Insurance company putting it to me! HELP!

[CDonaldson]

Part of the problem with insurance companies goes to their experience with gas vehicles vrs diesel vehicles. They see many more claims with gas vehicles, the pricing for parts is VERY different, and the overall lifespan of parts is different as well. Make sure they are looking at the right parts.



I would point out to them that there are commercial trucks running the same engines as we have, they travel many times the mileage we do in a shorter amount of time, their life expectancy of injectors seems to be off as compared to the industry as a whole. We have many members here past the 500K mark who are still running stock injectors. What do they really know about a truck as new as yours and wear depreciation? Where did they get their stats from? Again, emphasize their experience/knowledge with diesels

might not be correct.





While they can get away with some depreciation due to age, they cannot get away with some rediculous amount. Your states Insurance Commission might be a good place to ask questions. Vandalism is covered differently in its mindset when it comes to reimbursements. The overall condition of you vehicle is taken into consideration with respect to this stuff.



I carry "replacement value" insurance, a little more costly, but not all that much, you should consider the same, that rids you of the depreciation game.





CD

 

[fox]

Maybe I need to send you a receipt that says I replaceed them with brand new ones a week before the vandalism??

 

[hsmith]

Send it to your insurance company and Harvey. Doubt it wil do any good. Good luck.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Maybe it should work both ways. Since your insurance is only paying part of the expenses, perhaps you should only have to pay part of your premium.

 

[sammidog]

... and if your injectors had 300,000 miles you would have to pay your insurance company to replace them because you got more than the useful life out of them. LOL.

 

[MVenditti]

Why then as the vehicle ages and is worth less they don't lower your insurance?

 

[Mark31]

Holy crap. Injector life is only 100,000 miles?! What does a brand new set cost $2400? What does it cost to have them put in $400? Almost $3000?! I would never have bought mine had I known that.

My friend Chris (also a TDR member) told me this am he now has 217k on his 03 3500 SRW. He put a Goerand trans in (old one was still good) so he could let his Bullydog bark. He is ready for batteries (probably Interstates), he needs a front driveshaft seal and yoke, recently replaced his serpentine belt, waterpump, and maybe idler, and that is IT! No injectors, no hub bearings, no ujoints, no nuttun! And, yes, it has to work!. Mark

 

[sammidog]

I have 101,000 miles and am hoping for 200,000 before I need to replace injectors. I have replaced 1 wheel bearing, all tierod ends, front wheel U joints (need replaced again), stabilizer bar links, rear driveshaft u joints, and all ball joints. More than I expected but if I needed to replace injectors now I would sell the truck. I don't pull alot so I could buy a gasser and at 200,000 miles buy a brand new engine for $6000. I think 200,000 is a reasonable life expectancy, 100,000 is not IMHO.

 

[Tejasdge]

I don't know if you can get diminished value from your own insurance company, but I would figure out what the truck was worth before the damage and what it is worth now and ask for the difference (minus the deductable) or the cost to fix the truck (minus the deductable). Whichever is the smaller cost.



Another method that has worked for me is, if you have the money to fix it yourself, try to wait them out while sending letters to everyone in the company and insurance regulating board. Generally they need to close out claims within a certain amount of time that is forced either internally or externally. Sooner or later they will come back with a better deal. You always have the sorry one to fall back on and claim. Don't be a jerk, just focused.



I'm sorry, I feel your pain.

 

[Bernie]

Does the insurance company keep track of all replaced parts in the history of the vehicle and prorate coverage based on actual miles then on each component? The ins co should have to pay to restore it to good running condition.

I just went through this with a car that I had a small accident in. Long story short, the accident took out the timing belt and destroyed 20 of the 30 valves in the engine. It was a 2004 VW Passat with the 2. 8l 30V motor.



I had previously done all the big 100k mile service items that motor requires (timing belt, water pump, belt tensioners, a butt load of seals, plugs, wires, and some more items I can't remember). My goal was to do the maintenace and drive it another 100k miles.



Insurance offered me a settlement for the car. It was way low, as most of the cars drop seriously in book value because no one puts the $2000 in to the 100k mile service like they should.



I provided insurance with receipts, showed them the tire receipts, and pictures of how clean the interior was. They came back with another offer. It took a week or two, but eventually I got them to give me most of what I wanted for it. I got close to another $2000 over their first totaled price. I got it to with in $400 of what I would have accepted if I sold the car myself.



In short, if you have replaced a part, they will take that in to account if you can document it and it was with in the last year.

 

[HBarlow]

I just went through this with a car that I had a small accident in. Long story short, the accident took out the timing belt and destroyed 20 of the 30 valves in the engine. It was a 2004 VW Passat with the 2. 8l 30V motor.

I had previously done all the big 100k mile service items that motor requires (timing belt, water pump, belt tensioners, a butt load of seals, plugs, wires, and some more items I can't remember). My goal was to do the maintenace and drive it another 100k miles.

Insurance offered me a settlement for the car. It was way low, as most of the cars drop seriously in book value because no one puts the $2000 in to the 100k mile service like they should.

I provided insurance with receipts, showed them the tire receipts, and pictures of how clean the interior was. They came back with another offer. It took a week or two, but eventually I got them to give me most of what I wanted for it. I got close to another $2000 over their first totaled price. I got it to with in $400 of what I would have accepted if I sold the car myself.

In short, if you have replaced a part, they will take that in to account if you can document it and it was with in the last year.

That is good and accurate information.

When I was an insurance adjuster faced with valuation of a total loss vehicle we had a service my insurance company used. We keyed in the year, make, model, odometer reading, described damage that was visible, and a condition estimate and the service faxed back the valuation and salvage value. If the totalled car was exceptionally clean or the owner had receipts to show improvements that made it worth more than the typical example of that car with that mileage we could adjust the mileage upward.

The procedure is very impersonal. It is based on used car/truck values in the region where the car is garaged, not subjective opinions.

 

[retirednak]

If you wouldn't mind,what insurance do you have?

 

[HBarlow]

Me?

I have been a USAA member since 1977. Everything I have owned in the 33 years except motorcycles has been insured by USAA. When I owned multiple rental properties for 15 years they even reluctantly insured the rentals. USAA is an exceptional insurance, banking, and investment company.

I was not a USAA adjuster. I worked for one of the well known insurance companies.

 

[retirednak]

I was wanting to find out who TBusclas was with.

Thanks any way Harvey

Casey

 

[Bernie]

If you wouldn't mind,what insurance do you have?

Travelers.



Also, I agree with Barlow. Very inpersoanl process. That wasn't all bad though, because at no time did I feel like I needed to be seriosly adversarial with the adjusters.



-They gave me a number of about $8k (with the sales tax, that they pay for)

-I expressed the car was super clean and in near pefrect shape

-They verified that with the field adjuster

-I sent in all the receipts I had

-They didn't allow some of them (as they were more than a year old)

-They came back with a number of about $9k

-I complained, saying I still thought it was worth more.

-I emailed several adds for similar vehicles for more money. Unfortunately, they were also disallowed because they were no in my general area.

-I called in, and had a conversation with a supervisor.

-We came to a number of about $9700 (including the tax, but less my deductible)

-I would have sold it for $10k if someone wanted to buy it, so I was OK with taking home $9200 (after my $500 deductible).



Just work with the adjusters. Be calm, make your case, document what you can. They want to settle and get you off of their books almost as much as you want to get a check.