Need Help with State Farm Insurance

[John Myrick]

Anybody here have any contacts at State Farm Insurance?

I am having problems with them only paying for repair of parts instead of replacement of the parts.

I would appreciate it if anyone here can "hook me up" with someone with some authority to "do the right thing" and pay for proper repairs to my car.

Thanks

 

[cosborn]

Hey,

I don't have any answers, but am in the same boat right now as my viper got stolen/recovered. With state Farm BTW. They want to repair the hood, repair the rims, etc etc. If you get any, could you send me an email?


[email protected]

thanks a lot,

Chris

 

[Ulysses]

Maybe somebody in the insurance biz on this board can confirm or deny, but I'm pretty sure that the buck stops at the insurance adjuster. There's no going over that person's head. You can, however appeal the decision or ask for a new adjuster.

Bottom line, it is your right to have your car brought back to the pristine condition it was in before the accident happened. You also have the right to have it repaired at any shop you designate, although it is in your best interest to have it repaired at a State Farm authorized facility.

The trick is to prove that something like a hood cannot be repaired (reliably) and be in the same shape it was in before the accident. These composite hoods are tricky, those with the earlier models and had the crack problem repaired know this. Look up a authorized shop on their list which you know has had Viper repair experience and talk to the person that handles Viper body repair.

Rims on the other hand, IMO, are items that can be repaired and brought back looking better than they were originally.

 

[Dr Roof]

I deal with the insurance companies on the homeowner side and the best thing to do is request another adjuster after you get a couple of qoutes from body shops as well as wheel shops and Have them state the hood is not repairable or any other items. Then talk to a new adjuster and if this doesn't work call the insurance commisioners office of your state and file a complaint as well as have an attorney write a letter of your intent to sue. and follow through with any statements made. It is alot of red tape but it can be accomplished with patience.

BTW
State Farm is not a good insurance company. they are the largest or one of, however they pay out the cheapest than any other company! They use their own pricing instead of the current market Value. Homeowners Claims state farm low balls everything.

 

[Austin]

DR Roof: What about Farmers Insurance?



Austin

 

[HP]

Maybe MALCOLL(Lance) can give you some input - he is in the business.

 

[malcoll]

Well...... I am assuming that your Viper is not disassembled yet!!
First...... I would identify a body shop that specializes in high end exotic vehicle repairs... I am not sure how far Sugarland is from Dallas... but I imagine you have a Porsche, Jaguar or even a Ferrari dealer in your area. Typically the body shop a Porsche or Ferrari owner would go to is the one you want.

Forget the State Farm "blue ribbon" shop..... they are going to do what State Farm wants them to do. Which would be fine if you had an everyday Dodge... but in this case you want a body shop that has a reputation to keep up amongst the pickiest vehicle owners. Remember the State Farm shop is counting on continued referrals from State Farm.

Second, take your Viper to that high end body shop (if it's driveable)... and have them inspect the repairs... if it is not driveable, then pay to have it moved their yourself.
If the high end shop says the parts can be repaired... well they are out to protect their reputation..... so if they say they can repair I would have to trust their judgement. If they say they cannot repair.... then leave the Viper there and tell your adjuster that this is the shop that is repairing your Viper.... let the body shop fight with the adjuster...they will.......

Chances are you will not get a new adjuster. I spent 10 years in claims 6 of those in management... I can count two times I reassigned adjusters. Unless the current adjuster is just a complete ***.... you will not get a new adjuster.

But.... you can start bypassing the adjuster and just talk to the Claims Manager. But your first step is to find that high end body shop.... and find out from them if the parts are repairable.

If you exhaust all those avenues...... your next best bet is to file a complaint with the department of insurance..... that is always a long drawn out process..... so find that high end body shop first. Chances are when you find that body shop... and call the adjuster... he/she will immediately recognize the name of the shop and know you want your Viper repaired correctly!

Should you want to.... do not hesitate to PM me...... I check the board once or twice a day!

Good Luck..... and don't take "no" for an answer... remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Lance

 

[1TONY1]

Vipermed hood ??????

 

[Kevin]

I would start a new thread asking VCA members how much less they would pay for a car with a repaired hood versus a new hood. Any damaged and repaired viper is scrutinized to the limit here....

Simply print the thread and send it to the adjuster and ask him who said they can repair it and not loose any future value. Tell him you want a written guaranty `prior to the work being done.. Either he or his estimator will back down before making a comittment.

I'll volunteer to give my estimate anyone else want to help` out.

Later

 

[Jerry Dobson]

I have had ZERO problems with State Farm. They have bent over backwards to keep me happy. If something is scratched or bent, they replaced it.

Just remind them that your car will do 200mph and you drive it that fast on a closed course. Do they want the liability of not fixing it correctly?

Most states no longer support "Loss of Value". I think five states still do under State Farm. Your hood is worth $14,400. If it is glued back together, knock 10 grand off of resale to me.

 

[PETSN8K]

Unfortunately for most of us, very few states have a diminishing value law. For those of us who live in a state with such a law, your insurance company is responsible for any loss of value or diminished value incurred from the accident.

Insurance lobbyists want to make sure most states do not implement such a law as it would be very costly for the insurance industry as a whole.

I fought with my agent over just this very thing. He said if the state doesn't recognize diminished value, it doesn't exist! Needless to say, he is no longer my agent. He works for State Farm.

One last note. The few states that recognize diminished value only did so after someone challenged it in court.

Stand firm and never surrender!

 

[pdmracing]

I have state farm & have had GREAT service from them. Even with driver education event damage. The key is the BODY SHOP! A few years back, I damaged my 93 Lightning PU in a towing accident. This was a mint truck(still is & its for sale cheep)The initial State farm claim was 2800 or so to repair the damaged parts. My body shop ended up replacing the stuff to the tune of 7900 or so. The body shop did all the negotiating, I did nothing. The crazy thing on my last claim, taking it to the "APPROVED" body shop, their estimate was higher than my guy( Who is the official Lambo repair center in the US) I even got a check in the mail for diminisghed value after the fact. E mail me if you want the phone number, many of our region guys go to him & have state farm.he can tell you what to do.

 

[malcoll]

.........Just remind them that your car will do 200mph and you drive it that fast on a closed course. Do they want the liability of not fixing it correctly?

......

I'd probably refrain from telling your insurance agent that you drive 200mph... even on a closed course..... you may get a non-renewal notice??

Just a friendly suggestion!!

 

[Bonkers]

State Farm *****. If I knew of a way for you to get every penny you're owed I'd give it to you, as it is they are in the business of screwing you over (just like every other insurance company on the face of the planet) so the odds are against you.

Fight them to the bitter end. Ask for a new adjuster and contact your state's insurance comissioner; he/she's probably the best defense you'll be able to muster and *should* be the best source for how to win legally.

 

[BillS]

I battled with State farm for 4 months over the value of my totaled Viper. Here are some interesting facts from my case:

1) State farm replaced my 1st claims adjuster when they realized I was going to fight them.
2) I came close to having the 2nd claims adjusted replaced (I'm allowed to do this once)
3) State farm had 3 appraisals done on my car, but only used the lowest one, and kept the others secret... for a while.
4) I caught 4 major State farm errors in the claim process.
5) Talking to the claims adjuster's boss can stir up a hornets nest... good in my case... I waited until I had all the facts and their screw-ups documented.
6) My good relationship with my agent, 20 years with State farm, no tickets, and no other claims gave them very little wiggle room when arbitration was looming.
7) State farm blinked first. (He he he)

PS: If the accident was not your fault… you might be able to collect money for a rental car, even if you don’t rent one. Also if you send them a bill for a physical check up to see if your OK, this tends to get their attention.

Bill

 

[jimandela]

BillS,
glad things went okay.
i too have State farm and same thing no claims for 20 yrs, etc.
I would hope they dont give me *hit if i need to ever make a claim...

can you tell me more about reason 4 ?


yesterday, while driving down my own street a woman almost hit me.. while backing out
of her driveway!

so, this is something you hope you never need to use, but if you, there shouldn't be headaches!

JIM

 

[BillS]

Jim

1) I called in the claim at the wreck site from the back seat of a state patrol car. (Have records of call time, length, # called, location, and Police officer listening in) State farm said they never got the call... good thing I drove in to the agent the next day.
2) I asked for everything in writing... their appraisal sat at State farm for over a month. (The appraisal had a date stamp when State farm received it, and a fax date when they sent it to me) Washington State law says that insurance companies have 30 days to get this information to me.
3) The 1st State farm appraisal given to me had some major errors. (A confidentiality agreement allows me to only talk about public information... or I would give you the details)
4) It was like pulling teeth to get State farm to communicate or send information. (They said appraisals/estimates must have got lost in the mail... multiple times) I caught them lying when they said they faxed me the data, (Me) If you faxed me the data then what's my fax number? (State farm) I guess we don't have your fax number. (Me) So how did you fax me if I haven't given you my fax number? (State farm) Silence.

The bottom line is I documented everything, sent everything by certified mail or hand delivered it. Had an extensive appraisal done. So when arbitration was looming, they weren’t going to look very good, and finally offered a reasonable settlement. State farm did other things that were unethical and wrong, but they would have ended up as their word against mine. (Unproveable)

Talk to your club president, or zone representative for help. Talk to you states insurance commissioner office for rules and help. Don’t give up or in… I learned a lot from my wreck, so I am now a better-informed insurance customer.

Bill

 

[TZL]

which states have diminished value laws for insurance co\'s?

which states have diminished value laws for insurance co's?

 

[BillS]

Re: which states have diminished value laws for insurance co\'s?

Washington State does.

Bill