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Auto Insurance Claims/loss of car / unfair offer

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Expert: - 1/8/2010


Question
In December of 2009 my husband was rear-ended and his car is a total loss.  The other person was at fault.  It took two weeks for her insurance to even make an offer.  They want to give us $700 for our 91 Ford escort.  It was in excellent running condition and fair body shape.  Kelly and Napa blue book it for more then this.  The insurance basically said take it or leave it.  What is our recourse?  We need to replace the car.
Louise

Answer
Louise,

The value of used cars has even gone up in this bad economy, so even KELLY and NADA may be low. There are many courses of action to take from easy to hard, all outlined in one of the auto total loss eBooks at UClaim.com. You have to destroy the insurers valuation, probably CCC or ADP, then present your own valuation, all in a way that won't anger the adjuster too much.

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Ron Cercone

Expertise

How to handle automobile total loss claims. I am the president of UClaim.com, which sells 29 different eBooks I have written on how to maximize various types of auto, home and business claims and how to get coverage on denied claims. You may view their tables of contents online. Also available are very specialized eBooks such as on EUO (Examination Under Oath) for example. Also available is an assortment of policy forms used by the most popular insurers. The eBooks have a money back guarantee and currently include personal consultation with Ron Cercone.

Experience

I have been adjusting insurance claims since 1980. 1980 to 1995 adjusting for many insurers (6 years as an independent adjuster with my own company). Currently working as a public adjuster in California, since 1995. I'm one of the few public adjusters who has handled automobile damage and total loss claims.

Organizations
CAPIA (California Association of Public Adjusters).

Education/Credentials
BA 1975 in History and Industrial Arts. Full CV at UClaim.com .

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