Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

[RubenDouglas]

Some might remember my accident in late october where I saved two dogs and sacrified everything else on the road.

anyways, today I am finally settling the claim. I already received the insurance money from my old car, and that went toward a new car purchase.

What is the process like? will they ask me how Much I think I deserve, from emotional damages and inconvience, or will they tell me what it is and I try to bargain with them and pled my case.

has anyone been through this?

[MassNole]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

Some might remember my accident in late october where I saved two dogs and sacrified everything else on the road.

anyways, today I am finally settling the claim. I already received the insurance money from my old car, and that went toward a new car purchase.

What is the process like? will they ask me how Much I think I deserve, from emotional damages and inconvience, or will they tell me what it is and I try to bargain with them and pled my case.

has anyone been through this?

PM me, I am sure I can help a little.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

They'll make an initial offer. You have the option to accept the offer or decline it. If the offer they make is far below your expectations, you have to prove your claim.

Basically, a bodily injury settlement is based on the amount of the your medical bills, if any, and the time that you spent treating for your injuries, if you were hurt and did seek treatment. The last thing that would factor in is the amount of damage that was done to your car.

I'll tell you what, insurance company don't just go throwing money around and most will not try to hose you like most perceive. If you have a legitimate case, a good adjuster will make you a fair settlement.

One more thing, if I were that adjuster, I'd be pissed if this accident was in October and it's not June and it hasn't been resolved...lol. Then again, that could be on the adjuster too.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

Thanks.. the bills were only around 200. They took xrays on my back and they were fine. there was some hassle over the phone involving the payment and the hospital that took the xrays. Just a hassle that lasted since december, once or twice a week.

They long ago, settled an amount on the car damages and paid that. they just want to finish off the claim. we've been holding back because I was in school, and missed a few days dealing with the accident and buying a new car, and felt I shouldnt miss anymore days to finish. So school is out, and its time to close the claim.

My friends, parents, and family mentioned the hassle of driving 20+ miles for 2 days in a row looking for a car at an auto auction, the hassle of the medical bills and calls. I'd like to form an educated opinion before I visit them.

I was emotional torn for a few days about the choice I made to risk my life and the other cars on the road, for some stupid dogs.

I dont want to look like Im trying to get new clothes money off of them by stating all this stuff they might consider a non factor.

also regarding the claim and the time frame, we tried to do it once in december, but it was xmas time and they couldnt get the details worked out to settle once and for all. since then only 2 calls and they didnt have an opening. we got alittle irritated and prolonged it until it was totally convienent for us.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

My friends, parents, and family mentioned the hassle of driving 20+ miles for 2 days in a row looking for a car at an auto auction, the hassle of the medical bills and calls. I'd like to form an educated opinion before I visit them.

I was emotional torn for a few days about the choice I made to risk my life and the other cars on the road, for some stupid dogs.

I would not consider your time looking for a car and the hassling phone calls from the doctor as part of the evaluation. Basically, they paid you the value of your car. Also, since the insurance company is not responsible for paying your medical bills directly since you're not one of their insureds, you were responsible for paying those bills. In Texas, personal injury protection, is a required coverage unless you decline it by signing an endorsement. So unless you declined the coverage, it should be available on your policy and that would've covered your med bills.

Bodily injury settlements are basically pain and suffering, which are essentially, punitive damages.

I think about $700-$1000 would be fair without knowing all of the facts. Admit it, you just want to get that new 360...lol


One more thing, did they ever provide you with a rental car? If not, you can include loss of use of your car. Someone did hit your car right? You weren't at fault for the accident, correct?

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

rental car for about 10 days. thats all they really gave us time wise. i wouldnt say they forced us to look right away for a new car, but that was their initial offer. Since I am only 20, it was mighty hard to find a rental car place that would look at our claim. Again, just alittle extra time and gas and then the confusion on their part.. they wanted to give my dad the car and let me drive his. Basically inconviencing him by using a crappy rental. The parents didnt want any of that. Maybe stubborness on our part.

I'm not sure if you are familiar with state farm insurance. both parties had that. we filed with the party at faults insurance person.

basically we went into the doctors, stated I had an accident and it would be covered under so and so. they said fine, no worries. they checked me out. we didnt sign anything. weeks later, we receive a collection agency notice from the hospital. we go through some verbal scuffles for awhile. Maybe receiving the bill first hand is the way they now deal with it. We just dropped 5400 dollars extra for a car, albeit we couldve find a clunker to match what they gave us, although output wise, nothing at that price could compare. So seeing that bill and the fact the hospital seemed to deceive us, we were a bit angry.

Im sure there gonna say, "paying that extra 5400 dollars was your choice. we wont pay you for any of that excess". its understandable. I'd be happy with some lunch money, but since my parents dealt with this equally and im insured under them, i think they deserve alittle of what I receive for their patience


Bottonline, never save a dogs life.. you may get that extra cash for a 360 but in the longrun, you could simply get a 5.50 per hour job and deal with less hassle for that 360. lol

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

I would take the car you purchased out of the equation. Again, the claim will only be based on the med bills and the amount of damage to your car. Yeah, you and your dad were a little stubborn as most rental car companies don't like to rent to underage drivers. He should've taken the rental for a couple days.

I understand what you did as far as the hospital. However, it goes back to what I stated earlier, since you're not a state farm policyholder (correct?), the other party's carrier won't pay your bills directly. They settle with you directly and you can pay the hospital out of that settlement. I'm sure the hospital called the adjuster who told them, we ain't paying you directly. We're going to settle with you directly. That led to them hospital calling you for the money.

Again, you can tell them about having to take the time and expense of having to find a new car, however, they don't have to compensate you for that.

Don't get me wrong, you will get a little pocket change. I was ask for at least $500. If I were the adjuster, I'd give that to you in a heartbeat. Ask for $700. Pay your bills, get yourself a new toy.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

we're both state farm, just different agents. quite a bit of confusion all around for something that was in company. I'm quite the amateur with this type of stuff, as my parents do most of the stuff. But my car had liability only. we just filed through them.. We let my insurance know about the accident instantly, and they didnt seem to want to help at all. so we dealt with the agent of the 92 year old that hit me. I guess thats normal for your own ins. company to look away and not offer advice.

ps, this may turn into a, what xbox 360 games should I get, in a few hours if all goes as planned. lol

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

We let my insurance know about the accident instantly, and they didnt seem to want to help at all. so we dealt with them. I guess thats normal for your own ins. company to look away and not offer advice

Your adjuster saw that it wasn't your fault, add the fact that you only had liability, so I'm sure they advised you to let the other adjuster handle it. Personally, I would've done the same thing, making sure you weren't at fault and closing my file. Nothing that your adjuster could do other than speak with other party involved to determine liability. Bottom line is this, if they other party is at fault, they are ready to settle with you. You have the leverage here because as old as this file is, i'm sure that adjuster just wants to close the file and get it off their desk. Again, call them and see where they are regarding settlement. Tell them that you just want to ge this resolved ASAP. Damn, one more thing, have you forwarded them your med bills? They'll need that.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

Here's a bonus picture of the car:



Funny story.. I looked online in march at my news vin # to see its record etc.. So I decide to look at my geo metros to see where its at now. I guess it was sold to some guy in Feburary. I guess he helft the $3,000 dollars in damaged and bent frame was worth the trouble of fixing.

I'm now looking closely at the streets to see if I see my old car.. I always thought once a car frame is bent, thats it for the car. Maybe he wanted the V3 50hp motor for his lawnmower.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

The frame can be repaired. As far as insurance companies, a bent frame, can be a total. Depends on how old the car is. I'm sure he has a salvage title on that car too.

Looks like they hit you pretty good.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

Regarding the bills, i went to the doctor, told them to run it through the party at faults insurance. like i said earlier, they said fine, dont worry. a month later, we receive a bill from them for the xrays.. we call and complain, receive a letter, saying that its all taken care of.. another month later, we receive an even higher bill. we complain. get another revised letter stating to not worry. weeks go by, we get two more duplicate copies of the latter bill asking us to pay.

they knew on 4 occassions to run it through the other parties insurance, but they initially ran it through my moms health care and we got the discount/copay bill initially. thats the first smaller fee bill.... and a month later, we receive the revised bill without our insurance involved. Even though we called after the first bill and they verified they would correct it.. instead of correcting the first bill that got run through our own insurance, they take it off our insurance and just give us a bill 4 times the amount of the orginial.


lol, just a huge mess over a hundred bucks

we have copies of all that stuff. I brought this up because i'm settling in a few hours with them. I dont want them bringing agents to stakeout my house and gym to verify my distress and injury claims, if i were to mention them, asking for huge amounts of cash.

Thanks though

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

That's the thing, they can't run it through the other party's insurance directly. If you were able to file a claim using your own coverages, they would've been able to bill state farm directly. However, since you're filing a claim against the person that hit you, state farm will not pay directly. Insurance co's settle directly with the claimant, who then is responsible for paying the hospital. Just take those few bills, contact the adjuster, and fax those bills to them.

[mjb2124]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

The frame can be repaired.

Yep. About 2 months after I bought a brand new Maxima (this was 5 years ago), a lady decided to run a stop sign and smash the passenger side of it. $16,000 in damage, bent frame....entire right side of the car, hood, roof needed fixed/replaced, leather was torn from the glass in the back seat and needed replaced etc...

I always thought it was odd it wasn't listed as totalled. It was repaired, but some things haven't been the same and never will be. Probably will trade it in come next summer before some of the minor problems I'm seeing turn into major one's.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Settling an insurance claim on an accident... process?

Thanks for all the tips, guys. all went well.

I finally have the money for a 360 purchase. I may want to wait until the nba titles release though.

are there any true next gen games that blow you away currently out?