You are here:

Auto Insurance Claims/claim-vehicle Fire

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/20/2009


Question
I recently had the unfortunate opportunity of expercing a vandalism on my vehicle and it was set on fire as well.   I was home alone when this took place, but my question is about how the insurance company is handling this.  All these forms being sent about my history i.e. financial, employment.  This all feels so intimidating to me,  Is this normal procedures or does this sound like there trying to accuse me of this.  I hate to ask my claims agent about this cause i don't want to think something is up.  i would appreciate any advice about how the procedures usually work in these cases, and when do they decide  to pay the claim or  how.    Thanks SO Much!!

Answer
Hi Brian,

Welcome to the world of being guilty until being proved innocent.

There is nothing you can do to speed this up and until you have been denied you are just going to have to tread water.

If you feel like you are being intimidated, you probably are. It sounds like they are investigating the claim and trying to link you with it. Most insurance investigators are ex cops and they do quite well at making one feel guilty even if they are innocent.

Lots of answers to your questions are located at http://www.autotheftexpert.com





Good Luck!

Rob

Auto Insurance Claims

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Rob Painter, Ase, CFEI, CAFATE

Expertise

Please remember. I am not an attorney and cannot legal advice. My answers are based on my experience due to litigation I have been involved in as an expert, for both insurance companies and while oposing them opposing them. I deal with only comprehensive claims on autos related to fire and theft. I have even had the opportunity to rewrite policy coverage language as it relates to vehicle theft and forced entry for insurance defense attorneys.

Experience

Experience in the area: Working with insurance companies and attorneys on these issues for over 20 years. It is very common to have a reported stolen car with a so-called factory anti-theft system to have the theft claim denied. I have served successfully as an expert witness in the courts across the US representing the insured and their attorney revealing that the insurance expert did not take all known theories into consideration before rendering their "Forensic" conclusion. Many insurance carriers us independent "Forensic" experts to examine reported stolen vehicles commonly using flawed methodology implicating the innocent insured with the theft. My job is to determine if the insurance expert reached his conclusions based on accepted scientific principals or just net opinion with no basis other than opinion. My case record against such experts is very compelling.My resume can be seen at the catagory "Auto Theft and Prevention." In "Forensics" the scientific method must be employed. In the forensic locksmith field determining how a reported stolen vehicle was last operated, many processes cannot be duplicated and are conveniently not addressed. If they were, juries would have the opportunity to make a fair and impartial opinion at least about what the expert could or could not prove. There is a purported process determining the last key used. The chances of determining such is very rare uless the key is found in the ignition lock. Experts commonly destroy evidence as well and are rarely questioned on this event. I reveal the weakness in their testimony on such instances.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.