Tuesday here in Baltimore was a beautiful sunny day. I got home from work early because I had a Doctor's appointment at 1:15 at the hospital. I thought I had plenty of time to clean up the 81 and let her run for a bit and also fill her gas tank. Well I take the cover off and before you know it, I'm wiping her down, and cleaning the wheels, making her look her best before I take her out on the road! Well I go get gas and then I notice I won't have time to switch cars before the Doctor's appointment! I take the risk and drive to the hospital and park as far away from people as I can.
Around 2:30 when I finally get to leave the hospital, I come back out to the parking lot - notice that a darn stationwagon has parked right next to me on the passenger's side. Say some words under my breath and proceed to get in the car, then I notice this note under the windshield wiper. A 3rd party left a note informing me that a RAV 4 had hit my passenger fender and the proceeded to run. The Anonymous 3rd party did get the license plate number. Hospital security said forget it nothing can be done since the note was unsigend.
I called the Police anyway via the 311 number. Gave the lady the information I had and she dispatched a police officer!
Officer Peele arrived about 30 mins later, looked at the damage, mostly just scrapes down to the primer along the right fender - no damage to the fiberglass!
Gave him the note, he ran the plate and came back with the Hit and Run's home address, Insurance company and Policy number! He said if GEICO had a problem to call him. I honestly didn't expect him to do much, but he was great. Thanks officer Peele!
Called GEICO's third party claim number gave them the information I had on their policy holder. They actually got the guy to admit to the Hit and Run! Now GEICO is going to fix the car, but here is where it bites!
The car is over 10 yrs old so no express service from GEICO, I have to wait till 25 April to see and adjuster to get the estimate and check!
Here I am the injured party being treated with 3rd rate service by GEICO because the car is over 10 yrs old. I told the lady that this car was a restored show car and an occasional driver under my State Farm Guaranteed value policy of $38,000. Doesn't matter to them at all.
I guess my next battle will be when I finally see the adjuster and he low ***** the repair work. I intend to take it back to the custom shop that painted it 2 yrs ago to get the rapairs done. It will be interesting to see what the Custom Shop says how much it will actually cost to be done right!
Here is the funny part if we had not found the hit and run driver - under Maryland law this type of accident is concidered as an "Uninsured Motorist" accident, don't ask me why - and I would have had to pay only $250.00 to State Farm to get it fixed. Now if I decide to say the heck with GEICO and use my Insurance to fix it, it will cost me my deductible of $1000.00 until State Farm sues GEICO for the cost of repair which would take months.
Even when you are not at fault - you end up with time off from work to get the car fixed and you don't get that money back - the guy that hit my car - hell he doesn't have to do anything, I'm having to do all the work!
P.S. I hope his insurance goes sky high for a hit and run!

 

that sucks, but at least you'll get it fixed. If you have a good relationship with your State Farm guy, you might give him a call tosee what he recommends...

 

You are lucky...just one week wait...my buds 08 Z06 was hit in a parking lot,and he had to wait over two weeks for the other party's insurance adjuster...this is becoming more typical from guys Ive talked to...

Rich

 

Go get your repair estimate in writing prior to their adjuster coming out. This way you'll have documentation of cost.
The fact that your waiting a week for an actual adjuster to come to you on a collectible Vette is actually a better thing than pushing it through their "quick service" as most of the employees in these centers are not accustomed to specialty cars. Field Adjusters generally have better knowledge of our cars. Consider yourself lucky. I'm sure if the situation was more severe, your service would be different. Incoming claims are prioritized by severity.

 

Sorry to hear about the parking lot damage but I must say I give a big to the person that witnessed the accident having enough foresight to write down the license tag and leave you a note. That person who hit you will certainly think twice about doing another hit & run. In Florida that is a felony and they would have been prosecuted as such. The secretary that works in an office next door did this very exact same thing during lunch (parking lot hit & run) and sure enough the police were waiting for her when she got home. She had a mess on her hands.

 

Call your insurance company and tell them that Geico is jacking you around. I bet they can light a fire where one needs to be lit.

 

The poster above beat me to it.... Call your insurance company. You purchased a policy from them to insure your car...they have some obligation to help you get it fixed, even if the money is coming from some other insurance company. Tell your agent what your expectations are and the time-frame that you consider reasonable and let them handle it. By the way, this incident should not cost you a penny and tell your agent it better not cause your rates to go up. {Being hit in a parking lot was in no way your responsibility.}

 

Sorry your car got hit, but at least it will get fixed. The 10 days you have to wait sux tho. I would go ahead and get 3 hign end estimated to put in the adjusters hands with a copy of the agreed value on your car, that will pinch off most of his wiggle room.
Good Luck

 

I contacted the shop that painted my car - he doesn't exactly work with estimates - specialty shop that only works on Corvettes and usually you deal with a "gentlemans" agreement on price. Not a very big operation but the work is top notch. He's booked but said he would look at the car and give me a verbal estimate which does me know good with GEICO. There are a couple of shops that I found that I can get those from though.
This idea of GEICO's that just because a car is 10 years or older, you get 2nd rate service sort of torgues me off. I mean they are the ones held liable, I am the injured party aren't I?

 

I understand. Your going to be out the PITA factor no matter what. Get the paper estimates as high as possible and make sure they cover the guy thats actually going to do the work.
I hate dealing with insurance companies. They are not in the business of helping people like they are supposed to be, they are in the business of NOT paying claims wherever they can get out of it

 

Excellent advice. If you get any push back from your agent on any of this, inform him/her that they work for you and they better get working on it.

 

Go have words with the puzzy that hit your car and ran...after your car is fixed and everyone's happy. I can't stand people that don't have the backbone to man up for a huge mistake they just made, that affects other people's property.

 

yea! big karma oh note writer

 

You aren't obligated to get your car repaired where Geico wants it done. You just get three estimates from places that are reputable and where you think the job will get done correctly. And I would call the Insurance Commission in your state (the one that is part of the state government) and tell them this cr@p about having to wait because the car is over 10 years old. I can't believe that this is acceptable practice. If the state agency agrees and asks if you want to file a complaint against Geico...do it. Just remember that you don't work for Geico and it's their obligation to fix your car. And the next time you converse with them, make sure you convey an attitude that says just that!

 

Call the DOI (department of insurance for your state) consumer hotline. I work in the insurance industry with laws/regulations/acceptable practices/etc. and I have never heard of such a statement that because your car is 10yrs old you have to wait. By law the insurance company has to settle your claim within a specific number of day like 30 days. This does imply that they can drag their butts until the 29th day and then settle with you and still be in compliance, but for them to make a statement like that about your car being over 10 years old is a bunch of crap and I suggest you get that in writing. Should always be first come first served for auto ins claims. The insurance companies do pay attention to the complaints so go ahead and file a claim with your DOI as this will hopefully get their attention. If they don't settle with you within the 30 days then this goes as a mark against their report card with the state DOI and the state does regularly fine them for bad faith practices.

 

I really don't understand why you are dealing with the other insurance company. Deal with your own agent and your own company. You make monthly or annual payment to have them insure you, they should be working for you. Let them negotiate for the repair.

Am I missing something here?

 

Kudos to the person that left the note on your car!


Some choice words to the person that didnt fess up to thier problem


kdf

 

IMO I would have the car fixed by a shop you know.(taking lots of photos before hand) and hand the adjuster the bill. Also ask your insurance if you pay your deductable will they assist you with this

 

Yeah. There still are a few folks with honor. It's nice to hear about one every now and then. Kind of a dying breed, I think. Keep the faith!

 

It's the $1000 deductible he will have pay if he goes through State Farm.

Anytime you go through your own insurance company you are liable for your own deductibles and you may or may not get that money back depending on whether State Farm can actually recover the deductible from Geico. They'll try to get it but there is no guarantee.