I was in an accident almost two months ago. It was not my fault and driver's insurance claimed the liability. They have Allstate. The whole process has been hell. I finally got a call about 5 minutes ago that my car is a total loss due to extensive frame damage - though it literally took 7 weeks to figure that out.

Anyway, the market value of my vehicle is basically just over my payoff.

Am I screwed and walking away with nothing?

Market value of your vehicle is not what they claim.

It is what you can find locally for sale (with in 50-miles) with same options, color, condition, etc.

So if a dealer has your vehicle for sale with similar miles for $10,000 and All State only offers you $8,000, send them an e-mail refusing their value and state your case. The more examples you can find of your vehicle for sale, the better your case.

Whatever you do, do not cash any checks, especially if they have any notes on them about "final payment" or "final value" or something like that.

I had an Insurer try to total my wifes older van with a value of $2,700. When I pointed out that the only ones for sale with similar low miles was $4,000, they decided to pay to fix it (and that value did not include the new tires, new batter, new timing belts...all documented with receipts).

EDIT: Do a google search on 'Insurance total loss - STATE" for whatever state you reside. Each state is different. In my state, it was 75% of value vs repair damage. Once they adjusted the value, the damages dropped way below 75%.

If we found that my car was higher in value would I want a vehicle with a damaged frame? Is that a fixabld thing anyway?

Clearly clueless...

I just went through this a couple of weeks ago. Sorry for the Allstate aspect of it sucking, that's kind of surprising, usually the big companies are at least decent to work with.

As far as value goes, I had a 2012 GMC Sierra, Crew Cab 2WD Texas Edition with 20" wheels, leather, GPS, back up camera, etc. 165k-170k miles. KBB value was anywhere from $6k-$10k depending on condition (mine was poor). Others listed online similar for sale were in the $14k-$17k range. Luckily, I was only 2 payments from it being paid off, so I didn't take a huge hit on the payoff being deducted. The value they gave me if I remember right was $15,400, give or take a little. I thought that was fair, through Progressive FYI, so I didn't put up any arguments.

All that to say, like the other poster, find your similar vehicle for sale on Cars.com and the like, get a decent range on the price, shoot for the lower end of the spectrum up to as high as the middle. If they try and lowball it from there, have those listings printed to show the adjuster.

I did a quick search and it seems like the value they're giving me isn't THAT bad. It was a 2014 with over 110k miles on it...

agracer said:

---

Market value of your vehicle is not what they claim.

It is what you can find locally for sale (with in 50-miles) with same options, color, condition, etc.

So if a dealer has your vehicle for sale with similar miles for $10,000 and All State only offers you $8,000, send them an e-mail refusing their value and state your case. The more examples you can find of your vehicle for sale, the better your case.

Whatever you do, do not cash any checks, especially if they have any notes on them about "final payment" or "final value" or something like that.

I had an Insurer try to total my wifes older van with a value of $2,700. When I pointed out that the only ones for sale with similar low miles was $4,000, they decided to pay to fix it (and that value did not include the new tires, new batter, new timing belts...all documented with receipts).

EDIT: Do a google search on 'Insurance total loss - STATE" for whatever state you reside. Each state is different. In my state, it was 75% of value vs repair damage. Once they adjusted the value, the damages dropped way below 75%.

---

THIS.

Assuming they've paid for your rental this whole time as well.

Just be firm but fair. LIke Agracer said, pull comps on cars for sale out there in similar condition. State that you're not trying to 'get them' you just want to be made whole again, and get a fair price to replace the car for a similar condition one as yours. I went through this years ago with my Marauder, which was pretty rare, but I explained to them that my car only had 9000 miles on it and I had planned to buy another one with the similar miles and condition. I then told the adjuster, "if you can find one like this, same miles and same condition, you guys can pay the seller direct. I'm not taking the money and running. I want to be made whole.

Oh, the rental is a whole different situation. They paid it the first month. "Reasonable repair time"

Problem is, Allstate told me NOTHING. And they don't answer or return any of my calls. I wasn't aware that I was doing the wrong thing by driving my vehicle to the nearest body shop immediately after the accident. They never told me I would be bumped to the front of the line with one of their "good hands" shops. They also didn't tell me that I had to photograph the cut straps of my carseats to be reimbursed the over $900 in carseats I had to replace.

I'm not mad. Not mad at all.

You can always file a claim with your insurance, let them subrograte, and/or complain to the TDI about their claim process.

Always ask for a supervisor too.

They like to drag things out as long as possible.

Sad but Allstate is one of the worst. None us ever think about the claims side until we need it.

Knock on wood, but I've had great luck with Texas Farm Bureau and Geico claims folks. And progressive too.


About 15 years ago I got hit by a 94 year old drive with alzheimers, he hit me 3 times at the same red light and then after I asked him to pull into the parking lot, he took off. I filed a police report and found out he was insured with progressive. So was I at the time. They assigned two adjusters, one for my side and one for his. The sad part is, when they called to get a statement from him, he had a heart attack and died on the phone with the adjuster. At first the adjuster thought they were trying to get out of it, but they saw the obituary a week later. Anyway, they were good about getting the car fixed etc and handling the claim, but still, they could have made it miserable for everyone.

1agswitchin4lanes said:

---

About 15 years ago I got hit by a 94 year old drive with alzheimers, he hit me 3 times at the same red light and then after I asked him to pull into the parking lot, he took off. I filed a police report and found out he was insured with progressive. So was I at the time. They assigned two adjusters, one for my side and one for his. The sad part is, when they called to get a statement from him, he had a heart attack and died on the phone with the adjuster. At first the adjuster thought they were trying to get out of it, but they saw the obituary a week later. Anyway, they were good about getting the car fixed etc and handling the claim, but still, they could have made it miserable for everyone.

---

Damn!

Quote:

---

The sad part is, when they called to get a statement from him, he had a heart attack and died on the phone with the adjuster. At first the adjuster thought they were trying to get out of it, but they saw the obituary a week later. Anyway, they were good about getting the car fixed etc and handling the claim, but still, they could have made it miserable for everyone.

---

The Legend grows....

1agswitchin4lanes said:

---

About 15 years ago I got hit by a 94 year old drive with alzheimers, he hit me 3 times at the same red light and then after I asked him to pull into the parking lot, he took off. I filed a police report and found out he was insured with progressive. So was I at the time. They assigned two adjusters, one for my side and one for his. The sad part is, when they called to get a statement from him, he had a heart attack and died on the phone with the adjuster. At first the adjuster thought they were trying to get out of it, but they saw the obituary a week later. Anyway, they were good about getting the car fixed etc and handling the claim, but still, they could have made it miserable for everyone.

---

Sounds like the old guy learned who not to run into!

Can you tell me how you pulled that off?

If someone hits me, I hope to see their obituary a short time later.

EMY92 said:

---

Can you tell me how you pulled that off?

If someone hits me, I hope to see their obituary a short time later.

---

The sad part is I wasnt even driving a really nice car. It was a 3 year old ex DPS Crown Vic Interceptor. But I had just had it repainted from the shamu paint scheme to solid black. So he destroyed the brand new rear bumper that I had installed (too many power slides in the ditch by the trooper that had it last).

OP,

Had a similar issue. Minivan totaled in April. Insurance came by with a lowball offer. Told them no and got 10 comps. They analyzed the comps and raised the offer by $1K. Close enough to fair price. If it is a fair offer, take it. If not, stick to your guns.

Good luck! Wes

If you are having issues with them consider going through your own carrier. You have a contract with them, you don't as a claimant with Allstate. If Allstate will tell your provider they accept liability your provider might just waive your deductible as well prior to subrogation.

If you are not an insurance company's customer there is a much lower standard of care, period.

If you want to make them do better in all honesty your best bet is to complain through social media. If you pitch a fit on facebook or twitter you might be surprised at how quickly they right the ship. Same exact thing happened to my sister with Allstate, after she went on a rampage on facebook things got much easier.

Don't forget the sales tax on having to purchase a new vehicle with the insurance check.

As in, if they say your vehicle is worth $10,000, they need to write you a check for $10,000 + your local sales tax.

agracer said:

---

Don't forget the sales tax on having to purchase a new vehicle with the insurance check.

As in, if they say your vehicle is worth $10,000, they need to write you a check for $10,000 + your local sales tax.

---

Good point and also any remaining registration you have left.