My insurance company SCREWING me over.

98Viperblue · Aug 26, 2011

Even though I had a witness from my accident, on my behalf. I guess there wasn't sufficient evidence to claim the girl at fault. Which is complete bullshit! So her insurance company wont pay for the damage on the car. They weren't going to total it, and her insurance company was going to give me 4800. But this is where it gets good...

MY insurance company wants to total the car because the airbag system is "discontinued," based off of the vin and they deemed it "un-repairable" just due to this fact. They said that they wouldn't insure the car with used/salvage airbags on the car, and that they would have to come directly from ford.

I had every receipt for the car, but they wouldn't compensate me for the engine work because the previous owner had the work done, even though I included the bill of sale which proved how much I paid for the car. (8000)

They only compensated me for my rims/tires/hood/spoiler/headlights which brought the value of the car in THEIR book to $7,170 after my deductible I will only be getting $6,670 ....

So unless I can find a airbag system directly for my VIN from ford, im fucked.
WTF do I do? They wont let me buy the car back either.

Paul · Aug 26, 2011

It doesn't matter who the insurance company faults, it's who the POLICE REPORT faults.

Of course they won't compensate you for the engine work. You don't have receipts for it, so they don't care.

Why won't they let you buy it back?

Oh, and lesson learned. When I wrecked a car a long time ago, I wouldn't leave the scene until I had my own tow truck towing the car to MY house. Never let them take possession.

If you're not satisfied, get a lawyer. Probably won't help though, and you'll end up spending the difference between what you would've gotten anyway.

Paul.

98Viperblue · Aug 26, 2011

I did have receipts for the engine work. All 8,000 dollars worth. And I don't know why they wont let me buy it back.

ttocs · Aug 26, 2011

that sucks. What will really suck is when they renew your policy in a few months and jack that f'er up a good %50.....

98Viperblue · Aug 26, 2011

fuck that theyre getting dropped

ttocs · Aug 26, 2011

won't matter. They will report the accident and future companies will know about it as well which will jack up your rates not because they paid out but because you are now a dangerous driver. Don't worry it will slowly go back down, over the next 3-4 yrs..... Its how the ins world turns.

SRT Handz · Aug 26, 2011

IF she hit you and you feel she is at fault, you can take her to small claims court.

A girl him my BMW while i was stopped and she tried to say it was not her fault.... But I was at a FULL STOP when she hit me so was was fully at fault. She denied and he insurance would not pay me off.

I ended up taking her to small claims court and almost a year later i got almost 7,000 out of her pocket.

97stanger · Aug 26, 2011

I work for a big insurance company and like Paul said the police report has almost TOO MUCH say in a claim. What were the facts of loss? Do you have custom parts coverage? If not, your lucky you even got that. My insurance company would only give you $1000 for all your parts because you are driving around a modded car and the insurance company doesnt know about it, so you should have had a Custom Parts/Equipment coverage. And, if you own the car and live in NJ, by law you have the option to owner retain salvage and keep the vehicle...

Rice_slayer · Aug 26, 2011

Do what I did and buy back, part out. I was offered $9200(minus $700 deductable) so $8500 for my car or $6700 and the car, I ended up with $11500 after parting car out, all of which went towards my Mach. Count your losses and move on, mustangs are dime a dozen, unless it's a special one like a boss, mach, SVT car etc etc.

ttocs · Aug 26, 2011

I would be sure to straighten out the facts with the insurance companies or like I said you will know the definition of gettin screwed by the ins company when they redo your policy. I was payin about $100 a month in phoenix until I had a wreck and then it went up to $167/month. Another friend of mine totalled out his car so he went out and got a new one(brand new) When he called the insurance company to get it hooked up they fed him some line of BS and somehow his premium went down on a car 4 yrs newer and nicer then his old one. He was happy as hell until they doubled his payment 4 months later when ther renewed his policy.

Mika · Aug 26, 2011

I think they have to offer u buy back first. I would check into that first. Second, if the car isn't at your house find it and take pictures of everything because things will magically dissapear at the salvage yard (then it becomes a bugulary issue). In the future never let your car go to an insurance yard.

Get a lawyer,

98Viperblue · Aug 26, 2011

I have the car still

Mika · Aug 26, 2011

Strip it and let them have it.

Rice_slayer · Aug 27, 2011

Mika said:
I think they have to offer u buy back first. I would check into that first. Second, if the car isn't at your house find it and take pictures of everything because things will magically dissapear at the salvage yard (then it becomes a bugulary issue). In the future never let your car go to an insurance yard.

Get a lawyer,

My car sat in the insurance yard for approx. 24 hours after the accident, then got it flat-bedded to my house in the morning. They have 24/7 security there, huge barb wired fence, security guards patrol the area, cameras in every section, AND to get in they have a remote gate, which you have to go through 15 mins of paperwork just to get into the car. Maybe the USA is different, but our salvage yard is under HUGE security measures.

BLOWN 95GT · Aug 27, 2011

Mika said:
Strip it and let them have it.

^^+1
I just got my car back from the body shop because of all of the tornado's that hit alabama this last April and they almost totaled my car. I stripped the car down and the only thing that was left on it was the outer shell, interior, and k-member with some ugly ass tri bar's before the insurance company got to come look at it.

So take everything you can get out or off of the car and let the insurance company have the rolling scrap.
Wait till you can find a rolling chassis for around $1500.00 with a good paint job and buy it and install all of your parts.
Then do what I did call your insurance company drop them like a bad habit and get a collectors insurance policy of around $25,000 on your car for a modified car.

945.0 · Aug 27, 2011

its your car. and if theres valid proof she hit you and her fault completly then ins. comp. should pay 100 percent of damages unless totaled then they usually do something a little different. i totaled my jeep one year messing around lost control of it hit a retaining wall. drove home-drove to repair shop. estimated damage 6200. i said fix it. they took door and fender off and i smashed the frame up too. now damge went to 8900 truck was worth 7500. had a loan out on it for 4300. they said i could buy it back i said no they paid the loan off and cut me a check for 750 the remaining balance of what i originally bought it for. makes no sense to me how that worked out. but they cant refuse you a buy back its your car. and your insurance company will get reimbursement from her ins. company. i would speak to a lawyer dont pay for one but get a FREE CONSULTATION. GOOD LUCK INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE BS IN MY EYES

97stanger · Aug 27, 2011

everyone thinks they are BS until you work for one and you realize all thats involved. An attorney would not help you in a situation like that, one bit so save your money. If you own the car, like said you have the option for owner retained salvage. If you have a lienholder, then they have every right to not give you that option. Keep in mind, the insurance company owes you for the actual cash value of the car, not mods done to it unless you have special coverage or sometimes receipts. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE REIMBURSED, so just keep that in mind. That process is call Subrogation and depending on the claim and claimant carriers coverage can be successful, but it isnt at all guaranteed. If your carrier has the other party at fault, and the other carrier is not accepting 100% liability, it will go to a 3rd party called Arbitration and a final outcome will be determined based on what the insurance companies can provide

98Viperblue · Aug 27, 2011

Your right 97sanger the lady said its going to Arbitration. And with the evidence provided I know they will claim her at fault. So I think im just going to wait it out so their insurance company can just cut me a check.