Procrastination Pays Sometimes - Fender Bender

[Tilly74]

Got myself in a fender bender that wasn't my fault. 16 year old turned in front of me. I've already got a new Mopar steel bumper and winch ready to install. Almost put it on last weekend, but decided to procrastinate a little and now I should be getting some insurance money. Has anybody had a similar wreck? How much did insurance pay out? Obviously my neck and back hurt so I should get a little extra, but I'm hoping I'll have enough for a Mopar 2" lift and some 35" tires.

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[Sweetums]

Step 1: Do Not (and I cannot stress this enough) sign anything or accept payment until you are done with all medical treatment and recovery.

It's a pain, but the moment you take that payment, you are agreeing that it completely settles all matters related to the crash and you waive your right to seek further compensation. Get the Jeep to a body shop and get the frame checked out for hidden damage. Get yourself to the doctor, get some x-rays or MRIs of your body to make sure nothing is out of place (X-rays don't show soft tissue damage, so you may need an MRI to see that); and start treatment as recommended.

Only after you are back to 100% and your recovery is done should you take that payout.

I also recommend filing with your insurance company, you will have to pay your deductible but you will get it back once they collect from the other party's insurance. The other party's insurance has one interest here: Pay you as little as possible and make this go away. You are not their customer, they don't care about you - they just want you as a liability off the books. You are your insurance company's customer, their interest of getting paid aligns with yours - this is why you pay your premiums, so unleash the mad dog that is your insurance company looking for their pound of flesh and let their army of lawyers do their thing.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

In the one pic of the tow hook, the hook appears twisted... if that is the case, you may have some frame deformation.

 

[Tilly74]

In the one pic of the tow hook, the hook appears twisted... if that is the case, you may have some frame deformation.

Yeah, I'm a little worried about it. It was a really hard hit. Alignment is noticeably off. I had to pry the bumper off the tire to drive it away. Just waiting on body shop at this point to do their thing.

 

[Janster]

Don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer….especially where medical & health issues occur.

 

[Scott0700]

Don’t forget to file a Loss of Market Value Claim against their company after the repairs are done. You now have a bad Carfax history and the Jeep is worth less even if perfectly repaired. Put them on notice that you intend to do this.

 

[Viper501]

Get a local lawyer who isn’t a constant tv advertiser. All of the internet advice and the Google, Esquires out there are worth what you pay for them.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I wouldn’t contact a lawyer until last resort. You shouldn’t need one.

 

[Hootbro]

Intent of insurance is to make you whole, not to game for something you can get over and above out of it.

You really do not know the extent of the damage until it is on a rack and frame tolerances checked. You need to file with your insurance and let them subrogate the claim against the other parties insurance. If you let the other parties insurance run the show, they are going to give you an offer that is beneficial to them, not you.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I should be getting some insurance money. Has anybody had a similar wreck? How much did insurance pay out?

I don't know why people ask about numbers like this - or any, for that matter. Every single case is different, damage will be different, insurance rules, companies, laws in your state and so on, different.

Don't even think about worrying "how much am I going to get" or what anyone else got. Get that crazy thinking out of your head now.

Obviously my neck and back hurt so I should get a little extra, but I'm hoping I'll have enough for a Mopar 2" lift and some 35" tires.

Are you really thinking like that? Seriously? A chance to make some money for accessories? Ouch, sorry, but that's just lame.
Reminds me of a song by the Eagles...........
You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if they gave you some cash

Sorry, but that really sounds horrible! You are actually thinking "gee, how much can I get? Maybe enough for a lift?
You aren't thinking of medical bills, long-term injury and so on?

I'm quite sure the above will piss you and some others off, but that's just what's wrong these days. Gee, I had a crash, maybe they can buy me some new stuff.
That's just what it sounds like - and shocking that others haven't seen how that sounds - what's going on in the world when that's the first thing asked - how much can I get.
Yeah, do call one of those internet or billboard lawyers, as that sounds what you are looking for.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Get a local lawyer who isn’t a constant tv advertiser. All of the internet advice and the Google, Esquires out there are worth what you pay for them.

Re-read his post - he's looking for cash for parts - not to be made hole and ensure he's not injured. So he's probably looking for a billboard attorney.

Obviously my neck and back hurt so I should get a little extra, but I'm hoping I'll have enough for a Mopar 2" lift and some 35" tires.

That's just wrong.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Intent of insurance is to make you whole, not to game for something you can get over and above out of it.

You really do not know the extent of the damage until it is on a rack and frame tolerances checked. You need to file with your insurance and let them subrogate the claim against the other parties insurance. If you let the other parties insurance run the show, they are going to give you an offer that is beneficial to them, not you.

The game is the personal injury part and not the property damage. It’s easy to get your vehicle fixed. You’ll have to fight a little for more than their first offer for injuries.

 

[Stingray 5517]

I don't know why people ask about numbers like this - or any, for that matter. Every single case is different, damage will be different, insurance rules, companies, laws in your state and so on, different.

Don't even think about worrying "how much am I going to get" or what anyone else got. Get that crazy thinking out of your head now.



Are you really thinking like that? Seriously? A chance to make some money for accessories? Ouch, sorry, but that's just lame.
Reminds me of a song by the Eagles...........
You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if they gave you some cash

Sorry, but that really sounds horrible! You are actually thinking "gee, how much can I get? Maybe enough for a lift?
You aren't thinking of medical bills, long-term injury and so on?

I'm quite sure the above will piss you and some others off, but that's just what's wrong these days. Gee, I had a crash, maybe they can buy me some new stuff.
That's just what it sounds like - and shocking that others haven't seen how that sounds - what's going on in the world when that's the first thing asked - how much can I get.
Yeah, do call one of those internet or billboard lawyers, as that sounds what you are looking for.

I understand thinking about it and keeping it to your self but posting it on a public forum. You're the type of person that makes all of our insurance prices increase. I hope your not hurt and that is important. But I don't want you anyone else to profit from a crash if it's fraudulent.

 

[leaffan1988]

I don't know why people ask about numbers like this - or any, for that matter. Every single case is different, damage will be different, insurance rules, companies, laws in your state and so on, different.

Don't even think about worrying "how much am I going to get" or what anyone else got. Get that crazy thinking out of your head now.



Are you really thinking like that? Seriously? A chance to make some money for accessories? Ouch, sorry, but that's just lame.
Reminds me of a song by the Eagles...........
You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if they gave you some cash

Sorry, but that really sounds horrible! You are actually thinking "gee, how much can I get? Maybe enough for a lift?
You aren't thinking of medical bills, long-term injury and so on?

I'm quite sure the above will piss you and some others off, but that's just what's wrong these days. Gee, I had a crash, maybe they can buy me some new stuff.
That's just what it sounds like - and shocking that others haven't seen how that sounds - what's going on in the world when that's the first thing asked - how much can I get.
Yeah, do call one of those internet or billboard lawyers, as that sounds what you are looking for.

I agree with all this and hate that this is the world we live in.

On one hand it's the fault of the insurance companies; with their excessive premiums, low payouts, and arbitrary denied claims. It's almost like you're paying into a lottery, so when your number is called you gotta do what you can to collect your winnings.

But then it's people like this that are the reason for the high premiums and denied claims. Or is it the people in the insurance companies setting the environment for big profit?

Do you blame the people or the system? Most of the people lose while some of the people make short gains. But the system consistently thrives.

Reminds me of another song "don't hate the player, hate the game."

 

[Stan H]

Re-read his post - he's looking for cash for parts - not to be made hole and ensure he's not injured. So he's probably looking for a billboard attorney.



That's just wrong.

I had a guy fake an injury one time where I ised to work to try and get compensation. They used to call it the work lottery. Your absolutely right that's why my insurance is outrageous and why I have to pay for under insured motorist in this state makes me sick if you seen what I am paying for 4 vehicles it would take your breath away. Outrageous. Your dead on @ShadowsPapa

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