I hate Insurance Companies, Car Accident Advice Needed

[LordKOTL]

Brutal. I don't have much expertise in the area (the only claim I ever filed was over 16 years ago, and that was for someone smashing my window and lifting my stereo).

 

[Sunbiz1]

Yeah I am going to call her this afternoon

I'd email her a blank copy of that IDOI complaint form first...then call her.

I'll wager you have a check for 4K on the way before even dialing...insurance companies hate those claims b/c it can reflect poorly on their rating.

 

[brett05]

I'd email her a blank copy of that IDOI complaint form first...then call her.

I'll wager you have a check for 4K on the way before even dialing...insurance companies hate those claims b/c it can reflect poorly on their rating.

i don't think a small time founders company cares

 

[Sunbiz1]

i don't think a small time founders company cares

My mistake, thought you were referring to Allstate.

Suing in small claims is always an option, problem there is any judgement of $$ damages in your favor doesn't mean you will ever see it.

 

[Globetrotter]

My car got hit by a fucking RV while I was pumping gas about 6 months ago. I wasn't contacted by the guys insurance company for 6 weeks. Had I not had another means of transport I would have flipped.

Insurance companies are the scum of the earth.

 

[Iwritecode]

In Illinois, you have the right to have the car repaired at the shop of your choice.

These crappy insurance companies rely on people who aren't willing to put up a fight. That said, you need to decide how much and how long you're willing to go with the fight.

This.

My insurance company always told me to take my car to their "recommended" shop. I always said no thanks, I'll be going to the place I always go to which is right down the street form the place they wanted me to go to.

If you go through your own insurance company you just pay your deductible and they go after the other place to get their money back. It does go on your record but it would come off once they get the money from the other place. It just might take a few months or even a year.

 

[brett05]

This.

My insurance company always told me to take my car to their "recommended" shop. I always said no thanks, I'll be going to the place I always go to which is right down the street form the place they wanted me to go to.

If you go through your own insurance company you just pay your deductible and they go after the other place to get their money back. It does go on your record but it would come off once they get the money from the other place. It just might take a few months or even a year.

And that can be the problem. I can;t have it go on my record as I might get dropped. I already have one car claim and two home claims the past two years. I love the system.....NOT

 

[airtime143]

And that can be the problem. I can;t have it go on my record as I might get dropped. I already have one car claim and two home claims the past two years. I love the system.....NOT

You have to make a hard decision.
The fly by night insurance companies will drag the process out and lowball you the entire way and they count on you not being willing to jump the hurdles. their reputation is garbage, their coverage is garbage, and this is how they make money.

If you are not to blame, your insurance should not penalize you- unfortunately it appears you did not document that fact. You dropped the ball according to the allstate site.
They want you to call the police and wait at the scene.

The other guy probably claims it was your fault. Where was the impact? did you get rear ended, or is the damage elsewhere?
Since there were no cops on the scene, he could make up any story he wants and it will be just as believable as yours unfortunately.

Unfortunately you either take the claim to your guy and suffer the consequences of not getting the cops out there or take the shit company to court.

 

[brett05]

i got hit on the rear drivers side by the rear door and the gas cap basically right on the rear tire. I'm pretty sure the other guy didn't even file an accident report.
I actually did what the AllState Link said. I pulled out of harm. I did call the police, they were closed. I also called AllState as soon as I got home. My Cell Phone records could be pulled to prove all of that.

but yes it looks like I have court time ahead for me.

 

[Tater]

i got hit on the rear drivers side by the rear door and the gas cap basically right on the rear tire. I'm pretty sure the other guy didn't even file an accident report.
I actually did what the AllState Link said. I pulled out of harm. I did call the police, they were closed. I also called AllState as soon as I got home. My Cell Phone records could be pulled to prove all of that.

but yes it looks like I have court time ahead for me.

A police dept. that closes?!?!?

 

[brett05]

A police dept. that closes?!?!?

The number they had listed was a VM message to call back on Monday during the hours of.....
My other choice was to call 911 which for me I wasn't an emergency.

 

[clonetrooper264]

This is sort of a noob question, but let's say you get into a little fender bender and it's not an "emergency" per se, but you're not at fault and for some reason the police derp around and don't answer your call (such as in Brett's scenario). Do you then call 911 anyway or do you just let it be? I would think 911 would just ignore you and tell you to call your local police department again, but I don't really know. Is the proper protocol to generally always get the police involved if you're not at fault?

 

[brett05]

This is sort of a noob question, but let's say you get into a little fender bender and it's not an "emergency" per se, but you're not at fault and for some reason the police derp around and don't answer your call (such as in Brett's scenario). Do you then call 911 anyway or do you just let it be? I would think 911 would just ignore you and tell you to call your local police department again, but I don't really know. Is the proper protocol to generally always get the police involved if you're not at fault?

I was told in any accident you should call 911. Of course that was after I didn't.

 

[Ares]

This is sort of a noob question, but let's say you get into a little fender bender and it's not an "emergency" per se, but you're not at fault and for some reason the police derp around and don't answer your call (such as in Brett's scenario). Do you then call 911 anyway or do you just let it be? I would think 911 would just ignore you and tell you to call your local police department again, but I don't really know. Is the proper protocol to generally always get the police involved if you're not at fault?

Call 911... the 911 dispatchers connect to the Police Dept anyways.

Might as well get the accident report by a Cop so you don't get screwed by an insurance company.

It aint like if you call 911 for something in the realm of a Police officer they are going to come after you for calling the wrong number, worst case you get an annoyed 911 dispatcher who yells at you.

 

[Ares]

And that can be the problem. I can;t have it go on my record as I might get dropped. I already have one car claim and two home claims the past two years. I love the system.....NOT

Don't you love it.... they have laws in their pocket forcing everyone to pay them premiums in order to own houses, buildings, cars, boats, etc.... they have this enormous pool of money coming in from a huge population of people.... their sole purpose is to have your back in the event something terrible happens to one of your major assets like house, car, etc.... and as soon as you need their services more than a couple times in some arbitrary time period they decide on, they try to abandon you.

Too many people pay in to these insurance companies that they truly need to worry about whether they will make money if they have to cover claims.... I get the risk side of it and how they need to limit their risk of coverage as best they can, but IMO they take that way too far.

 

[Warden of the Northeast]

I got backed into at a gas station in Albany N.Y. two Decembers ago. A lady was teaching her 13 year old daughter how to drive. Well, after tracking down her crappy insurance company they told me to get an estimate. I did as instructed and set it off. In the meantime I had a friend do the work. He got me a new hood l, new grill, new bright nice headlights...my car looked better than it ever had since I owned it. Well the day after I get it fixed by my friend I get a call that her insurance company wants to send an adjuster out to survey the damage. Problem is at that point there was no damage. What insurance company sends an adjuster out 30 days after an accident. It's a good thing I took extensive pictures and had the lady sign a letter of responsibility at the accident site. My buddy who fixed it just typed up two bullshit work details (work that he actually performed, they were bullshit because he isn't a official body work person) and sent that to her insurance company. They sent me two checks and I gave him $1500 and with the rest I bought a 3D tv. I was sweating it there for a while.

 

[Iwritecode]

And that can be the problem. I can;t have it go on my record as I might get dropped. I already have one car claim and two home claims the past two years. I love the system.....NOT

Then you have to deal with the other guy's insurance company. They should pay the entire amount but insurance companies suck and people tend to lie when they cause accidents. I've been hit numerous times and had the other person lie and try to blame me when it was cleary their fault.

One guy tried to say I was parallel parked on a 6-lane road and his insurance actually believed him! :shrug:

 

[Urblock]

A police dept. that closes?!?!?

I would move.

 

[brett05]

I would move.

i don't live in the city that the accident occurred in

 

[Bearin' Down]

I live in Illinois and mid January I got hit. The guy has Founders Insurance which I find out is one of the worst. I filed a claim online with their site. The office called me on Monday (The accident was on a Friday night and they are not open on the weekends. I called back and got my insurance adjuster's VM. I left a message.
In the meantime I filed an accident report with the Joliet Police Department. I do not think the other guy ever did file.

I contacted my insurance (Allstate) and they said they would handle the claim but I would get it on my record. It wasn't my fault so I wasn't going to take the hit. So I waited. Two weeks and several calls but no return calls, I get a form in the mail to fill out for the accident. I was so upset as I had just done this online weeks ago. I filled it out and mailed it back. Still several weeks and nothing. I eventually get to talk to Founders and they tell me to get two quotes. I get two one for $4700 (they quoted a few minor things not related to the accident) and another for $2700 from a shop I used before. Again I waited like ten days before I could speak with Founders and find out how to submit to them the two quotes. Well, about a week later they come back and tell me that I can go to their shop and get it fixed and they offer me $1200. I was like what about the unseen damage? What about a car rental? She proceeds to tell me that they just cut a check to me and I use that to pay for the damages by using their shop. Unseen damages will result in another assessment. I asked if she could email me the adjuster's info and she said she couldn't but is mailing it to me.

And let's not talk about the depreciation of my car.

I am going to call my Agent at AllState this week and see what they can do. (The first time it was the after hours national number.) I am so unsatisfied with the whole process.

Anyone been thru this? Anyone have to go to like small claims court? Can I get my depreciation value? Can I ge tthem to pay my mechanic?

Thanks for reading. Sorry it's so long.

From what I understand, insurance companies do this all the time. They are trying to save costs on their end. I believe the law requires them to pay out exactly what was covered so long as the insurance covers it (I.e. 50,000 policy and 2700 in damage is covered). Basically, don't accept their offer, maybe look up Illinois law regarding insurance companies and then fight with them on the phone