Back when my car first got hit, I knew insurance would be there to cover the cost of a replacement vehicle of equal cost.

That’s a lie. It doesn’t work that way, not really.

What they do is try and screw you out of money. A lot of it. Never mind that you paid thousands of dollars in premiums over the years, they’ll bilk you. The reasonable, safe driver gets screwed financially when the asshole drunk driver hits your car and destroys it, while THEIR vehicle sustains no damage.

And with no fault insurance, it goes under MY insurance. Which means, drunk asshole guy might get a little bit higher premiums but he doesn’t lose out financially and doesn’t have to claim responsibility for his dumb ass actions.

Instead, MY insurance company tries to low-ball me and avoid paying me as much as they can.

Proof in point…. after taking 14 days to just LOOK at my vehicle, they give me an estimate of $16000 to repair my car plus 22 days to do it. But, it’s been determined to be unfixable which means, they purchase the vehicle from you with a claim settlement.

Their “preliminary offer” was $6300. I laughed. A few days later they come back with their first official offer.

$7000.

Still not good enough for me. I can not find ANYWHERE my same vehicle, same mileage, same everything for $7000.  I counter-offer with a number of $12265. This is based on facts that I found.

They counter-offer my counter-offer with $7400.

I say no. And I offer MORE documentation on the weekend which their appraiser looked at today.

They change their $7400 offer to $8500.  Obviously, the appraiser agreed with me and made a HUGE leap of $1100. I’m not retarded, thank you very much!

Plus, the insurance pays back some of the insurance from your original vehicle based on the settlement offer… which works out to a total of $9605. That’s only $395 off what my original request of $10 000.

I did good. Damn good.

And I’m happy with it. I’d be happier with my old car But… it is what it is.

I feel I won… the little guy won in this case!

Now? Negotiations begin with the new vehicle. My problem is financing it… I have to figure a way to pay for the new car which is slightly higher in price… but is newer and safer and bigger. Everything that I like….

Wish me luck guys! Pictures to follow, very very soon!

January 26th, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL