Working Moms

NWMR: Insurance claim for car accident- Am I over-reacting?

My H was driving my SD to high school last week and got rear ended by another high school-er. Totally not his fault, so the other drivers insurance is liable. The other driver's insurance is State Farm, so we went ahead and filed a claim with them. They called H this morning and let him know that they will assume the full cost, but we cannot get the car in until October 14th to be repaired as their preferred garage is booked. Does this seem right? I think that it's absurd that it would take that long. I drive to see clients for work and I think it looks horrible driving a car with the bumper hanging off for the next two months. Not to mention the fact that it may be doing more damage to the car. We do have two cars, but we need to use both of them. Is this typical for it to take this long?

Re: NWMR: Insurance claim for car accident- Am I over-reacting?

  • Have you called your own insurance? Even if the other one is accepting fault, I'd have it coordinated through your own insurance. They will be able to advise you, and may front you the money for repairs, to be reimbursed by the other company.
    Daisypath Happy Birthday tickers
    Daisypath Happy Birthday tickers



  • Loading the player...
  • Pips09 said:
    Have you called your own insurance? Even if the other one is accepting fault, I'd have it coordinated through your own insurance. They will be able to advise you, and may front you the money for repairs, to be reimbursed by the other company.
    This exactly. When I was rear-ended, I did everything through my insurance and they dealt with the other guy's insurance. My insurance covered everything, did it through their shops (I even had a choice of shops), covered the rental car when the car was in the shop for the week, and waived the deductible since I'd been rear-ended and wasn't at fault. I assume they then fought it out with the other guy's insurance, but I never had to deal with them and that was just fine with me.
  • Yeah no way.  You have a right to have your car fixed ASAP.  Also, if you didn't include it, definitely claim any car seats you had in the car.  Those (likely) need to be replaced.
    Formerly known as elmoali :)

    image
  • Nope, you can choose whatever repair shop you want.  It's your legal right to choose your own shop, not go with their preferred shop.  I would get another estimate and tell them that you already have a preferred shop that you want to work with.
    This.
    Call them back and ask about choosing your own shop to get repairs done at. Then call around and coordinate repairs with a place that can do it sooner. And ditto PP, make sure you are compensated for any car seats in the car - they may make you jump through hoops (send them documentation that the car seat needs to be replaced, mail them the car seat etc.) but be sure to follow through. 

    You can go through your own insurance if you like but some companies may make you pay the deductible first and reimburse you for it later. 

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Yeah I echo what the PPs that said, they cannot make you use their repair shop, and they ought to pay for you to use a rental car.


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
     
    \image  image


  • I worked for State Farm back in the day. That doesn't sound right. Push back.

    They should pay for the rental the whole time if it isn't drivable. I was without for 3 weeks and the other driver's insurance paid for a rental.

    If you go through your own, it could count as a claim against you. I urge caution going that route.

    You can use any shop as long as SF approves the estimate. Ask for a supervisor.
  • Also, if you have a cart seat then have them replace it.

  • Cate1234 said:
    That's ridiculous.  When I got in an accident, I was told (by State Farm) that I could go to one of their preferred shops or wherever I wanted.  If I didn't go to the preferred shop, they would have to pre-approve the repairs.

    If they are being difficult, contact your insurance and have them fight with State Farm.
    I think whoever you talked to didn't express things correctly. We have State Farm and this is how it's gone for us. We could pick a shop, just had to wait for approval if we didn't pick one on the list. Fortunately, our dealer is on the list, so it was simple for us.

    Also, follow up with whatever shop you go with that they will HAVE THE PARTS on the day you are scheduled. I got rear-ended once when I was young and naive and accepted an appt a month out, as my car was very driveable. I dropped mine off on the appointed day and drove a rental car that I hated for a whole week before I found out they still hadn't received the part.. that they knew for a whole month that they would need.
  • Ok- we have things figured out. It sounds like the was the garage having a long wait time to get in rather than the insurance company. We live in a small town, so the preferred garage for our location was booked until October. We just chose another garage of there preferred list that is in the next town over- no biggie. We have an appt Sept 4th. H has been handling the claim and he just doesn't have the same sense of urgency as I do about getting things fixed :) 
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"