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-   -   Anyone Have Experience Dealing with CAR Insurance Companies? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=178438)

Gwg 01-07-2020 09:52 AM

Anyone Have Experience Dealing with CAR Insurance Companies?
 
Hi all,

My RV had its wing-tip crunched by a car. The damage appears to be mostly limited to the wingtip with (apparently) superficial damage to the aileron.

The wingtips are the older (W-415) style with the integrated landing light shining through Plexiglas and "blister mounts" for the position light / strobe. The tip is likely not salvageable, and while Van's has the W-415s in stock, they have stopped supplying the relevant light cove kit, Plexiglas lens, and blister mount to mount position light / strobe.

Does anyone have experience dealing with car insurance companies on airplane repairs? Is anyone aware of reputable shops on the west coast (I'm in SoCal) that could provide a credible quote to the insurance company of the value of labor and parts to fix the damage?

Thanks all!

RV6_flyer 01-07-2020 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwg (Post 1398270)
Hi all,


Does anyone have experience dealing with car insurance companies on airplane repairs? Is anyone aware of reputable shops on the west coast (I'm in SoCal) that could provide a credible quote to the insurance company of the value of labor and parts to fix the damage?

Thanks all!

I had a CAR run into my RV-6 19-years ago. I had to spend $11,000 in attorney fees to get the Car Insurance to pay and they did not cover legal fees. After arbitration we went to court. In the judge's chambers they finally were willing to pay 100%. (What the arbitrator said they should pay.) All repairs were done with a loan from my 401K but I eventually got reimbursed minus legal fees after 2.5 years of H E double hockey sticks.

Gwg 01-07-2020 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV6_flyer (Post 1398314)
I had a CAR run into my RV-6 19-years ago. I had to spend $11,000 in attorney fees to get the Car Insurance to pay and they did not cover legal fees. After arbitration we went to court. In the judge's chambers they finally were willing to pay 100%. (What the arbitrator said they should pay.) All repairs were done with a loan from my 401K but I eventually got reimbursed minus legal fees after 2.5 years of H E double hockey sticks.

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that. Was the issue that you were billing for things you did vs. using a third-party shop (like auto insurance companies would be used to in auto collisions) or were they just refusing flat-out?

RV6_flyer 01-07-2020 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwg (Post 1398343)
Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that. Was the issue that you were billing for things you did vs. using a third-party shop (like auto insurance companies would be used to in auto collisions) or were they just refusing flat-out?

Insurance company (State Farm) is in business to make money. They do not want to pay out anything and when they do, they want to pay out as little as possible. They will drag everything out to wear you down and settle for the smallest amount possible.

Kyle Boatright 01-07-2020 07:12 PM

Get a local A&P to give you a quote, then present it to the insurance company.

If they balk, it is time to involve the State Insurance Commissioner, if you have one of those.

Plummit 01-07-2020 08:35 PM

But...
 
Can't you just go after the car owner directly? Why bother with the insurance company, unless the owner doesn't have anything of value.

-Marc

RV7A Flyer 01-07-2020 09:51 PM

This may not be the *best* approach, but...isn't this what your own insurance is for? They pay for the repairs and then subrogatee to the at-fault car owner's insurance company?

Gwg 01-08-2020 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer (Post 1398402)
This may not be the *best* approach, but...isn't this what your own insurance is for? They pay for the repairs and then subrogatee to the at-fault car owner's insurance company?

I'd prefer my rates not go up due to someone else's mistake?it sounds like the most practical course of action may be to get some quotes from reputable shops and go from there.

RV7A Flyer 01-08-2020 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwg (Post 1398613)
I'd prefer my rates not go up due to someone else's mistake?it sounds like the most practical course of action may be to get some quotes from reputable shops and go from there.

That's why I said it may not be the best idea, but it's certainly one of the options available. If the other insurance refuses to pony up, seems like you're left with just a couple of options: get a lawyer, or sic your insurance company on them. Which one is preferable? Who knows...depends on how much damage, how much the lawyer would cost vs. how much your insurance might go up and for how long, and so on.

Bavafa 01-08-2020 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV6_flyer (Post 1398364)
Insurance company (State Farm) is in business to make money. They do not want to pay out anything and when they do, they want to pay out as little as possible. They will drag everything out to wear you down and settle for the smallest amount possible.

Thank you for sharing, I will make sure not to use State Farm for any insurance needs, though good chances are that they all follow the same philosophy, to get your money and pay as little as possible when one is in need of using the insurance.


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