A person rear ended me. Fender bender damage.
I reported accident to both insurance companies. My insurance company recommended a few auto body shops.
One auto shop gave me an estitmate for $1300 dollars.
Another shop told me to work with the other parties insurance because I would have to pay a $500 dollar deductable. The other parties insurance estitmator gave me a settlement for $1000 dollars. $300 dollars less than it would take to repair.
But hear is the punch line.
The auto body shop said sign for the settlement. Take the money and he would negiotiate with the insurance carrier for any additional costs.
But according to the fine print the settlement is final and I would not be able to collect any more money for unforseen additional costs.
This is in New York state does anybody know if the auto repairer and the insurance companies are trying to cheat me!
Please anybody?
This is about reference of insurance questions information.
2 Responses to Auto Body Insurance Settlement?
Vipassana
April 12th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
How are they trying to cheat you, if they’re directly informing you of what they’re doing?
Seriously, people just don’t make sense these days.
Talk to the body shop, and get something in writing that outlines their intent. Then, when it goes through, you have a statement that requires them to follow up on the rest.
superb9006
April 12th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Signing the check does release the other insurance company from any other liabilities from the accident. DON’T sign it if you feel you may have other injuries. Whip lash can take a few days to feel symptoms.
As far as the shop, this is a general practice. An insurance company will do an estimate and cut a check. Then the body shop will file a supplement to cover any additional costs. All they have to do is prove that the extra repairs or parts were necessary.