The Geico adjuster came out and offered us $2200 to get it repaired (minus our $1k deductible). Is that the final word? I have two auto body quotes, $2900 and $3300. They say “take it to the shop first and then we will see about how much we will negotiate with the body shop.” Of course, I am not doing that. But I figure it will only turn around and bite me to lay my cards out on the table regarding not taking it in.
Do I have any further recourse with Geico? Or is this a take it or leave it?
Regarding asking my agent, as has been suggested a couple times, Geico doesn’t have agents in Michigan. The state isn’t even listed on their website under “Find an agent.” I got my policy thru the website.
This is such a bundle of unknown. My wife was like “who can we talk to about this??” My only answer is to ask the GRM hive!!
So is he responsible to pay the deductible or are you just out a grand?
In reply to Steve_Jones :
Likely out a grand. There’s this thing called mini tort though and supposedly I can pursue it with his insurance since he hit me — even though he’s not listed as at fault. I dunno. I’ll do a write up when this is all said and done.
Goofy state.
The adjuster can only compensate you for the damage he can see/interpret. If the body shop pulls off the rear bumper and finds more damage, they’ll call the adjuster and the adjuster (should) up their amount.
if the body shop is charging $2900 for the same scope of damage the adjuster is saying should be $2200, then it’s a bit tougher. Usually the body shops are pretty good at proving their case to the adjuster. I’m sure there are guys at the shop who spend 25% a 50% of their time in back and forth negotiations with insurance companies.
Good luck, and hang in there!
P3PPY said:
The Geico adjuster came out and offered us $2200 to get it repaired (minus our $1k deductible). Is that the final word? I have two auto body quotes, $2900 and $3300. They say “take it to the shop first and then we will see about how much we will negotiate with the body shop.” Of course, I am not doing that. But I figure it will only turn around and bite me to lay my cards out on the table regarding not taking it in.
Do I have any further recourse with Geico? Or is this a take it or leave it?
Regarding asking my agent, as has been suggested a couple times, Geico doesn’t have agents in Michigan. The state isn’t even listed on their website under “Find an agent.” I got my policy thru the website.
This is such a bundle of unknown. My wife was like “who can we talk to about this??” My only answer is to ask the GRM hive!!
If you're not going to take it to a shop for repair, then yes, it's pretty much a take it or leave it....except that there's no "leave it" unless you withdrawal your claim. As stated above the adjuster is only going to write for the damages they can actually see. Shops tend to write high estimates, based on damages they think may be there, but can't actually see it. As noted, when it got to the shop and they took the car apart, they'd call the adjuster to come see it again and look at the damage that was previously hidden. It's called a supplement and is a fairly common processes. If you're doing the repairs yourself, or just pocketing the cash (which is perfectly fine to do), it would be your burden to show the insurance company the supplement. And you'd need to actually show it, not just say "My body shop says repairs are $x,xxx".
You can try to talk to anyone you'd like at the insurance company, but I wouldn't expect the answer to change. I wouldn't change it.
@ Klayfish
if you were fixing it your self can you call the insurance your self for an adjuster to come look at it once you get it apart? Has anyone ever done this? It would make sense that you can I just never thought about it.
I know shops do this all the time. My jag was totaled once the cut off the rear fender and removed the bumper cover and found the rear sub frame bent and a wrinkled trunk floor.
dean1484 said:
@ Klayfish
if you were fixing it your self can you call the insurance your self for an adjuster to come look at it once you get it apart? Has anyone ever done this? It would make sense that you can I just never thought about it.
Yes, absolutely you can. It's pretty rare that someone does it, but I have seen it a few times. Usually the person just pockets the money and never takes the car apart, which is perfectly fine. The insurance company owes for any damage that was caused in the accident, but appraisers can only write damage they can acutally see. Having said that, there are times where you can make a safe assumption...for example if it's a hard front end hit and everything is shoved back hard, even if the hood can't open, it's a safe assumption the rad support is toast. In those cases, the adjuster will often write it, but if it's not blatantly obvious, they won't.
It may not be your fault, and your insurance rates may not change as a direct result of the claim...but there could be an impact if you ever decide to switch insurance. It will go on your policy history as a "paid" claim. I was rear-ended in FL ~3 years ago. No car damage, but I did have neck pain and had an x-ray and checkup done. Personal injury up to $10k is paid by your own insurance, regardless of fault. I got some quotes for new insurance last year and every other company was going to surcharge me $1k/yr becasue there was a claim paid-out....even if it wasn't my fault. I'm stuck paying over market-rate w/State Farm and my useless local agent even though there are cheaper/better options. Sometimes life isn't fair.
Thanks, guys. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to pull off the bumper cover and see what I find. I’m figuring I’ll swap in a new hatch and sell it then. We’re planning to make a semi-lateral move to a similar vintage Toyota Sienna with this additional cash.
FWIW, it will be 5 years this summer since we made the claim and got about $1,200 for it. In balance, it was merely a loan. Our rates have been affected to the tune of $1,200 over the last five years :/
