NEED HELP WITH INSURANCE ADJUSTER

[two_bit_score]

also note that as an adjuster they will write off the truck if repairs are about 2/3 of the replacement value.

Example: if truck is worth $10,000 and repairs would be say $6,000 or more they will write it off.

this is because
1) there are almost always complaints/remedial work that needs to be done and are found out after the repair is started or completed
2) there is salvage value on the truck that needs to be considered that the insurance company gets. So if they pay you $6k AND they take ownership of the wreck, they would sell it to someone who parts it out or will repair for say $3k then they write it off.

Generally any vehicle that repair is worth 2/3rds fair market value will be written off.

Generally, you are very close. Economically a total loss occurs when the value before the crash equals the repair cost plus the salvage value.

The warning I would give to the OP is that the insurance company will likely lowball him on the ACV (actual cash value) of the vehicle and call it a total loss.

I've seen so many complaints where the vehicle owner got screwed by the insurance company lowballing the value and totaling out an otherwise very repairable vehicle.

Most insurance companies guarantee the repairs now if they are completed at one of their 'co-op' shops so they don't want to be married to the truck forever on any minor complaints which are likely to arise when hard hit vehicles are repaired. So, they cut losses and justify totaling out vehicles by low values.

One other thing I've seen more and more is that people are asking to be paid for the value of the fuel remaining in the vehicle. After all, you paid for it and it still has a value. It's easy to have close to $100 worth of fuel in a truck these days. The insurance companies should be paying for it if they total out your truck.


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[ray66v]

I owned a shop for over 30 years, and handled these matters daily.

Decide now, if you want it fixed, or totaled out.

If you want it fixed, you need to choose a repair shop, and get it there.

Nothing the damage appraiser, writes on an initial estimate is necessarily accurate, or binding. He or she is still going to have to get together with the shop you choose, and agree on a price. So, if you want it fixed, your just spinning your wheels until you get them the vehicle.

An accurate estimate requires a trear-down when there is heavy damage. If the vehicle is not an obvious total, the insurance appraiser, will probably authorize payment for this. Then, they can accurately decide the repair costs.

The person who writes an estimate for the insurance company is NOT the adjuster, they are a damage appraiser. You will probably never see the actual claims adjuster, they almost never go out on damage appraisals. (They just go out for lunch).

Sometimes the shop and the insurance company will be more flexible, about fixing a borderline total, when that's what the customer wants. As well as they can work harder to scrap it, if that's what you desire. Let them know.

Don't expect a windfall if they total it out. You will generally receive a fair price though.

If you have a shop, don't let the insurance company convince you to use a different shop. They are not legally allowed to tell you where to take your vehicle. But, that are very good at getting you to go to a shop that protects their interest, over yours. They commonly tell 1/2 truths, and sometimes out right lies to do this. You have a right to choose your shop, and any guarantees, and benefits they suggest you will get from their shop, will also be available, if you go to yours, assuming it is a legitimate shop.

 

[duke7595]

Thank you again for your help.

The Pickup is a 2005 4x4 half ton silverado with only 57, 000 miles
the airbag ,drivers side did deploy.

My wife was driving in a wal-mart parking lot and her shopping bag full of
groceries began to fall and she struck another vehicle. It is her fault.

I also learned I have a 1,000.00 deductible, thought it was 500.00

What concerns me the most is the air bag, I hear they are big bucks to replace.

 

[MossRoad]

What's the blue book value of the truck?

go to
www.kbb.com
and enter you info about the truck to get an idea of what it is worth if you have to buy one used, not if you are selling it used or trading it in.

Then get an estimate from a body shop that you trust to compare it to what the insurance adjuster tells you.

Several years ago we got caught in a hail storm that drops rocks from heaven. 1-3/4" hail balls. Hundreds of dents in every panel of the car but the two passenger side doors. The car blue booked around 5500-6000 and there was over 4000 in damage and they did NOT total the car! :confused2:

Its a crap-shoot at best.

 

[imgone52]

I agree with ray66v. Get your shop involved ASAP. Be sure your guy knows your feelings about repair vs. totaled. Don't sweat the air bag thing. These get replaced all the time. Just remember, it's your truck and your choice who does the work.

 

[dmccarty]

I think the air bags are a big clue on if the truck will be totaled. Hopefully Ray will come back and give his opinion.

We had an accident three years ago. The car was not drivable after the accident. The other car hit our front wheel drive car on the driver side front tire. Air bags DID not deploy in our car but did in the other car.

We were concerned that they would not total the car but they did.

We then were worried about what they would pay. We started looking at the value of our car on Edmunds, Blue Book, and dealer websites. We printed off the values we found in case we had to argue with the insurance company. The company took their time in totaling the car but also in paying us. This worked to our advantage because once they cut the check for the value of the car they can stop paying the car rental. This gave us enough time to find and buy a replacement car.

Believe it or not, they paid a fair value for your car. If anything they might have paid too much.

Later,
Dan

 

[LD1]

Well, at first glance I was thinking they wouldnt total it. What you describe (and its hard without seeing it) sounds like maybe ~4k in damage. And the truck probabally books for 12k with its low milage.

But then theres the airbag....

It takes a good hit to make an airbag go off. Something ROCK SOLID AND IMMOVABLE @ ~10mph. Which is about the same as hitting another vehichle @ ~25MPH since it absorbs some of the blow.

Either way, the airbags indicate a pretty good thump which as others have metioned, may have tweaked the frame, or some other damage that is hard to see.

Good luck and let us know the outcome.

 

[Danno1]

One other thing I've seen more and more is that people are asking to be paid for the value of the fuel remaining in the vehicle. After all, you paid for it and it still has a value. It's easy to have close to $100 worth of fuel in a truck these days. The insurance companies should be paying for it if they total out your truck.



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Ya right!

A tenant who was moving out tried this one on me years ago. Wanted me to give them money for the half tank of oil in the cellar. In a very polite voice I said "No thanks. You can take it with you."





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[rrrkkk]

When the cost of repairs plus, the salvage value exceed the replacement cost of the vehicle you have a total loss.
There are ways to go on eighter way to total or repair. IE new or used parts, your insurance co will treat you fairly, every state has an insurance complaint dept. In 57 years of being an adjuster I have never had a complaint overturned, the average % of complains that were actuall overturned were less than 1%.
Every one on the internet will cite Kelly Blue book actually NADA is a much better reference it is more specific and is actuall dealer reported values.
On an older vehicle condition is everything, if you have a really nice vehicle (everyone thinks theirs is exceptional) the best thing to do is to get the adjuster to actually inspect the vehicle.
If You don't know the insurance CO you had better know your agent.
Most adjusters are fair, they were hired to make sure the Company wasn't screwed. the majority of complaint against adjusters are from people who are unrealistic or downright crooks, you will be fine!

 

[aczlan]

Sometime, you make out well from an insurance company...
I had a '93 Volvo 940 Wagon that I bought for $1800 with ~150k miles on it.
Ran it for several years and replaced it with a '97 Volvo V90 at 177k miles.
Had it sitting by the road (sold for $1400, buyer was going to come by with cash that evening) and some guy went off the road, slid across the front of it (which kept him from a head on with a power pole), then went into a fence (as seen below)

It messed up the front of the car, but didnt break the radiator or anything major:

The insurance company (A. Central Insurance Company) totaled it and sent me a check for almost $2900 (that was their first offer). My brother (who fell asleep and totaled his Volvo 740 Sedan a week later) put a little into it (mainly another bumper and grill), drove it for a month or so, then took it out to my sister (who was working on her masters and had a blown headgasket in her Volvo 940 Sedan). She is still driving it today.

Aaron Z