bronco II was totaled when hit head on at 30 mph by a drunk driver. We both had Farm Bureau insurance, and the same adjuster handled both ends of the claims. He allowed me to negotiate, and I actually got paid for some expenses they could have easily not covered. I had paid $1450 for it 2 1/2 years earlier, put a new drive shaft in it and new tires on it about 15 months before the wreck. The settlement was $1750, which covered about 2/3 the cost of the tires and drive shaft, which are really basic maintenance costs.
When my daughter's Sable was totaled in Sept 2013, State Farm sent an estimator to our house to look at the car. (It was totaled, but still driveable.) His estimate far exceeded the value of the car. When the adjuster called later, she explained my options and what I needed to do in each case. We took $3750 and kept the car, which my daughter is still driving. We could have taken $4350 and given up the car.
When my son's Mountaineer was totaled, the woman I spoke to from Farmer's said, this is how much we're going to pay you, period. It was a very defiant approach on her part and I didn't react well at all. Their offer was extremely low for this area, and it wasn't until I finally asked (after a lot of yelling on my part) if there was any way I could keep the tires and wheels, that we came to an agreement I could live with. I may not have had anymore negotiating power with State Farm on my daughter's car, but it was a MUCH MORE pleasant experience, and that's putting it very mildly.

 

[oz16us]

i appreciate all the help guys. I know this is probably a silly question, but since part of the bumper is bent inwards...is there a chance that i can use a hammer to hit it back out? guess probably not?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

The reinforcement piece, no. You can strap it to a tree, telephone pole, etc... and gently back up with someone watching from outside to let you know when you get close as long as it's not kinked in. Like I said before I have my bumper reinforcement panel sitting out by my carport, too bad you're so far away.

 

[oz16us]

wow! not sure why I didn't think of that! Maybe apart of me thinks that it may end up ripping off the entire bumper or put too much stress on the engine, but theoretically it shouldn't. Still feel a little hesitant though...but great idea!

 

[429CJ-3X2]

A come-along hooked to a tree might work. If it works, you'll have more control, and be able to see what's happening. That piece might require more force than the come-along can generate, though.

 

[oz16us]

in regards to fixing the fender, I only have common tools....but i figured, it would be handy to know how to apply filler and paint a panel myself. It can't be too difficult with a little know how. Since it's an old beatup truck, I'd prefer just to find a fender with the same color but it's rather difficult since it's teal not green. Where can I buy CHEAP yet decent quality spray paint in a can that will match my truck? I would of thought advance auto parts had it, but it's not a common color