How long should insurance take to finalize an auto damage estimate?
May 26, 2016 12:35 AM Subscribe
I was hit by another driver, who sped off and likely won't be caught (no plate). I have coverage for this but it took nearly three weeks for my insurance company to approve the estimate from the shop. The first adjuster assigned to the claim wasn't local to the area and tried to do everything by phone/email and the company wasn't particularly communicative about the process. Is this run-of-the-mill feet-dragging for insurance companies or does mine suck?
The only other time I've received a settlement from my own insurance company was a different company, years ago, for an economy compact car that was totaled out (so no reason to haggle on repair costs). This time it's a new car (less than six months old), high-end and German, and the repair shop is the dealership's collision center, so I can understand the price being much higher, but it seems like it took a long time to reach the point where repairs would actually start. If anyone's had experience similar to mine, I'd love to know how long this part of the process took for you. I don't mind waiting while the car's being fixed but I do mind waiting while the car's not being fixed and I'm wondering if I have better options.
As I mentioned, the first adjuster assigned to the claim wasn't local. He lives/works an hour away (optimistically, this being southern California) and tried to handle everything over the phone/by email. I had to contact him directly to get updates and eventually he told me the price was higher than the company would like so he'd have to go investigate the car in person. After not hearing from him for another few days, I called for an update and found out a different adjuster had been assigned. He seemed to think I would know this from our previous conversation despite that he had said he would drive out to do it.
I never managed reached the second adjuster and the company's main claims line could only leave a message for him to get in touch with me. I finally found out everything had been settled from the shop before relevant documents were available via my insurance company's website.
I can understand the insurance company trying to pay less to handle the claim but I'm surprised by how long it took, that the first adjuster assigned wasn't local, and that I had to get updates on my own. That said, I've never really dealt with this kind of situation before, so I'm just wondering if this is to be expected from any insurance company or if mine was particularly bad with this claim.
If it's relevant, I filed the claim and a police report immediately following the accident and the car was towed to the shop later the same day.
The only other time I've received a settlement from my own insurance company was a different company, years ago, for an economy compact car that was totaled out (so no reason to haggle on repair costs). This time it's a new car (less than six months old), high-end and German, and the repair shop is the dealership's collision center, so I can understand the price being much higher, but it seems like it took a long time to reach the point where repairs would actually start. If anyone's had experience similar to mine, I'd love to know how long this part of the process took for you. I don't mind waiting while the car's being fixed but I do mind waiting while the car's not being fixed and I'm wondering if I have better options.
As I mentioned, the first adjuster assigned to the claim wasn't local. He lives/works an hour away (optimistically, this being southern California) and tried to handle everything over the phone/by email. I had to contact him directly to get updates and eventually he told me the price was higher than the company would like so he'd have to go investigate the car in person. After not hearing from him for another few days, I called for an update and found out a different adjuster had been assigned. He seemed to think I would know this from our previous conversation despite that he had said he would drive out to do it.
I never managed reached the second adjuster and the company's main claims line could only leave a message for him to get in touch with me. I finally found out everything had been settled from the shop before relevant documents were available via my insurance company's website.
I can understand the insurance company trying to pay less to handle the claim but I'm surprised by how long it took, that the first adjuster assigned wasn't local, and that I had to get updates on my own. That said, I've never really dealt with this kind of situation before, so I'm just wondering if this is to be expected from any insurance company or if mine was particularly bad with this claim.
If it's relevant, I filed the claim and a police report immediately following the accident and the car was towed to the shop later the same day.
Yup, when I owned a Mercedes I got rear-ended by a guy and he took off. I think it took them six weeks. Mine was mostly shop stuff. Sourcing parts, paint taking a long time to cure because it's humid, etc.
Another thing you may be entitled to is depreciated value, because the car's been in a wreck it's lost value. You should get a check for that. Be SURE to ask your adjuster about it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:36 AM on May 26, 2016
Another thing you may be entitled to is depreciated value, because the car's been in a wreck it's lost value. You should get a check for that. Be SURE to ask your adjuster about it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:36 AM on May 26, 2016
When my car went into the shop after a wreck with some front-end damage, it took about a week for me to get it back. That may be on the fast side of normal though; I played the pregnant lady card (I was 8 months and let them know I really needed it back before I went into labor).
posted by rabbitrabbit at 4:47 AM on May 26, 2016
posted by rabbitrabbit at 4:47 AM on May 26, 2016
Best answer: I got totaled 3 years ago (Luckily I didn't need a car to get around). It took 3 days for anything from (State Farm) to get back to me with any contact! .
I had to get on Twitter to ask about it; they were very quick after that-- I had a check for way more car was worth within a week.
Do you use Twitter? Or maybe good idea to create a account for this.
posted by sandmanwv at 4:50 AM on May 26, 2016
I had to get on Twitter to ask about it; they were very quick after that-- I had a check for way more car was worth within a week.
Do you use Twitter? Or maybe good idea to create a account for this.
posted by sandmanwv at 4:50 AM on May 26, 2016
Best answer: My husband and son were in an accident caused by another driver who did not have insurance. The entire process, from first phone call, to getting the car fixed, to getting a check, took just under three weeks. And our agent was calling every third day to keep us up to date.
We have State Farm.
posted by cooker girl at 5:02 AM on May 26, 2016
We have State Farm.
posted by cooker girl at 5:02 AM on May 26, 2016
Best answer: I have been in two accidents, both where the other driver was at fault. When I was t-boned 6 years ago, and the car was totalled, it took 5 weeks from start to finish and USAA were kind of jerks through the whole process, with a lot of back and forth between them and the garage about who was supposed to officially tell me things so that nobody would tell me anything. When I was rear ended by a driver's ed car 2 years ago, and the car was not totalled, it took 3 weeks from start to finish and USAA did a much better job of keeping me updated through their much improved online portal.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:54 AM on May 26, 2016
posted by hydropsyche at 5:54 AM on May 26, 2016
Best answer: No, this is not normal. We have Mercury and over the years have had a few accidents of diferent sorts, ranging from fender bender to totalled. I don't think it's ever taken 3 weeks all in, including the time for repairs.
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:33 AM on May 26, 2016
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:33 AM on May 26, 2016
Best answer: Not normal. I have Progressive and they were on it both times I was rear ended. Two week turnaround from accident to repaired vehicle.
posted by Marinara at 7:12 AM on May 26, 2016
posted by Marinara at 7:12 AM on May 26, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks, all. Sounds like this can happen but shouldn't.
posted by DyRE at 8:43 PM on May 26, 2016
posted by DyRE at 8:43 PM on May 26, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you have uninsured motorist (seems you do) your insurance company owes you a rental car or monetary equivalent - usually $26 to $30 per day you were without a car or settlement.
Those are the magic words, FYI.
posted by jbenben at 12:52 AM on May 26, 2016 [1 favorite]