Wife got in an accident today - Need Advice

[jjeff]

My 2 cents if they fix it the insurance company is obligated to bring it back to pre accident condition, never admit fault even if it's judged you are obviously be honest though, weather or not they use aftermarket or used parts is up to you and insurance company and should be in policy. Any aftermarket accessories damaged need to be addressed weather or not they will cover it is usually in the policy.
Larger automotive insurance companies are penny pinching a holes in my experience with them and there adjusters are often not customer satisfaction focused so if your somewhat mechanically inclined do research on your own and bring up potential mechanical and body issues that may not be in the estimate to damage appraiser and body shop.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Good luck getting it back if they total it. From my experience and others I know, it can be very difficult.

 

[D&D]

To echo: air bag deployment is the airbag, inflator cartridge, headliner, plus 2 doors, trim molding, mirror, paint and it's a Renegade so not a high value vehicle so this will likely be a total loss. I'm sorry. Best thing you can do is search your local area for vehicles for sale TODAY that are close in year and mileage because I suspect you may need to negotiate with whichever insurer is the at-fault insurer to reach an agreed payout value. You do not have to accept whatever the first number is they hand you (unless it's advantageous).

Use the website of local dealerships and take screenshots of the vehicles/VINs/prices they are advertising; KBB is nice and all, but that is not the reality of the market that you may be living in.

Right, the comps they (or contractor) pick may not be close to what is available in your area. Depending on your state, getting that vehicle reinsured after a total loss may not be cost effective either.

 

[Torvy]

This also brings up one of the hard things with auto insurance. You never know, until it is too late, if you have 'good' insurance. We have had the same insurance for over 33 years and while it is not the cheapest, they have been very good about claims and explaining options.

As for getting insurance after a 'total loss'. Many (most?) people only carry liability once the vehicle is paid off and deductible approaches the value. The vehicle will not affect liability coverage, typically.

 

[dodge man]

If just the one airbag deployed it might not be totaled. Some vehicles have a lot of airbags and when several get deployed it starts adding up.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

This also brings up one of the hard things with auto insurance. You never know, until it is too late, if you have 'good' insurance. We have had the same insurance for over 33 years and while it is not the cheapest, they have been very good about claims and explaining options.

As for getting insurance after a 'total loss'. Many (most?) people only carry liability once the vehicle is paid off and deductible approaches the value. The vehicle will not affect liability coverage, typically.

I was SOOOOOO close to putting this car under liability only before the accident, I am glad I didn't. If this gets totaled I will definitely drop it down to liability.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Call your insurance agent. Follow his or her advice. Meanwhile, tell your wife to keep her yap shut.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

This also brings up one of the hard things with auto insurance. You never know, until it is too late, if you have 'good' insurance. We have had the same insurance for over 33 years and while it is not the cheapest, they have been very good about claims and explaining options.

As for getting insurance after a 'total loss'. Many (most?) people only carry liability once the vehicle is paid off and deductible approaches the value. The vehicle will not affect liability coverage, typically.

We have Progressive Ins., does anyone have any good or bad stories with Progressive? They are definitely one of the big boys. Also, say I do not like the way they handle this claim is there any penalty to cancelling with them after the fact and getting insurance with a different company?

 

[jjeff]

Yes, I was cheap had progressive. One of my old tacos burned, and was totalled. Progressive Failed to list a host of both factory and aftermarket options. Affected what they would initially pay. I ended up arguing with them on options the truck had. Like factory cruise control, eventually paid for the trucks factory options somewhat. ended up keeping aftermarket tool box and hitch. Another time my 4runner I owned was stolen from work gone for almost a month interior was trashed perp installed his own stereo system hacking apart the interior among other things, factory leather covering on steering wheel was ripped off, rear differential was leaking it was beat and involved in a minor wreck in that time frame. Progressive Cut me a check no where near what it was worth or the cost to repair. I kept it. And eventually sold it cheap fully disclosed it's history. I'm a slow learner when it comes to spending money on insurance when I think I'm "such a great driver" not anymore. If you have a body, repair shop, or someone who's knowledgeable working insurance claims might be beneficial to look them up possibly compensating them for there time and knowledge. Read and verify there estimates on what they will pay weather or not its totalled. my unfortunate experiences with progressive. Seems like more insurance companies are following the progressive penny pinching model these days though. USAA was great 20 yrs ago anyway.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Yes, I was cheap had progressive. One of my old tacos burned, and was totalled. Progressive Failed to list a host of both factory and aftermarket options. Affected what they would initially pay. I ended up arguing with them on options the truck had. Like factory cruise control, eventually paid for the trucks factory options somewhat. ended up keeping aftermarket tool box and hitch. Another time my 4runner I owned was stolen from work gone for almost a month interior was trashed perp installed his own stereo system hacking apart the interior among other things, factory leather covering on steering wheel was ripped off, rear differential was leaking it was beat and involved in a minor wreck in that time frame. Progressive Cut me a check no where near what it was worth or the cost to repair. I kept it. And eventually sold it cheap fully disclosed it's history. I'm a slow learner when it comes to spending money on insurance when I think I'm "such a great driver" not anymore. If you have a body, repair shop, or someone who's knowledgeable working insurance claims might be beneficial to look them up possibly compensating them for there time and knowledge. Read and verify there estimates on what they will pay weather or not its totalled. my unfortunate experiences with progressive. Seems like more insurance companies are following the progressive penny pinching model these days though. USAA was great 20 yrs ago anyway.

WELL CRAP!!! We have 3 cars under full coverage with them. I hope they don't pull that crap, if so I will be insurance shopping.

 

[jjeff]

WELL CRAP!!! We have 3 cars under full coverage with them. I hope they don't pull that crap, if so I will be insurance shopping.

See what riders or addendums are on your policy. Like I said go over with a fine tooth comb on what they are paying you on. Making sure they at least have the correct trim level etc. I will say some may consider my claims shady considering it was right before and during the economic collapse of the mid 2000s. Recently argued with a smaller agency on my wife's windshield replacement when they were trying to get us to pay for all the sensor recalibration and paying the difference for a OEM windshield cuz aftermarket ones would not work with the adaptive cruise control etc. personally I don't mind getting aftermarket parts as long as there a functional replacement. Good luck I'm curious how it goes.

 

[dmccarty]

I was SOOOOOO close to putting this car under liability only before the accident, I am glad I didn't. If this gets totaled I will definitely drop it down to liability.

Used to work with someone who had an older vehicle. They canceled coverage for the vehicle and then had an accident. The spouse hit the vehicle with another family car.

I once lowered my dental coverage and promptly bit into a bone in meat in a Taco Bell product which cracked a tooth and required a crown. I am paranoid about changing coverage of anything.

 

[Oldstuff]

my agent told me that if repair exceeded 80% of car value it would be a total

 

[plowhog]

In my VERY preliminary research on value I saw numbers about $8000-$9000. I would be pretty OK with that I think. Especially if I can buy it back and and fix it up cheaply. How does the buy back thing work? DO they offer you that option or do you have to ask? Is that a thing that is negotiated as well?

As Eagle said, pay attention to the type of title you will receive if they total it and you buy it back and fix it.

Years ago, I acquired an exotic sports car at an unbelievable price. It had been officially totaled then repaired back to brand new condition, at least visually. I had the dealer perform a full pre-purchase inspection before I bought it. But regardless, it later sold for an unbelievable price (low, well below market) because the title said SALVAGE on it.

 

[ponytug]

WELL CRAP!!! We have 3 cars under full coverage with them. I hope they don't pull that crap, if so I will be insurance shopping.

Sorry about the accident and I'm glad that everyone is ok.

As others have said, this is a time to be diligent, checking details, and making sure that you get what you have been paying for. Try to keep the adjusters moving along so it doen't get lost.

I have had an insurer tell me that they were going to total my car, only to discover that the adjuster had configured my vehicle as a base model without any options, a configuration that was never sold. It went downhill from there. I stuck to what I knew to be right until they got the details right, and ultimately got the car repaired, but it was both a long process and a learning experience. IIRC, not only did the State Insurance commission get involved, but the insurer later washed up in the Attorney General's office as it turned out their adjusters were taking kickbacks from body shops. Big stink. I changed insurers as soon as the car was repaired to one of the big companies, and have been quite happy since.

The irony of the story was it was my mechanic who had the accident, and he did not lift a finger to help, beyond charging me storage fees for only the first thirty days he had my car on his lot. I was more than a little surprised that he did not take any ownership of the accident. It was too bad; he was a really good mechanic and his body shop did great work.

Live and learn. The process is not simple, and honest mistakes do happen, but do be clear on what your policies entitle you to.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Yander]

If the other driver was at fault, don't get in any big hurry to sign off that your all physically ok. Your son's arm was sore, give it a couple weeks to make sure there isn't anything there. No whiplash or back pains etc. The other's insured wants to get all possible medical claims signed off ASAP! Take your time.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Sorry about the accident and I'm glad that everyone is ok.

As others have said, this is a time to be diligent, checking details, and making sure that you get what you have been paying for. Try to keep the adjusters moving along so it doen't get lost.

I have had an insurer tell me that they were going to total my car, only to discover that the adjuster had configured my vehicle as a base model without any options, a configuration that was never sold. It went downhill from there. I stuck to what I knew to be right until they got the details right, and ultimately got the car repaired, but it was both a long process and a learning experience. IIRC, not only did the State Insurance commission get involved, but the insurer later washed up in the Attorney General's office as it turned out their adjusters were taking kickbacks from body shops. Big stink. I changed insurers as soon as the car was repaired to one of the big companies, and have been quite happy since.

The irony of the story was it was my mechanic who had the accident, and he did not lift a finger to help, beyond charging me storage fees for only the first thirty days he had my car on his lot. I was more than a little surprised that he did not take any ownership of the accident. It was too bad; he was a really good mechanic and his body shop did great work.

Live and learn. The process is not simple, and honest mistakes do happen, but do be clear on what your policies entitle you to.

All the best,

Peter

Thank you Peter for that honest opinion!! I will be diligent!

 

[HawkinsHollow]

If the other driver was at fault, don't get in any big hurry to sign off that your all physically ok. Your son's arm was sore, give it a couple weeks to make sure there isn't anything there. No whiplash or back pains etc. The other's insured wants to get all possible medical claims signed off ASAP! Take your time.

I appreciate that sentiment and I will definitely not be signing off on any health statements, but I honestly think mama and son are 100% fine. I would know if they weren't, they both love the attention they get when they complain! And they have not whined one bit.

 

[jyoutz]

my agent told me that if repair exceeded 80% of car value it would be a total

I heard the same thing.

 

[jyoutz]

I appreciate that sentiment and I will definitely not be signing off on any health statements, but I honestly think mama and son are 100% fine. I would know if they weren't, they both love the attention they get when they complain! And they have not whined one bit.

Yes, but Yander is correct. Some things like whiplash or other things often don’t show up for awhile. Take your time before signing any settlement.