D2 - Wife got rear-ended

[barshnik]

by a Chevy pickup while waiting at a stop light. She barely felt it, but looks like damage is bumper, right-rear pillar thing that the upper stop/brake lights sit in, and lenses. The Chevy took much the worst of it, believe me.

So, this might be the right time for a Greg Davis (open to other suggestions) rear bumper, eh?

It has been so many years since I've submitted an insurance claim, I don't know how it works. The hit-ees insurace co is Farmers. Can I induce them to make a cash settlement so I can do what I want? Will they make me get estimates from their crappy body shops?

Any suggestions on how this is best handled are welcome. Thanks,

John F
LV, NV

2001 D2
Trimmed front bumper, Warn winch
QT guards
OME springs/shocks
AMV center diff lock

 

[I HATE PONIES]

The last time i had a claim the insurance company made me get one estimate at the shop of my choosing. I got three from different places just to be sure. After i submitted the estimate they mailed me a check in the amount of the estimate. I just cashed the check, paid the deductable and gave the cash to the body shop. I hope your wife is O.K.

 

[Buddy]

It really depends on the state and the insurance company. Some like State Farm in NC do their own estimates you go to their shop and they check it out and give you "their" estimate. Others just want you to submit them one and yet still others want you to get an estimate from their prefered body shop.

If you have a lean on the vehicle the check will be made out to you and the insurance company and in some cases the body shop and the insurance company will not endorse their part until they have proof of bieng fixed.

So if you own it outright at least in any state I have lived you can request the check to be made out to you for their prefered amount. But if you decided to get an estimate from a shop that's more expensive then the perfered estimate of the insurance company they may want to make it out to the body shop before paying a higher amount.

It's all relative and there is not straight answer.

 

[lrsafari]

I have been hit 2X since I lived here in California the last 5 years.

Anyway, if I read it right, you choose who fixes your truck, they pay. They will probably send an estimator out, but you choose who "fixes" or at least gives you the estimate.

As said, hope your wife is OK. I got rear ended in my '92 LSE 10 days before I got married. My finance' and myself were very sore for a while. Put a dent in 2 weeks on Kauai. But the brand new Toyota mini van had the engine pushed into the interior. We drove away.

Hope all goes well,

Scott

 

[jhmover]

Glad no one got hurt.

Check your door hinges. My D2 got rear ended, didn't look like anything happened at all, then when it rained I got leaks because it tweaked the hinges. Check the door behind the spare tire, too.

 

[barshnik]

The wife is fine, thanks for your concern, not so much as a stray ache. She said the D2 barely moved when hit pretty hard (hard enough to mash the front of the Chevy truck to the point the drivers door wouldn't open.)

D2 is long paid for, and since it is our dedicated offroader and not a daily driver (2001 with 29k miles) I can afford to wait out the insurance company if I have to.

I said hit-ee instead of hit-er in the original post, sorry.

The hit-er's insurance company (Farmers) is supposed to contact me within 10 days (they have to wait for a police report). The hit-er was cited for failure to control, or some-such crap.

The door seems fine, and I hosed the rear end checking for leaks (none) so it looks like (if I get a proper rear bumper) the only body work will be for the pillar that holds the upper light (it is seriously bent, but what I would call the rear quarter panel, the part in back of the rear door, seems OK.)

Thanks for your help.

John F
LV, NV

 

[skydiver]

Take it to your local rover dealership for the repair estimate. They'll be the most expensive, and that will yield you the largest check. Once you deposit the check, for all the insurance company cares, you can go to Hawaii with the money, since they've taken care of their obligation.

 

[antichrist]

Be sure you don't involve your own insurance company unless you don't get satisfaction from the other person's insurance. Insurance companies pull some slimey stuff as a way to eventually raise your rates. If calling with an enquiry about an accident, not even filing a claim, can be a black mark.

 

[kingstonman]

too bad you file the claim, i have been waiting to get a slight bump in the back so i can get a new rear bumper for my d2. (glad nobody got hurt!!) in my experince if you want to get an aftermarket bumper/part after an accedent, the best way to go about it is to take your rover to the stealership, and get the highest quote, then offer for a lower cash payment directly from the person that was at fault. this way you avoid the hassel of insurance co's. and you can put the money into the equipment you want.

this of course only a good idea for minor incidents.

if that doesnt pan out then file the claim and go that route.

best of luck

 

[azarmadillo]

Let's see some pics of the Disco and the Chevy.