There is apparantly a lot of varation as to how things are handled from place to place. The people involved in the claims process have alot to do with how the experience goes. Generally , in this market (Atlanta), State Farm is by far the best as far as settling your auto claim with the least BS and as far as paying for a proper repair to your car.

 

About two years ago I was rear ended while in my wife's Xterra while sitting at a red light. The driver was a 16 year old female who had a car full of friends and skidded right into me. After getting the reports I found out that she had the exact same insurance agent that I do, so he was immediatly at a conflict of interest, he told me that on the phone. All it did to my suv was it pushed in the rear bumper, which totaled up to a little over $800. Me and my wife both had sore necks, I went to the chiropractor for a few weeks and I was cool. My wife on the other hand needed therapy, State Farm refused to pay for her therapy because they said that the dollar amount of the repair was too low for her to require the therapy, they had also been billing everything to my policy, including the repairs to my suv. They continually refused payment and charged the girls policy with nothing, mine paid for everything, including the repairs. This occured two years ago, they attemped to settle with me for around $400, it was insulting. I called every attorney in the yellow pages, I called our insurance commissioners office, I honestly tried to get help using every outlet I could think of and noone would help me. To this day I never settled and had to pay the outstanding Dr bills out of my own pocket.

 

Small update. My test schedule today won't allow me to drop off the XB at the dealer untill later. But a friend of mine helped me do something interesting. We used a large, employee parking lot (np, we work there) in early hours. Flooded one section and sort of set up a test area. Turned off the traction control and let it spin on a light takeoff (doesn't take much when it's off amazingly). Then turned it back on, took off while in a light turn in puddle, then some test braking (don't worry, I am gentle with it and had plenty of safety room). Amazingly enough, the warning light came on as always, and I felt that familiar click when I used the brakes a little harder on our test surface. So the safety equipement, VSC, ABS ect is working just fine.

I am still going to get the dealer to check it out of course, appraised ect. I was just glad to know it's safety features are working. My friend reminded me that even the best ABS can still skid in dense rain, and that it was probably just me overlooking for problems since accident.

 

I'm just wondering, after you had her cornered and she bailed why didn't you chase after her?

Of course, in the immortal words of Smokey from Friday "You ain't catchin no crackhead..."

 

She had the vehicle between two trailers, I knew there was no way out of there since it was surrounded by dense woods and deep ditches, so I stayed parked blocking the only entrance and exit . I was on my cell phone with 911 and they told me to stay in my vehicle untill they arrived. Neighbors came out and said they bailed after spinning out in a circle. Then the cops arrived and was all over that place, and the areas around it.

Don't worry, I'll post the details once I get the police report. I am dying to know what happened to her and her friends. Her hotel parking pass showed she was supposed to check out next day and go home, and cops impounded her vehicle. I am thinking she either turned herself in, got arrested at hotel, or maybe even contacted by her mother after the cops talked to her. Either case, I am sure this girl is going thru alot worse crap than I am at this point. She should be after pulling a stupid stunt like that. All I wanted was insurace info and her claming responsibility. I wouldn't of cared about anything else in the vehicle otherwise.

 

Finally found this thread. Been so busy with summer college and work. Final update...

Took her insurance company OVER a month to settle. They sat with the police report over three weeks, and I had to fax it to them.

The settlement was just under $900 for a new rear bumper, parts underneath it, and a new hubcap.

A friend of mine who does body work knows how to save the rear bumper and the absorbers underneath it (whatever they are called). The only visibible marks left now are on top where it sunk in. But I am getting a vinyl bumper protectetor strip that goes on top to take care of that blemish. So I will soon be happy.

As for the vehicle stability, it seems fine afterwards. I have learned it's very picky about tire pressure on these stock tires. I keep an electric air pump in the rear now.

I still REALLY want to know what happened to that girl with the police, her parents, and her insurance. I assume her rates went up or SOMETHING at least after that. Along with having to pay a few hundred to get her jeep back.

 

State Farm Insurance... they should change their name to We Suck ___, Inc. It took me stressing through two claims with them before I dropped them. Glad things worked out for you.

 

Always get a lawyer if you are not at fault. It helps alot when dealing with insurance company.

 

I tore up my front bumper tonight. Searching for replacement I came across this thread. I know the pain of State Farm. I was rearended by a driver carrying that insurance 10 yrs ago in an 89' Celica GT convertible. The back seat was where the front seats should have been. I was told to get tail light tape to make the car legal to drive until they could fix a "totalled car?". Needless to say that car was completely totalled but they fixed it anyways to my loss. I had it for 1 month after getting it back in 2 different colors and the top support bars completely busted. I got screwed BIG TIME. Progressive insurance is almost as bad.

 

pitiful ... just pitiful.

Do what you have to do to get your rig properly repaired, should be no dime out of your pocket (thats why you already spent $$ on insurance in the first place) , then when your done settling , switch insurance carriers - and tell them they lost a valuable customer because they tried to Jerry-rig your xB rig, right into the grave. What a shame.

 

I wonder if Florida is a No fault state like PA. where no matter who is at fault the person seeking to get the damage fixed has to pay upfront then they determine who will get reimbursement later on.. Its how everything else is these days. inconveniece the victim so that the crooks out there can have time to cover themselves.. for example I work with insurances for a living and someone will say i was in an accident.. here is the other persons policy info.. I would them have to say I'm sorry but it dosn't matter who was at fault I need YOUR policy information.. insurance companys are a racket if there ever was one..