How to handle the insurance company after an accident

[Nor Cal Al]

In a recent accident with our other car, their insurance wanted to give us about 30% less than my insurance company finally came up with. My agent said that as long as I was negotiating with "the others" they could not help me. As long as you are covered, your insurance company should be able to handle it. They are much more in your favor than "the others".

[fsstnotch]

Thudmaster, that looks bad!

That just goes to show the safety of these things, that kind of impact and the airbags didn't deploy! Oh wait, I was thinking vette...

[Burnd]

That aint not "fender bender"! BTW: if you want to get rid of those seats after they total it; let me know. Vultures are moving in.....

[mj_duell]

John,
Did you give my guy a call yet?

--Mike Duell

[JohnM]

Hello Mike

No I haven't yet...today I heard from the insurance company....this first round wasn't good.

They didn't have a problem with the time estimates for the the job...just the hourly charge by the shop. I guess the typical insurance shop rate in the Rochester, NY area is around 42.00 an hour. My shop quoted a low 60 an hour because of the custom nature of these cars. He has built several.

The insurance company came back with the estimate of work hours as Ok but using the usual lower per hour rate...so quite a bit different (lower). The insurance company wants to do a 3/4 cowl cut, replacing the front half of the car from the door edges forward and re-glassing it all to gether. I want a new body

They are willing to move the car to another shop to get a second opinion...they have 2 shops they have used in the past for some kind of custom work....I dont yet know who they are as I have to see some paper work faxed to my office in the morning.

If I have to deal with a unknown shop, its just as well to deal with someone closer to home as its more conveniant. Ed came recomended by Joe, the owner of Antique & Collectables. It looks like he does really great work...just expensive for the insurance company

If possible e-mail me the name and numbers of the guys you recomended or put them in the next post.

I am a bit confused as which way to go.....any suggestions would be most appreciated on this

John