by 749009 » Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:38 am
before you speak again with the adjuster, do some homework. Search every place you can (local car lots, local newspapers, auto trader, online websites for used cars in your local area, etc.) and compile a long list of cars as close as possible to your own ( similar mileage, model and trim level, year, etc.). Don't just write them down, cut out the ad or print it off, if possible. Obviously, try to pick out the highest priced ones that are similar to yours. Faced with that kind of research, it will be much more difficult for the adjuster to offer you some lower value he has pulled out of a book. In other words, show him what your car is worth in your local market.
While the insurance company has the option to repair or replace, they must be able to justify the cash value they are giving you if they choose replacement. Your efforts will help get you a fairer price than relying on them to give you a fair price.
If they object to a higher requested price from you and attempt to coerce you into taking a lower settlement or threaten they will then repair the car, you say that will be fine. Then you have the right to pick the body shop. You pick the absolute most expensive body shop in town that does work on Ferrari's, etc. As the accident was entirely not your fault, you have the right to insist that the repair must be perfect and you won't accept substandard work at an inferior bodyshop. When the adjuster sees the cost of doing the work at the high end bodyshop, the higher writeoff value amount you're looking for won't seem so bad. And, the insurance company still gets to keep the salvage value for themselves.
The job of the adjuster is to get the best settlement he can for his insurance company which is responsible for your loss. He is not working for you. Only your own efforts and refusal to be bullied by him into accepting less for your loss will result in you getting the kind of treatment you're looking for. On the other hand, arbitrarily high values out of a book will not help you either because they are going to be using different books and ultimately, they will look in the local papers too, to justify their price.
Good luck with your claim.
While the insurance company has the option to repair or replace, they must be able to justify the cash value they are giving you if they choose replacement. Your efforts will help get you a fairer price than relying on them to give you a fair price.
If they object to a higher requested price from you and attempt to coerce you into taking a lower settlement or threaten they will then repair the car, you say that will be fine. Then you have the right to pick the body shop. You pick the absolute most expensive body shop in town that does work on Ferrari's, etc. As the accident was entirely not your fault, you have the right to insist that the repair must be perfect and you won't accept substandard work at an inferior bodyshop. When the adjuster sees the cost of doing the work at the high end bodyshop, the higher writeoff value amount you're looking for won't seem so bad. And, the insurance company still gets to keep the salvage value for themselves.
The job of the adjuster is to get the best settlement he can for his insurance company which is responsible for your loss. He is not working for you. Only your own efforts and refusal to be bullied by him into accepting less for your loss will result in you getting the kind of treatment you're looking for. On the other hand, arbitrarily high values out of a book will not help you either because they are going to be using different books and ultimately, they will look in the local papers too, to justify their price.
Good luck with your claim.
- 749009
- Just Licensed SolaraGuy
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 10:52 am
- Location: Calgary, Canada
