Damage?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
So, State Farm is trying to determine the diminished value. Anybody have estimates of what I should be looking for? Supporting reasons/cases are, of course, immensely helpful.
Total repair bill was $11,884.47.
TL;DR: I have all new panels on the driver's side (fender, door, quarter panel), new bumper, repairs to passenger fender and driver's rocker panel, new wheels and tires on the front, new control arm and steering tie rod on driver's side, new side markers, new fender aprons and liners, and a few other small things like fasteners and emblems.
Total repair bill was $11,884.47.
TL;DR: I have all new panels on the driver's side (fender, door, quarter panel), new bumper, repairs to passenger fender and driver's rocker panel, new wheels and tires on the front, new control arm and steering tie rod on driver's side, new side markers, new fender aprons and liners, and a few other small things like fasteners and emblems.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The company I used to file the DV claim asked for 20% of the value of the car, pre-accident.
After consulting with a few appraisers, and taking their advice, I settled for around half the cost of the repair.
After consulting with a few appraisers, and taking their advice, I settled for around half the cost of the repair.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
Thanks for the response. What kind of process did that entail? I'm working directly with the insurance company right now. Both drivers are insured through State Farm, so I don't think they really want to pay out. I'm early in the process though, just had the first conversation today.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The company I used was AutoLoss and they filed a third-party claim on my behalf with the at-faults insurance company. Any DV claim was specifically denied in my own policy but the other guy was paying for everything.
AutoLoss prepared a lengthy document defining my car and including testimonials from GM Dealers/CarMax/etc. stating that they would never take a C6 that had been in an accident, in on trade.
They also did a study of comparable cars and their values, similar to what you do when selling a house.
The negotiating process with the at-fault's insurance company was unduly protracted in that the first Ahole that contacted me denied the whole concept of DV and said it was only the result of shoddy repairs. I told him to shove it and get somebody that has half a clue to call me.
I was in no big hurry as I also had an outstanding medical claim running as well.
Finally got a call from a very reasonable, and experienced claims specialist and closed the books on everything. Took 6 months, but as I said, I was patient.
Each state, at least as I understand it, has different laws concerning this type of claim. A company like AutoLoss also helps steer you through the process and provides a long list of rebuttals to typical insurance company negotiating tactics.
As you can probably tell I am a satisfied customer. Good Luck.
AutoLoss prepared a lengthy document defining my car and including testimonials from GM Dealers/CarMax/etc. stating that they would never take a C6 that had been in an accident, in on trade.
They also did a study of comparable cars and their values, similar to what you do when selling a house.
The negotiating process with the at-fault's insurance company was unduly protracted in that the first Ahole that contacted me denied the whole concept of DV and said it was only the result of shoddy repairs. I told him to shove it and get somebody that has half a clue to call me.
I was in no big hurry as I also had an outstanding medical claim running as well.
Finally got a call from a very reasonable, and experienced claims specialist and closed the books on everything. Took 6 months, but as I said, I was patient.
Each state, at least as I understand it, has different laws concerning this type of claim. A company like AutoLoss also helps steer you through the process and provides a long list of rebuttals to typical insurance company negotiating tactics.
As you can probably tell I am a satisfied customer. Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
The company I used was AutoLoss and they filed a third-party claim on my behalf with the at-faults insurance company. Any DV claim was specifically denied in my own policy but the other guy was paying for everything.
AutoLoss prepared a lengthy document defining my car and including testimonials from GM Dealers/CarMax/etc. stating that they would never take a C6 that had been in an accident, in on trade.
They also did a study of comparable cars and their values, similar to what you do when selling a house.
The negotiating process with the at-fault's insurance company was unduly protracted in that the first Ahole that contacted me denied the whole concept of DV and said it was only the result of shoddy repairs. I told him to shove it and get somebody that has half a clue to call me.
I was in no big hurry as I also had an outstanding medical claim running as well.
Finally got a call from a very reasonable, and experienced claims specialist and closed the books on everything. Took 6 months, but as I said, I was patient.
Each state, at least as I understand it, has different laws concerning this type of claim. A company like AutoLoss also helps steer you through the process and provides a long list of rebuttals to typical insurance company negotiating tactics.
As you can probably tell I am a satisfied customer. Good Luck.
AutoLoss prepared a lengthy document defining my car and including testimonials from GM Dealers/CarMax/etc. stating that they would never take a C6 that had been in an accident, in on trade.
They also did a study of comparable cars and their values, similar to what you do when selling a house.
The negotiating process with the at-fault's insurance company was unduly protracted in that the first Ahole that contacted me denied the whole concept of DV and said it was only the result of shoddy repairs. I told him to shove it and get somebody that has half a clue to call me.
I was in no big hurry as I also had an outstanding medical claim running as well.
Finally got a call from a very reasonable, and experienced claims specialist and closed the books on everything. Took 6 months, but as I said, I was patient.
Each state, at least as I understand it, has different laws concerning this type of claim. A company like AutoLoss also helps steer you through the process and provides a long list of rebuttals to typical insurance company negotiating tactics.
As you can probably tell I am a satisfied customer. Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
Put in a request online and they were back to me within a few hours with a call and an email and requesting the estimates from the insurance company. Preliminarily, they said a claim would most likely be around 30-50% of the pre-accident value. They're supposed to call me in a little while to discuss further. Thanks for the referral ****!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
St Jude Donor '14
Yea, my father has had the same problem with the whole uninsured, non-english speaking, accident causer within a few weeks of getting a new vehicle. One thing that shouldn't have been passed down. 
Thanks for the words of encouragement though!
Amen, brother.
It's sitting at a AAA and ASE certified shop across from where the accident happened for the time being. I stopped at the shop the next day and they basically said they're going to replace the front bumper, both front corner panels, repair the metal driver's side door, and replace the driver's side rear corner panel. Then paint blending and some touch up of the driver's side mirror. I haven't committed to work there yet, but they were very nice and let me keep it in their garage. They've kept it in one of their work bays and have been working around it while insurance is investigating my new policy.
Thanks for the heads up with the Pfadt settings. I was looking at their stuff at one point, and have every bit of confidence in them.
Also, thanks for the reminder about the valuation settlement! I had thought about it at one point, but completely forgot about it in all the excitement. I'll definitely be doing that since I planned on flipping the car in a couple of years.
On a side note. Thanks to everyone that has commented on or even looked at my thread. You guys are all the reason I'm glad to be a part of the Corvette community.
Thanks for the words of encouragement though!Amen, brother.
It's sitting at a AAA and ASE certified shop across from where the accident happened for the time being. I stopped at the shop the next day and they basically said they're going to replace the front bumper, both front corner panels, repair the metal driver's side door, and replace the driver's side rear corner panel. Then paint blending and some touch up of the driver's side mirror. I haven't committed to work there yet, but they were very nice and let me keep it in their garage. They've kept it in one of their work bays and have been working around it while insurance is investigating my new policy.
Thanks for the heads up with the Pfadt settings. I was looking at their stuff at one point, and have every bit of confidence in them.
Also, thanks for the reminder about the valuation settlement! I had thought about it at one point, but completely forgot about it in all the excitement. I'll definitely be doing that since I planned on flipping the car in a couple of years.
On a side note. Thanks to everyone that has commented on or even looked at my thread. You guys are all the reason I'm glad to be a part of the Corvette community.
Oh and fyi the front 1/4 panels are actually the fenders.peace,Will
Last edited by wlean99; Jun 24, 2014 at 12:55 AM. Reason: cause
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 7
St Jude Donor '14
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
So the Autoloss.com appraisal came in at $9,614.00. State Farm is offering $1,500 and is "unable" to give me any sort of research that allowed them to arrive at that number. I obviously think the $9k is grossly over inflated, but I think $1,500 is low balling me based on things I have read on here. Not to mention the fact that 50+% of buyers would walk away from a dirty CarFax without even inquiring. The guy was kind of a jerk. I will most likely be working with his supervisor in subsequent exchanges because he apparently does not know the meaning of customer service. Oh, and he basically called everyone on here a liar when I told him both that a lot of people here had walked away from cars with dirty history reports and that others had definitely received more fair valuations.
Any suggestions aside from getting quotes from dealers?
Thanks all.
Any suggestions aside from getting quotes from dealers?
Thanks all.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Something I heard/read recently: facebook it. Get the word out there on a facebook account (do I have one? no. but if I had an issue like this and wasn't getting anywhere w/conventional communication methods, I'd put it out there for thousands to read.) where the world can read about it. I know people who swear by State Farm and others who don't. No idea why they are acting the way they are, but we really do only have one side of the story, too. Not denying your statements but they may have some reasons that we just don't know about.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
I don't think that I need to make a public thing out of this yet, not before at least speaking to a supervisor. Guy was just trying to do his job and not pay out, but he didn't need to come off as so rude. I just wondered if anyone had any suggestions. I will most likely be trying to collect appraisals from dealers to make a case. Not sure what other route I have.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 988
Likes: 414
From: Marietta GA
You could check to see if you have a State Insurance Commissioner or a Governors office of consumer protection or some such as those.
In GA we have those and at least it would be a place to ask those questions.
In GA we have those and at least it would be a place to ask those questions.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 68
From: Waverly Tennessee
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,871
Likes: 5,329
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
No idea what year your car is but $9k for DV seems a bunch. That seems salvage title territory. And the 3rd party appraiser never saw the car, just the paperwork?
I only had one dealing (thankfully) with State Farm and the were worse than horrible. My impression was they were trying to wear me down, outlast me, just as it sounds they are trying to do to you.
I wish you luck for a favorable conclusion.
