| Car Accident Insurance Settlement : How to Avoid Paying for Auto Repair |
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| Written by Asif L Shaikh |
| Thursday, 07 April 2011 23:27 |
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Nearly always during the car accident insurance settlement, you and the insurance company don't see eye to eye on what your vehicle repair costs are worth.
Nearly always during the car accident insurance settlement, you and the insurance company don't see eye to eye on what your vehicle repair costs are worth. Should you get your own repair quotes, the insurance company will try to push you to accept their own smaller settlements. The bad news is that the insurance company's rates may very well be hundreds and even thousands of dollars below your actual repair charges. If you don't fully understand how to sort out these disagreements with the insurance company, you will find yourself paying for your auto repair out of your wallet. To avoid spending money on your vehicle damages , here are a few basic steps you can follow: 1. Get Thorough Estimates First, you need to get a complete itemized estimate for your vehicle damages. Getting the list of replacement parts and their costs undoubtedly shows how much money it will cost to repair your car. With a detailed estimate, you may then ask the insurance company to present their own detailed estimates. In this manner you are comparing reasonable estimates, and not merely some random value from the insurance company. If you are unhappy with a lower estimate, you have a right to know how exactly they determined the low settlement figure. Make certain that your estimates are for the same exact factory vehicle parts. You have a right to get your car in the SAME condition as it was before the car accident. The insurance adjuster's estimates may be lower simply because they used less expensive non factory replacement parts. You don't have to agree to this, so get the estimates for the same quality parts. 2. Get Quality and Realistic Estimates You should get your estimates from a shop that will actual work on your car repair. Don't just go to a random repair shop or gas station and get a rough estimate. Insurance companies actually classify your damages as falling in a particular range. For example, they may think handling a busted bumper shouldn't cost more than a few hundred dollars. However, this really relies on who does your repairs and the model of your vehicle. So check to make sure you get your estimates from a repair shop that is qualified to repaire your brand of vehicle. This will give you a more reliable cost of labor. If the insurance company debates this estimate, make them give you another repair center that can ensure the same top quality work. If they don't offer a satisfactory alternative, you can argue that their estimate is wrong and you shouldn't have to agree to low quality work. What if My Car is Totaled? If the cost of your vehicle repair is more than the cost of your vehicle, this is called a "total loss". The insurance company will give you what it considers the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of your vehicle. This could also increase arguments because you may think your car is worth more than you are getting. The easiest way to see if you're getting a reasonable deal is to check your vehicle's Kelly Blue Book value. The blue book lists the current value of the car and you can check how much your car is worth. What if I Can't Negotiate A Good Settlement? Applying these tips really will depend on how comfortable you are negotiating cash settlement costs. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Learn more helpful ways to negotiate your car accident insurance claims and personal injury settlements |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 07 April 2011 23:36 |