Talk about crappy luck

[Mags 112]

Damn, that's ####### mrc, I hope you manage to get something sorted out.

[mrc 0]

Damn, that's ####### mrc, I hope you manage to get something sorted out.

Yeah, I do too...thanks for the words. I just don't think I'll get a brand new vehicle from the other guys insurance. I still didn't get a rental, but I do have a second vehicle. Hey, they inconvenienced me...I'm going to get a rental. My other vehicle is just a small pickup that I used for five years and it's reliable, just not something I want to drive daily while I wait for my car to get fixed.

I'll post some pics when I get them.

[Fandango 1,439]

Damn, that's ####### mrc, I hope you manage to get something sorted out.

Yeah, I do too...thanks for the words. I just don't think I'll get a brand new vehicle from the other guys insurance. I still didn't get a rental, but I do have a second vehicle. Hey, they inconvenienced me...I'm going to get a rental. My other vehicle is just a small pickup that I used for five years and it's reliable, just not something I want to drive daily while I wait for my car to get fixed.

I'll post some pics when I get them.

Hah, boy do I know that feeling....I used to drive a Jaguar & it was ALWAYS in the shop. One time it was in for so long, I wound up buying a 90 something Escort, sun faded 'hoopty' I wanted to put a sticker on it that said 'my other car is a Jaguar' LOL

[JAYKE 0]

de_sjiem,

You make a very relevant point, yet, if one is persistent, you can get very close to perfect.

In the case described, the entire front clip can be replaced, along with the radiator and AC condenser. Not to mention any other front end steering and stability linkages, that were affected. With the car being very new, the paint will match almost exactly.

Key to all of this, the frame must be undamaged. Otherwise, body parts will misalign.

mrc, be sure to take the car to the best Ford dealer in your area, the one with the best body shop.

the worst part is that once a car is damaged like that they can't ever get it perfect again.. they can get it really close so that most people wouldnt be able to tell, but now there has been damage and stuff like that tends to show up on a vehicle history record too... crappy crappy..

Most insurance companies will no longer authorize a clip... you'd have to do each part individually. Also, many dealers no longer have full body shops on site, but instead have independent body shops that they send all their body work to....

.... taking off my appraiser and adjuster hat now.....

[JAYKE 0]

MRC, you dont have to settle for whatever they offer you, tell them you HAD a NEW car and You'll only settle for a NEW car...if they are hard of hearing, Hire a lawyer..you can get what you deserve which is what you were robbed of by their client...A new car.

Tell your ins co you want a new car like you had and they can sue the other party's ins co.

Good Luck!

...Putting back on adjuster's hat....

The likelihood of getting a new car from EITHER company on a car with 5k miles on it is slim to none.... It doesn't have to do with the age of the car, only it's current value..... and it is pretty darn sure judging from this description that this car can be fixed for less than its actual cash value, which is what the total loss threshhold is based on.

While you don't need to "settle" for it, it is very likely that if you go through your insurance company, they WILL accept the other company's ACV figures. Insurance policies all have a clause regarding subrogation stating that they will settle the claim with the other carrier as they see fit - i.e., they don't have to demand the full amount from the other party. Further, they will never "sue" - they have a special insurance arbitration forum all the big companies use, and they have to go through that... and believe me, arb will agree with ACV's. Finally, most attorneys will not take a property damage only claim if there is no injury attatched to it -- that's where they make their money. with a property damage only claim, they will still require a third of the "reward", which would put you at an amount less than required to fix your car.

People seem to forget that insurance companies are bound to both the law, and their policy, so while it would be nice to demand a new car, there is certain protocol and law the companies are bound to.

As for the rental, you can rent one now - just save your receipts, and when the investigation is complete, submit them for reimbursement. I don't know what state you are in, but many companies simply don't have adjusters working weekends, and the call center operators who take the claim are not licensed or otherwise authorized to make liability decisions and/or rental authorizations. While it may be inconvenient, it is the law.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, etc.