Accident - Insurance Claim Help

[jacknifetoaswan]

I'm hoping someone has some advice for me, other than file with your insurance or lawyer up.

I was rear ended by a company work truck on 16-SEP. I was sitting at a red light, the light turned green, the car in front of me didn't go, the car behind me did. I did not hit the car in front of me, thankfully. Charleston Police Department came to take a police report, which in SC must be filed with the insurance company, by law. I contacted my insurance company to let them know I was in an accident, but would be filing with the other party's insurance (Southern Trust Insurance Company). I contacted their insurance on 18-SEP and made the claim, and since then, it's been a bunch of nonsense. Voicemails go unanswered/unreturned. When I finally get someone on the phone, I'm asked to obtain some bit of information, send it to them, then there's no response. I got a quote for repair on 14-OCT, which was provided to the insurance company on 20-OCT (had some back and forth about aftermarket parts for my car that are no longer available and need to be replaced).

I finally called my insurance company (Hagerty) on 4-NOV, to ask for options, and was told that while I could file a claim with them and have them subrogate, the best option would be to call and ask for a supervisor. I did, and got a call back from my original adjuster within an hour. I was informed I was being transferred to a different adjuster, and that the new adjuster would reach out. Meanwhile, I was asked to provide a photo of my odometer mileage to their claims department. That was provided on 6-NOV. Since then, I've called the new adjuster and left a couple VMs.

Short of filing a claim with Hagerty and going through the subrogation process, is there anything I can say to the new adjuster or a supervisor to speed this process up? I've got a track day I'm likely to miss next month because of this. I also have a new set of tires that I'd love to put on the car, but I'm not going to do that for the car to sit outside in the cold and flat spot the summer tires.

Any ideas? Since every problem calls for a spreadsheet, attached is my log of events since the incident.

JR

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[The Spider House]

I'm hoping someone has some advice for me, other than file with your insurance or lawyer up.

I was rear ended by a company work truck on 16-SEP. I was sitting at a red light, the light turned green, the car in front of me didn't go, the car behind me did. I did not hit the car in front of me, thankfully. Charleston Police Department came to take a police report, which in SC must be filed with the insurance company, by law. I contacted my insurance company to let them know I was in an accident, but would be filing with the other party's insurance (Southern Trust Insurance Company). I contacted their insurance on 18-SEP and made the claim, and since then, it's been a bunch of nonsense. Voicemails go unanswered/unreturned. When I finally get someone on the phone, I'm asked to obtain some bit of information, send it to them, then there's no response. I got a quote for repair on 14-OCT, which was provided to the insurance company on 20-OCT (had some back and forth about aftermarket parts for my car that are no longer available and need to be replaced).

I finally called my insurance company (Hagerty) on 4-NOV, to ask for options, and was told that while I could file a claim with them and have them subrogate, the best option would be to call and ask for a supervisor. I did, and got a call back from my original adjuster within an hour. I was informed I was being transferred to a different adjuster, and that the new adjuster would reach out. Meanwhile, I was asked to provide a photo of my odometer mileage to their claims department. That was provided on 6-NOV. Since then, I've called the new adjuster and left a couple VMs.

Short of filing a claim with Hagerty and going through the subrogation process, is there anything I can say to the new adjuster or a supervisor to speed this process up? I've got a track day I'm likely to miss next month because of this. I also have a new set of tires that I'd love to put on the car, but I'm not going to do that for the car to sit outside in the cold and flat spot the summer tires.

Any ideas? Since every problem calls for a spreadsheet, attached is my log of events since the incident.

JR

Unable to offer advice but I think this is the best line I have seen in a while and a philosophy I regularly follow..."Since every problem calls for a spreadsheet"

Good luck getting resolved. Insurance companies are more slippery than an eel covered in lube sliding down a slippy-slide in my experience.

 

[MAGS1]

I would call again and say that you want to get this resolved and have complied with every request for information to-date. Then I would state that if they continue to drag their feet or not even respond, they will hear from your lawyer. Usually the mention of lawyer gets them to move in some form or fashion.

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

I would call again and say that you want to get this resolved and have complied with every request for information to-date. Then I would state that if they continue to drag their feet or not even respond, they will hear from your lawyer. Usually the mention of lawyer gets them to move in some form or fashion.

This tactic was already tried with the supervisor and the original adjuster. It got me a call back, but then immediately got me transferred to a different adjuster so someone else could ignore me.

Unable to offer advice but I think this is the best line I have seen in a while and a philosophy I regularly follow..."Since every problem calls for a spreadsheet"

If we didn't need spreadsheets, why would they exist?

JR

 

[mepawn]

Id say be prepared to have the car sit for a while, not put on new tires on it, and definitely don't take it to the track as they will just then claim you damaged it at the track and cover nothing.

I know i had to get my insurance involved once as the other refused to do anything. Took my insurance 4 months to get the other insurance to pay everything back. Good luck though.

 

[The Spider House]

This tactic was already tried with the supervisor and the original adjuster. It got me a call back, but then immediately got me transferred to a different adjuster so someone else could ignore me.


If we didn't need spreadsheets, why would they exist?

JR

100%

 

[cerbomark]

I might consider letting your insurance company do the work. also I negotiated one myself and when I got the runaround about fixing my damage I told them if I didn t hear back I d be adding my injury to the complaint, got a check within hours, LOL..

 

[MAGS1]

This tactic was already tried with the supervisor and the original adjuster. It got me a call back, but then immediately got me transferred to a different adjuster so someone else could ignore me.


If we didn't need spreadsheets, why would they exist?

JR

Insurance companies are a pain that’s for sure and there’s no consistency among any of them. Although when I got hit this summer and filed the claim with the other person’s insurance, I had a check within a week of them getting the estimate from the body shop. I didn’t bother pushing with diminished value, the comps for both clean cars and cars with 1 accident were not far apart at all. I tried to get something, they rejected and I didn’t feel like fighting over a relatively small amount so I dropped it.

For them to be as non-responsive as they are is kind of strange. Assuming the damage is relatively minor, they usually want to get it taken care of and out of their system pretty quickly. If you have a lawyer, maybe ask them to send a written statement to the adjuster, something in writing should show that you’re serious.

Good luck, there’s a reason why most people hate insurance companies

 

[Snakebyte]

Sorry about the pain of the accident and the continuing saga of the other insurer. Kudo's for keeping the spreadsheet.
You didn't state how much or how little damage was done. If a little, a small claims court may be an option. Your documentation will work in your favor for sure. Regardless, your documentation will make the other insurer look like a fool, and may even prompt a state investigation. Actually, in FL, people with cases like yours, posed to the office of insurance regulation will get things moving on your behalf. See what SC may have like that. Include your spreadsheet when filing a complaint.

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

For them to be as non-responsive as they are is kind of strange. Assuming the damage is relatively minor, they usually want to get it taken care of and out of their system pretty quickly. If you have a lawyer, maybe ask them to send a written statement to the adjuster, something in writing should show that you’re serious.

Good luck, there’s a reason why most people hate insurance companies

I don't have a lawyer. I could pay one, but I don't want to. I know that's not helpful.

The damage is actually extremely minor. The rear bumper cover needs to be refinished, the Roush valance needs to be replaced, and there is exhaust work that will need to be done. I have the Active Exhaust mufflers on the car with a Steeda H-pipe. When I bought the mufflers, I paid about $500 for both. They're now over $1700, just for the mufflers. The Roush valance doesn't appear to be in production any longer, and none of the companies that list it for sale even have stock, it's all drop shipment. Roush doesn't list it on their website, but when I called, they showed it in stock.

The annoying part is when they tell me they can't get the Roush valance and I'm going to have to pick out a new valance, but limit it to the price I paid 7 years ago for the Roush valance.

JR

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

Sorry about the pain of the accident and the continuing saga of the other insurer. Kudo's for keeping the spreadsheet.
You didn't state how much or how little damage was done. If a little, a small claims court may be an option. Your documentation will work in your favor for sure. Regardless, your documentation will make the other insurer look like a fool, and may even prompt a state investigation. Actually, in FL, people with cases like yours, posed to the office of insurance regulation will get things moving on your behalf. See what SC may have like that. Include your spreadsheet when filing a complaint.

Will small claims court work for an interstate transaction? The company who hit me has done what they need to do. The insurance company, on the other hand, looks like it's HQ'd in Georgia, and I'm in South Carolina.

JR

 

[MAGS1]

The annoying part is when they tell me they can't get the Roush valance and I'm going to have to pick out a new valance, but limit it to the price I paid 7 years ago for the Roush valance.

That sucks. I was going to say you could get the Mach 1 valence and exhaust upgrade kit that Ford Performance sells, that’s around $1,700 depending on where you look.

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

That sucks. I was going to say you could get the Mach 1 valence and exhaust upgrade kit that Ford Performance sells, that’s around $1,700 depending on where you look.

I don't think it would work with a 2016 bumper. That would be my absolute preference, and was what the body shop recommended. couldn't find anyone that had adapted it to the 2016 though.

JR

 

[NTXChris]

You pay for insurance, they have lawyers. The at-fault party's insurance will be much faster to respond to an insurance company that has more weight to throw around than you do personally. Absolutely file with your insurance. They will make repairs, you will initially pay your deductible. They will subrogate your claim, and once they settle with the at-fault party, you will be made financially whole, and your claims record with Hagerty will be updated accordingly.

I've been through this (not at fault collision) a couple of times, and have always had my insurance handle the claim. My cars are always repaired early, and while I've sometimes had to pay my deductible, I've always gotten my money back. In one instance I had to wait a year for my deductible refund, but since the claim was open the whole time, my rates weren't affected. Once all was settled, I was listed as not at fault, and went on my merry way.

 

[Paddles]

I agree just go through your insurance and have them subrogate

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