Minor rear ended claim adjuster advice

You go, girl!

 

Please don’t project your pronouns on others lmao

Sounds like your on the short bus this morning on your way to school on your tax payer iPhone

 

To answer your original question, fortunately I have only had a few experiences requiring body work in my 50 year driving career (yes, I got my license when dinosaurs roamed the earth!). If the car wasn't drivable, I had it towed to the shop of my choice and then called my insurance agent to let them know where the adjuster could go look at the vehicle. Even if the other driver was pretty obviously at fault I would still start with my agent anyway so that no one could say I didn't notify my insurance company. The agent would tell me "hey, you should probably contact the other driver's insurance company because otherwise you're on the hook for our deductible until we subrogate the claim". Either way, the vehicle is already in the shop I want to use and that's where it stays. If it's drivable you can still designate the shop you are going to use, even though they will try and steer you to a shop that's "authorized" by the insurance company (AKA authorized to save them as much money as possible). Drive the truck into your shop and get the name of the person at the body shop who the adjuster should talk to to inspect the vehicle. Let the adjuster deal directly with the shop as long as you trust them.

Not saying this is the right way or the only way, just the way I've dealt with it in the past.

 

Fyi, a lot of Insurance companies got rid of adjusters and now rely on bodyshops estimates.

 

OP, your not at fault, so you can make a few more demands to the other parties insurance, that you likely wouldn't be able to make to your own.

I would start by trying to go directly though the other parties agent, and be prepared to play hardball. They want to walk away paying as little as they can, and will press for you to accept unreasonable offers. Remember that they are required to make you 'financially whole' - their insuree was at fault!


Find the best body shop you can (not by their recommendation). You want everything done with the highest quality parts and labor the shop it able to justify.

Press the others parties agent about "Diminished Value". It likely wont get very far, but there is a real case to make that a vehicle with a recorded accident is now worth less that the same vehicle with no accident history.

I feel for you, the process sucks. My last go round took 6 months to get the correct authorization for repairs. Wasn't fun.

 

I was similarly rear-ended. No tailgate damage, but the bed panel needed to be replaced. $7k+ for this.

 

@Sierrahunter - wow thanks for the info, was that the whole bed insert or other?

 

i would ask my agent before random people on the internet
there is nothing to do until the ins company does their estimate

 

@RIX TUX ye of little faith. Of course agent was first call but there is much info to glean from this thread. Lots of experience in all the feedback here from Tacoma owners.

 

No, the insert didn’t need replacement; just the outside metal side bed panel. It is fairly straightforward for body shops to replace that. it looks like yours is damaged, too. I would advise that you push for replacement of the panel rather than a repair through pulling the metal and use of bondo. I would also explore replacement of the tailgate rather than repair. It’s often cheaper to replace than repair, and most insurance policies will authorize OEM parts on such a new truck.

 

That’s a good summation of yourself well done @RIX TUX

 

why would you call your agent?
was it your fault?

 

Not my fault

 

Good grief. He should call his agent. Insurance companies subrogate claims, meaning his company will pay his claim and retrieve payment from the at-fault company.

 

clearly your commuting on the short bus today as well, suggesting to call agent and then ask why.

 

my ins company dosent need to negotiate my claim unless other party is uninsured

 

because you dont know what you are doing?

 

I feel for you @RIX TUX. I think you’re on the single passenger short bus - very special needs.

 

I am not asking for insurance advice on the internet, thats you MARK in cali, but i hope the claim process is goes smoothly for you, good luck