Last Tuesday, July 2nd a Ford F150 making a blind left turn slammed into my drivers side. Luckily, I walked away banged up, bruised and burnt but my MINI did not. It was deemed a total loss today by the collision center.

So here is where I could use some feedback..its a 2013 MINI Cooper hardtop with the technology pkg and 6,585 miles. I know when you buy a new car it decreases in value when you drive it off the lot, but how can I determine what is acceptable when this idiots insurance cuts me a check for the car??

The medical claim is separate, I understand that but since its still 2013, what should I expect? Including tax I paid $27409.09 which I am financing thru MINI. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Idiots insurance is ALLSTATE and I have USAA.

Thanks! Michelle-Las Vegas

 

Very sorry for your loss. Glad you are OK. Let your insurance company work it out with theirs. Don't worry just yet. See what they come back with and talk to your insurance company. I think you will be fine.

 

I will try lol, I am trying to avoid getting screwed because I don't know what my rights are. I'm just upset over it all, thanks for your reply.

 

Contact your insurance company and I am sure they can explain it in detail for you. I know you are stressed and I feel your pain. Good luck.

 

Hi Michelle;

That's so scary; I got my MINI because some knucklehead did EXACTLY the same thing; blind left turn, only he got to the crash site first, and I hit his passenger side front tire with my 14-yr old Mustang SVT Cobra.

Look at Edmundson's and Kelly's Blue Book online; they give retail and wholesale values of resale cars, even for current year. MINIs hold their value. They also tell you what to add & take away for different accessories, mileage, etc.

My insurance co/the offender's ins. co were spot on, maybe a little more generous than either Ed or Kel, and my husband is now haggling over another $1K that he thinks the car is worth due to its parts value, and the high-end hard-to-find comparables that have just been sold on the free market.

So, anyhow, that's where I'd start to see what is fair...

Bridget

 

Drivers here are idiots!! Hope things turn out well for you.

 

The other guy's insurance company owes you a 2013 MINI Cooper hardtop with the technology pkg and no more than 6,585 miles. It's their problem how much they pay for it. Don't settle for anything less.

Glad to hear you're basically OK.

 

I totally agree with you!! I didn't ask for any of this, I just want back what I had. Thank you, I needed to hear that. The MINI did it's job, I'm still here but damn those air bag burns ARE NO JOKE. Boxing gloves are gently going on over wounds.

Mish

 

Agreed SoundMessage, I'm usually good at swerving around them but the idiot blind sided me (never even apologized)!!

Good to know there is another non-idiot on the mean streets of Vegas. LOL, it happened on Ann Rd and Rio Vista right before the 95 north entrance. Beep Beep.

 

Thank you Bridget, I am going to research online and get my ammo together so I can at least APPEAR like I know what I'm talking about.

You guys are all awesome.

 

Glad you are still alive! And very sorry:(

I had a few similar circumstances, car totaled and not my fault. Get an attorney! Please at least look into it.

This is not about the other guy who hit you and may be the nicest person in the world. Insurance companies are not about fair!

You should be paid for lost wages, time off work. Medical bills and Chiropractor etc. Of course your car and rental car.

Don't settle or sign any paperwork. What if medical issues come up later related to the accident?

Your car, well, you can get an idea via Kelly Blue Book. Look, I normally don't like attorney's but working 11 hour days I don't have time for another job. An auto accident is another job. Too much at stake, insurance companies know you mean business if you have a lawyer. It won't cost you anything either. They get part of the settlement.

Your bills are covered. You get a check to get a used or new car. This is all a game. Just like in the courtroom. Go it alone if you are an expert player but I strongly recommend you at least talk to a few attorneys. That is free and the advise is worth so much.

Don't rely on the insurance companies to play fair. This is between you and the insurance company now. Not the other guy. Just think about it.

Thanks

 

BTW,

I am not an attorney. I am a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant). But many attorney's provide the CPE needed to keep my license.

In these circles all the time. Hang in there. You can do it!

Bill, CPA, CGMA

 

Most states allow you to challenge the Total Loss settlement figure. But to do so, you have to provide valid documentation. The requirement varies from state to state. Check with the carrier you are working with.

Most people, especially with newer cars, don't like their settlement offers because they think they should be paid what they paid for their car, whether it was yesterday or a year ago when they bought it. Ain't gonna happen.

One good thing for you, you were not at fault. So you have two options. If you don't like the offer Allstate gives you, you can go back to USAA and let them evaluate it, pay you, and they'll go after Allstate. If you do that... you pay your deductible up front, USAA gets it back for you. And you may end up paying some rental costs if you're in one because most, like my company, only allow you one week in the rental after the first settlement offer is provided to you.

Sorry you were in the accident. Good luck.

 

And contrary to other advice, getting an attorney is not the best solution. It's not going to change your total loss settlement one nickel. And do you really want an attorney taking 33 percent of your settlement just for making a few phone calls and helping you with the paperwork ?

Same thing for your injury claim. In injury claim adjuster and I can tell you, the attorney doesn't scare me into giving you more money. He may tell you to treat more than you need to to jack up your expenses but we can smell that a mile away and will disallow unreasonable treatment. And again, for doing a little work you are capable of doing.... ka-frickin-ching... 33 %. Or more.

And stay away from Kelly Blue Book. Most companies use NADA. It's more fair and actually gives you a better value.

Lastly, be wary of internet attorneys, or CPAs. hahaha.

 

Figures an insurance claims rep would say don't hire an attorney.

I hired one to help settle an accident where I was hit by an uninsured driver. I had medical injury as well as the car.

Received some money for pain and suffering figuring that I may have lingering issues. Wasn't much and I felt like the insurance company was very unreasonable.

Insurance lawyer stated "you know it is a fair settlement when we are unhappy bout the amount we pay and you are unhappy about the amount you get"

Fast forward 17 years and my neck gives out. 3 herniated discs. No reason. Had to have my neck fused. Out of work 12 weeks with no income. You guessed it. I had whiplash in that accident. That settlement didn't come close to covering my actual losses.

Hire an attorney.

Insurance companies are professional bookies. I spent 25 years working for one. They bet on loss ratios all the time. The lost in your case. Don't leave a dime on the table.

I'm not saying to commit fraud or mislead them. But you were wronged and they must make you whole.

Also, yoiu may have to go after the driver personally as well. They may have other assets or umbrella coverage beyond auto coverage to seek as well.


Good luck.

 

Allstate and Geico are or competitors. I don't care if they pay their policy limits to him.

Just trying to give good advice as I've been doing around here for 7 years when it comes to insurance matters.

You can choose to listen to my advice, or not. Matters not a bit to me, whoever you are.

 

Oh... and another things. In many cases, I prefer my customers do get an attorney because at least the attorneys have a reasonable expectation of the value of their claim, unlike some people who thing they hit the Auto Lotto every time they get in a $2000 accident. Or less.

Greed runs rampant in my profession, I see it every single day. Those clowns are just driving up everyone's rates. Appears you are part of the problem, whoever you are.

 

Some insurance companies I would trust to handle problem fairly. Unfortunately, others not so good.

It is about making you whole. Not about making money. If anything rarely do you come out ahead.

Some insurance companies will only cover a rental say one week and so much a day. With an attorney it is a whole different matter.

For me personally, I don't have time to make all the calls, fight for diminished value. Argue about rental payments. Then the hospital bill, surgery, lab, etc. Fills the mailbox.

In the end, if I get hit I hope the guy has a good insurance company and much can be avoided. The good ones are fair and don't play games.

 

I'm glad you are OK, the USAA insurance is awesome, I have them too (airforce). They should pretty much cover it to full value

-B

 

"Rarely do you come out ahead".

Do you understand the principal of indemnity ? Insurance isn't supposed to make you come out ahead. It's to compensate you fairly for your loss.

Too many people misunderstand this basic premise of insurance.

If your 2007 Chevy Impala gets totaled, the insurance company doesn't owe you enough money for you to buy a 2009 Chevy Impala with 30,000 fewer miles on it. This is the crux of most people's complaint when their car gets totaled. You can't find the EXACT vehicle that was lost so most people at that time upgrade slightly. Then they complain that the total loss wasn't fair because now they have a car payment again.

While I understand it sucks to have a car payment again if your car that was totaled was paid off. Or to have a larger payment or a longer loan period.

But would it be fair to give you a newer, nicer car than the one you had before ? Would be nice, but if that was how it worked, your rates would be higher. Everyone's would.

And I'll say it again.... if you want to get an attorney to handle the insurance matters, go ahead. In some cases, I prefer to work with them. But you won't get a nickel more and when the attorney gets done with his share, you will get much less. Just to save you from a few phone calls and a little work. Just don't try to say it's always the right thing to do. In most cases, people are much better off without an attorney.

And LOL at the idea an attorney is going to get you a rental care for longer or a better rental car ! They can't do anything about your rental you can't do. If you make the case for a better car than the standard car, you can have one. In some states, we are required to give you one similar to your car, in others, we only owe for basic transportation. No attorney can change the rules in the state he's working in. And I'd love to hear a story about a company cutting off your rental that wasn't fair.

 

Despite the bickering in this thread, USAA really will take care of you. Contact them now. Tell them your concerns. They will fight for you, and you will come out with enough money to buy the same car.

 

Agree, USAA is a very good company and their claim service is right there with the best.

If I had the choice of using Allstate or USAA, I wouldn't even think about it for a second.

 

+1
I know that when I bought my mini, I got the loan through USAA....and they included gap insurance for free with the loan. So hopefully you fianced it with them, and they still do it that way!! In my experiences USAA is great about watching out for you...you are after all a, you are a member, a customer, and part owner (gotta love that check...my father (a member since he was active duty in the 60's and 70's)...gets a check actually pays for 100% of his auto ins with a couple $ left to go towards homeowners...). But the service level is what counts...and in my experience has always been great!! Good to hear you are safe!!

 

OH WOW!!! I really appreciate the passion behind your replies!! I am totally confused but listening to all you have to say.

I don't want "extras" out of this. I've never sued anyone nor am I a gold digger. I only want back what I had @ 8:10am on July 2nd, 2013. That was a couple minutes before all hell broke loose in my life.

So Allstate finally calls and leaves me a message letting me know my car has been deemed a total loss by Nevada law. I had called the collision center yesterday morning and found out by them. So the total loss department of Allstate is going to contact me within 72 hours to get my loan info etc but they said they are looking at a starting amount of $21,600.

One of the two witnesses who are on the police report, (they were so awesome and helped me get out of the car, called the police, totally took care of me until the ambulance came) is a lawyer and told me she is there for me if and when the time comes. I think I may call her Monday, see what her input is.

I believe in karma and its kicking my *** right now. I want whats fair, I don't want to go after Allstate so I will never have to work again. I just want to have a MINI again and get my body back to normal.

Beep Beep

PS: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES, YOU GUYS ROCK!

 

I don't like to make assumptions but from the sound of your posts, you did not purchase Gap insurance when you bought the MINI. Or perhaps you put enough down that you didn't need the Gap insurance and you're not upside down on the loan.

Remember, your cost of $27K included tax and they will also add on tax to the value they quoted you. So the quote doesn't seem that out of line to me.