Tips for getting the most money from your insurance after an accident

[SuspectLJ]

finally got my dream jeep exactly how i wanted it and it now looks like its going to be totaled due to the front axle and frame being bent.

it was a 2004 LJ with 55k original miles and a clean title with no previous accidents. I've never had to go through this with an older car so i would really appreciate any tips from you knowledgeable folks on here before i call the insurance and get offered 2k for an LJ that go for over 15k.

thank you all in advance.

 

[BlueC]

"Tips for getting the most money from your insurance after an accident" Fall out of your Jeep in front of people on scene screaming about how your check neck hurts.

before i call the insurance and get offered 2k

Start by arming yourself with information. 1 - have 1-2 repair estimates from independent garages, 2 - have a stack of recently sold comparables and current listings (pre wreck condition) to show market value, 3 - read and understand what "diminished value" is, 4 - read up on your states title branding laws.

Edit; you need to document everything with pictures, receipts, communications etc. and keep that for a while after your done. The pictures will be helpful later when trying to sell the vehicle should you keep and fix it.

 

[jeepguy03]

"Tips for getting the most money from your insurance after an accident" Fall out of your Jeep in front of people on scene screaming about how your check neck hurts.



Start by arming yourself with information. 1 - have 1-2 repair estimates from independent garages, 2 - have a stack of recently sold comparables and current listings (pre wreck condition) to show market value, 3 - read and understand what "diminished value" is, 4 - read up on your states title branding laws.

+1 to this.

I worked as an adjuster for a few years, vehicle values are usually determined based on what finding a comparable replacement vehicle sells for. This is why highly modified vehicles are a huge risk because you usually won't get back the money from modifications if your vehicle is wrecked. Having the selling values for clean comparable LJs will definitely help you.

Sorry about your Jeep. Been there and it sucks. Usually in a case like this the insurance will try to low ball you first, so definitely stick to your guns and work with them.

 

[SuspectLJ]

+1 to this.

I worked as an adjuster for a few years, vehicle values are usually determined based on what finding a comparable replacement vehicle sells for. This is why highly modified vehicles are a huge risk because you usually won't get back the money from modifications if your vehicle is wrecked. Having the selling values for clean comparable LJs will definitely help you.

Sorry about your Jeep. Been there and it sucks. Usually in a case like this the insurance will try to low ball you first, so definitely stick to your guns and work with them.

"Tips for getting the most money from your insurance after an accident" Fall out of your Jeep in front of people on scene screaming about how your check neck hurts.



Start by arming yourself with information. 1 - have 1-2 repair estimates from independent garages, 2 - have a stack of recently sold comparables and current listings (pre wreck condition) to show market value, 3 - read and understand what "diminished value" is, 4 - read up on your states title branding laws.

Thank you guys for getting back to me so quickly, i appreciate the advice thus far. KBB lists my jeeps value between $8500 - $ 14500 which isn't as bad as i was expecting.

 

[SuspectLJ]

if anyone sees a comparable LJ listed anywhere i would really appreciate if you post the link in here.

 

[Gilaguy23]

Do your due dilligence on what needed to be repaired and consider buying it back from the ins co if totaled. I didnt look to hard at damages, but as far as the control arm brackets broken off...pfffttt, Ive see that along with broken off shock mounts on 99% street rigs.

 

[jeepguy03]

KBB is honestly kind of useless, and has been since about 1997. Your Jeep is extremely clean underneath, and the insurance adjusters need to know that your Jeep would be on the high end of the scale. Right now it seems like they are offering you the equivalent of a rusty high mileage TJ from New England.

 

[AndyG]

Get an attorney or a claims rep or both. Fill them in on comps.

 

[SuspectLJ]

do you guys think its a good idea to remove all the mods before the adjuster comes to take a look at it?

 

[Unique Username]

"Tips for getting the most money from your insurance after an accident" Fall out of your Jeep in front of people on scene screaming about how your check neck hurts.

Sad but true. Unless you got injured you can’t expect to come out on top. I have a buddy who is an attorney and he basically said what is repeated here. Unless you have bodily injury, you will struggle to come out on top.

 

[SuspectLJ]

Sad but true. Unless you got injured you can’t expect to come out on top. I have a buddy who is an attorney and he basically said what is repeated here. Unless you have bodily injury, you will struggle to come out on top.

i had my leg completely extended since i was slamming on the brake so my knee is killing me but thankfully nobody had any life threatening injuries.

 

[AndyG]

i had my leg completely extended since i was slamming on the brake so my knee is killing me but thankfully nobody had any life threatening injuries.

Im not going to load your gun-

But- now is the time to document that and get an mri

If they’re going to take the rig, get everything off of it once the deal is sealed or negotiated, or as good as what I saw of the Jeep looks, I would do everything I could to keep it and get another frame

@macleanflood will take away any intrepidation on a driveway frame swap fast….but….he can change his drawers with his pants on and knows exactly where bigfoot lives.

 

[macleanflood]

Fix it!

-Mac

 

[BlueC]

do you guys think its a good idea to remove all the mods before the adjuster comes to take a look at it?

Don't touch it. Leave it as-is. If you start messing with it and they find out, maybe they do a little internet forum searching, now they have grounds to deny everything since it has been tampered with.

Edit; I'm adding to my first comment that you need to document everything pictures, receipts, communications etc. and keep that for a while after your done. The pictures will be helpful later when trying to sell the vehicles should you keep and fix it.

 

[BlueC]

Get an attorney or a claims rep or both. Fill them in on comps.

Personally, I'd give it a shot without representation and see where it goes. If I felt like the adjuster was playing games, I'd quickly end the conversation and go straight to representation.

I've had to deal with 4-5 adjusters, and all were reasonable, but I've heard horror stories.

 

[BlueC]

if anyone sees a comparable LJ listed anywhere i would really appreciate if you post the link in here.

You will have to put in the work here, but an easy start would be online auction sites like Bring A Trailer and Cars And Bids. The most recent auctions, say within the last 6 months, should show current market conditions.

 

[DaveC]

Went through similar with my daughter's DD when she was rear ended a couple of years ago. Not a Jeep, but an unusually low mileage, well cared for 12 year old suv that we fought to get a fair settlement on.

Search for comparable for sale units currently listed in both your market and others. Capture screen shots and copy the web address of the listings in case they sell or prices are dropped before you have to present to an adjuster.

Search the for sale sub forums here to find comparable rigs in both condition and build quality, and again, save and document.

If you did the build yourself, hopefully you kept receipts. If not, I'd price out all the parts; while you won't get dollar-for-dollar compensation on those, it's documentation of new (and often better than 20 year old OEM) parts.

By doing this, we were able to negotiate a real world, fair settlement for her vehicle. It took some time to do all the searching and documentation, but once we countered their initial offer with all the information, it was pretty straightforward.

 

[Weasellee]

Two years ago when Ben’s 2000 Sahara with just under 100,000 miles was totaled due to another driver their insurance company offered $7500. After telling them they were nuts and asking them to do a little more research. I sent them five comparables under hundred thousand miles within 200 miles of where he lived. After a few back-and-forth we ended up with $14,000. Do not let them lowball you. You can also buy it back and fix it. I’m a big fan of that with his 2000 we did not because of the amount of rust. But he did take the 14 K and buy a South Carolina rust free Rubicon with 150,000 miles.

Last year when my mom’s PT cruiser was totaled by another driver their insurance offered $5000 after explaining to them that it was a convertible with no rust 60,000 miles and it was a turbo and it was not replaceable. I ended up getting $9500.

Do not let the insurance company screw you it will take time, but you need to fight for your right to be paid replacement value remember to use those words replacement value

 

[Weasellee]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BpU4UbXvd/?mibextid=K35XfP

 

[AndyG]

Personally, I'd give it a shot without representation and see where it goes. If I felt like the adjuster was playing games, I'd quickly end the conversation and go straight to representation.

I've had to deal with 4-5 adjusters, and all were reasonable, but I've heard horror stories.

Yes , you are correct- do not bring out the big guns unless it is essential to get a fair shake -OP try catch this post

Good adjusters are just trying to regulate cost for their company-

They don’t have an agenda to not pay, as a whole


The rub you’re getting into you’re really looking at something that has much more value than any book or program represents.