Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Car gets totaled insurance settlement

Doesn't even come close to what I feel it should. Any of you guys have any experience with this? By the way we are were not at fault. T-boned on a through street.

Without knowing make, model and mileage - hard to say.

I've had several cars totaled out - never been my fault. Considering their age/miles - I always got what I thought was fair. I'm driving a 12 year old car with 86k on it - yeah, I'm not getting as much as I'll need to buy a new one free and clear.

Now if you're talking injury settlement - talk to a lawyer.

Try telling them just replace it with exactly the same thing mileage and all in good condition. It's going to be a fight. You can get a few estimates on how much to replace it. That's the whole problem. It shouldn't be too much to ask to get it replaced with no cost to you. It wasn't your fault.

Isn't your insurance supposed to allow you to replace your vehicle with a comparable vehicle (similar year, mileage)? Tell your insurance agent to show you a comparable replacement in Autotrader/Craigslist/etc. and point out the price difference, if any, and go from there.

About 40-50% of KBB average.

What do you base your feelings on about it? Your insurance company is probably using the NADA value minus your deductible, or their own database. You should find out which.

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Isn't your insurance supposed to allow you to replace your vehicle with a comparable vehicle (similar year, mileage)? Tell your insurance agent to show you a comparable replacement in Autotrader/Craigslist/etc. and point out the price difference, if any, and go from there.[/quote]

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You are under no obligation to accept their initial settlement.

Just picked up our 11' Mazda 3
Had to use our 'uninsured' coverage as the person that hit my wife[was ticketed] failed to report to her insurance for 2 weeks.
Initial estimate came in at $4,700 and I was surprised when my ins said fix it.
Clean KBB is at $5K+/-

My ins sent final claim forms today, total was actually over $7,700!!

Don't accept it hold tight the longer you can hold out the more money you're going to get...

1996 or so, I got rear ended at a stop light. I was in an 88 Toyota truck with 148k on the clock. Car that hit me was a Buick of some sort. Cops estimated they were doing 50-60 mph or so.

I had 9k in body damage alone and unknown mechanical (didn't get that far) and the insurance wanted to fix it. They make weird decisions. I literally had to stuff a bottle jack between the rear tire and bumper to push it away from the tire so I could change it out - flat. The rear axle or pinion was bent at a minimum as well.

Wife was driving our little TDI Jetta and was hit and totaled. I did a little research before the other party reached out to settle. I gave them 3 examples of a comparable vehicle within 50 miles and said I expected the average. Had a check in a couple days.

In essence, you are selling your car to the insurance company, so you can negotiate on the price somewhat.

You have the duty to show the adjuster why your car has more value than what they are offering. Do some research on Craigslist, Autotrader, Cars.com, Carmax, etc. and only show the adjuster the highest comps you can find.

The adjuster will usually deduct for bad tires, excessive door dings, faded paint, stained interiors, and so on.

On the other hand, if your car was pristine, keep pointing that out, over and over again. I also like to remind the other guys adjuster that 'your guy hit me, and put me in this position'. The adjusters are human, and I like to think I can 'guilt' them into paying a bit more, because 'your guy put me in this position'.

I always advise my clients to ask for more, even if they like the first offer from the insurance company.

The insurance company offer should include sales tax on the agreed amount, plus the balance of your license plate registration costs.

Did they get ticketed?

This. People are just tricked into accepting the screwing by the insurance Co. Contact lowyer or state govt insurance board.

I hired a asset appraiser for 300 bucks and he came up with a report and number and we went from there. Geico got right after that.

This is the way. Same with homeowners insurance, they are only interested in paying the bare minimum and most people fall for it .
Asset appraisal for auto claims and public adjusters for homeowners claims.

I probably hate insurance adjusters more than DMV employees...

No the other driver did not. She did not run the stop sign but claimed she thought my wife was making a right turn, she wasn't even in the turn lane.

The car is a 2021 Ford Fusion in excellent condition and 64 k miles. Anywhere we find them for sale around here they're 20k to 22k for a comparable car. First offer was $15725.00 now they offered $17254.00. Adjuster is trying to blow smoke up my butt I think.

Never accept an insurance companies first offer.
Do you're own research. Come up with your own comps and make your counter offer based on that.

"My (back- - - -knee- - - - -shoulder- - - -head, - - - -etc.) is starting to hurt. Maybe I should consult with my doctor"

The settlement offer will increase dramatically.