Today, with all of this ridiculous snow that we have been having in Ky., my wife was rear ended by a Corolla today in my truck. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the other driver's Corolla and the hitch receiver/bumper on my truck have seen better days.

Of course, the insurance company that the corolla driver uses is NOT cooperating (from my point of view). Seriously, I am waiting two weeks to get it fixed where they say it has to get fixed, instead of going to a body shop of my choice which could get it in tomorrow. In my almost 20yrs of driving this is my FIRST claim. Is it always this difficult?

 

Ahhh the complications of lesser rate insurers.
I'm sorry for your truck's misfortune, but glad to hear that your wife is fine.

 

It all depends on the other persons insurance company.My wife was hit (in our 02 Impala) and the other drivers company (USAA) was fabulos.Supplied us with a rental,and paid for the Impala repairs.
With that being said,if you are getting nowhere with the other,s insurance company,I would contact a lawyer.
While i am NOT one of the folks that sue at the drop of a hat,sometimes it takes some "professional" bantering to get them to pay up.Most Lawyers in this arena will take the case and merely charge a percentage of the "award" you get the truck fixed,and perhaps a little extra to boot for time and trouble.

 

Ive had something similar happen to me in the past, and they way i dealt with a slllllloooooow ins company was to badger them day in and day out until they gave in and let me take it to the body shop I wanted my vehicle to go to. Like you they wanted the vehicle to go to a certain shop and i would be forced to wait. I knew that the other shop would have had my vehicle fixed before the ins companys shop would even take the vehicle.

I was pretty pissed as you are that i had to wait when the accident wasnt my fault! My advice is to call them every day, twice a day, or more, tell them anything and everything you can to get them to give in. Tell them you need the vehicle fixed now, you need it for a trip, you need it for the 4x4 in the snow...., your going to call the better business bureau and report them, your going to sue them, your going to call the attn general in your state and file a complaint. Get angry yet stay polite and work your way up to the highest person in the office you can get ahold of.... and they may give in. Its worked for me in the past, especially when I started talking about the attn general and better business bureau. Good luck, and if nothing else at least your wife wasnt hurt.

 

just set your insurance company up against the other insurance company and let them fight it out on your behalf. much less aggravating that way.

 

If you have collision insurance, you can file a claim through your insurer, proceed with the repair, and let your insurance comapny go after the OP insurer for reimbursement. This is unfortunately done all the time. You will of course have to pay the deductable up front I think. Will get you going and invoke the powers of your insurance company to force action with the other. Call your agent.

 

State laws vary, but at least here they can't force you to go to their shop.

I was rear-ended Sept 2001, and State Farm was very wary on the phone, kind of cold and clipped in the first conversation. THEN they talked to their insured and got his statement about how he plowed into me. They got right friendly after that.

 

Wolf 189 is correct as I work for an insurance company. Have your insurance company badger the other and you will be fine as long as the other actually HAS auto insurance. You should not have to pay a deductable as you were not at fault, the other persons insurance will cover ALL..again pending if they have insurance. Hiring a lawyer is just a waste of your money and not worth it in the end with fees etc. Good luck!

 

The insurance has their own lawyers anyway. Use them, you already pay them to represent you in an accident.

 

Insurance companies are always difficult. A couple years ago while driving past a golf course a golf ball hit my hood and put a nice dent in it. Called up the insurance company they said it was covered under the comprehensive coverage and to call a body shop and they would take care of the rest.

The local guy gave me an estimate but after notifying the insurance company they said they would send out and adjuster to estimate the cost of repairs before they would pay. No big deal except it took 2 almost 3 weeks.

 

Kentucky Motorist's Bill of Rights:

If you were recently in an automobile accident be aware of your rights according to the laws of the state of Kentucky.

* No law requires you to get more than one estimate.
* You have the right to choose your repair shop. The laws of Kentucky state this is your choice.
* Your insurance company cannot require you to go to a particular shop. It is your vehicle and your choice where you get it repaired.
* If you are a claimant against someone’s insurance, in Kentucky the insurance company must provide you with a rental vehicle during the time your vehicle is being repaired.https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...accident.html#
* The insurance company cannot dictate which rental company you use. Kentucky laws states this is your choice.
* In the state of Kentucky there is no deductible on glass. This includes mirrors, headlights and tail lamps.
* If you had a child’s car sit in your vehicle at the time of the accident inform the insurance company. It may need to be replaced even if a child was not in the seat. Many manufactures recommend replacing the sets after an accident because of the possibility of unknown damage.
* Differences in repair estimates are common. Some shops lowball or underwrite estimates to get jobs in the door and then bill for the amount needed after the vehicle is in the repair process.
* An estimate is only a guide line not a final bill

Bill of Rights : Welcome to Louisville Frame & Fender - Located at , Louisville, KY, Phone:

Go to the shop of your choice and get your truck fixed!
Tell the insurer to pay the bill.
Your shop will work to the estimate.

The same goes for Mississippi.
You choose who fixes your vehicle.

State of Kentucky
Department of Insurance
Consumer Protection
Phone : 502-564-6034
Fax : 502-564-6090
Toll Free (Kentucky only) : 800-595-6053 (option 1)
http://insurance.ky.gov/contact.aspx

 

That is called "steering" and is against the law, period. Get it fixed where you want.

 

Awesome thanks for the help! This explains why today I was told I can take it anywhere. . . . .