Expert: Ron Cercone - 5/3/2009

Question
Hi,
My car got damaged recently with the Hail storm. I called up my insuarnce and they arranged an appraiser for an Estimate. The major damage was on the hood and i had a minor damge on the hood earlier when i purchased the vehicle.

The appraiser came and estimated and did not include the hood saying there was a prior damage. I called up the insurance company and told them i want the Estimate for fixing only the hail damage excluding the previous damage.
The insurance company told me to speak to the appraiser directly and he conveyed that even thogh major damage is on hood he cannot include the hood hail damage.

I am really stuck. Please guide me how to proceed.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Francis

Answer
Hello Francis,

The insurer should pay the cost to repair the dents from the hail and to paint the hood, as well as any other hail damaged panels. If there is an old dent or dents, then they don't have to pay for that. So if the body shop says it would take an extra 2 hours labor to fix the old dents, then you pay that. Otherwise you will get a newly painted hood with the old dents remaining.

Now, if your insurer still refuses to fix the hood, fax a letter to the CEO in the insurer's home office. If they also deny the claim, then sue them and the appraiser in small claims court. There is probably nothing in your policy that says they don't have to pay just because the car has old damage.