Paculdo

so got this minor accident and basically have to replace the whole front bumper.. got to talk to the adjuster/insurance and settled on how/where/how much would i pay/they pay, etc.

i checked with the insurance again just to weigh on how much would this cost me in the long run (in reporting/claim for this accident), my out of pocket is $995 but my premium will go up $500+ every 6 months for the next 3 years.

you gotta be kidding me right? the quote is about $1890 for the bumper.. i could possibly get this done with another shop maybe $1500. it is still $1500 cheaper in the long run.. it's not like every customer is trying to get money out of these companies but come on.. where does the customer get some slack? say if you are a good paying customer for 2 years and no prior accident in the last 5 yrs (3 years in another insurance).. still customers are getting screwed!

sorry guys.. just have to get this one out!

Even Money

How old are you? Married? How many claims have you ever filed? Which insurance co.? If you give them a chance to screw you, they probably will.....

m a x i m u s

who is your insurer?

Sidv22

i had a very similar incident few months ago. Check my thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w204/462937-hit-debris-freeway-cramped-front-bumper.html#post5351215

i too, had to replace the entire front bumper along with few other parts. The total cost of parts + labor was around 1300$ and i got it covered under comprehensive with a deductible of $50. Since its covered under comprehensive, its a no-fault incident and will not affect my insurance in any way. I told the insurance that the debris came flying off a truck and i couldnt avoid hitting it. So in the end, my out of pocket was only $50 (deductible). I suggest getting a quote from another body shop. and did you say that you too were hit by something flying off a truck on the freeway? :-p

Paculdo

progressive.. 30+
had a wreck on 07 and a minor accident (drywall/flyboard that flew out of the pickup truck in front of me in the freeway - but was with farmers at that time.. 09 or 10 i think.. no other records..
progressive said its under collission and im at fault since i collided with an object.. bulls**t.. its not my fault.. debris on the freeway and the car infront of me hit it, flew for a bit and i thought i was able to maneuver and miss it - only to see the mess it did at the bumper when i parked the car

Paculdo

progressive.. 30+
had a wreck on 07 and a minor accident (drywall/flyboard that flew out of the pickup truck in front of me in the freeway - but was with farmers at that time.. 09 or 10 i think.. no other records..
progressive said its under collission and im at fault since i collided with an object.. bulls**t.. its not my fault.. debris on the freeway and the car infront of me hit it, flew for a bit and i thought i was able to maneuver and miss it - only to see the mess it did at the bumper when i parked the car

Paculdo

now trying to source a bumper and find a good reputable shop that could do paint and fitment.. all plastic grills and fog lights werent damaged.. or since im gonna spend this much money maybe get a revozport front bumper instead

m a x i m u s

interesting. so i guess if you don't go the insurance route it won't affect your rates, even though they know about it?

SaphGreyC63

Insurance only seems to make sense in HUGE accidents or if you are not at fault. That's been my experience.

Paculdo

yes.. they pretty much (indirectly) advised me that they'll screw me more if i plan to do the claim and screw me a bit if i dont

Paculdo

the incident didnt happen because there is no claim.. they didnt "lose" money on this deal.. so no fault to begin with... such is life aarrghhh!!!

N_Jay

Sounds like you have to have a talk with your agent with a copy of your policy on the table.
Unless it was still and you hit it, most would call this a comprehensive claim.

rory breaker

Talk about an industry that has somehow escaped the evil eye of government reform. You think this is bad, try making a home insurance claim! One claim and it's bye bye insurance, and no one else will touch you outside of govt insurance.

Total scam. Pay for a service for years, use the service once, get penalized for using it.

Paculdo

i was told that a comprehensive claim is either an act of God/nature, hit an animal, or car was vandalized.. other than these all others are collission (like i collided with that object in the freeway).. now i know (quite an expensive education - i guess charge to experience)... these things arent shown upfront unless you (consumer) asks for the specific deifinitoion of terms and/or read the fine prints in the contract - my fault for not reading thoroughly so again charge to experience..

Paculdo

man.. talk about giving the TRUE paying consumers that get screwed huh?!?

Paculdo

the problem now is that there's no other insurance company that can get me a better rate than what i have with progressive right now :-(

N_Jay

Explain to them that it was "Flying through the air" when it HIT YOU.

I would ask them to clearly define where the line is between a comprehensive and a collision claim in your situation.

Don't be a pushover. Be FIRM and REASONABLE!

Paculdo

^^ i did already.. told the lady im upset at the situation trying to site thay the debris wasnt just sitting there in the middle of the freeway.. that the car in front of me had initially hit it and flew a bit and landed in front of me and i thought i steered out of it but found out i hit it.. over and over again.. she said she'll review and call back anytime this week.. regardless of what happens.. the lady that reviewed the policy said my premium will go up when i renew (i'm due for renewal 2 mos from now) and that'll be 500+ for every 6 months for the next 3 years..

Paculdo

only small claims (less than $500) will not affect my premium.. since this is more than that, it will 'up' my premium..

N_Jay

In most states they can not raise youyr rates for a comprehensive claim.

Don't tell them it flew in front of you and you hit it.

It FLEW INTO THE AIR and HIT YOU!

Paculdo

based on the adjuster/inspector that looked at it.. the damaged is at the bottom part of the bumper which makes the object in the ground.. which makes their point that i hit the debris is standstill when i hit it.. i even told them (sarcastically
- if thats a term) that if it hit me higher - say the windsheild, that i'd be reporting this accident at the hospital.. which i was told (sarcastically) that i had the good fortune not to be at the hospital and safe.. i can go back/forth with them (similar to when i wrecked my car -was also with progressive - for almost a month i went back/forth with them settling with how much my car is worth, proving the exact mileage etc - pretty much its on me to prove all i'm saying is true versus how they assessed it and/or what they see)..

m a x i m u s

that sux. i don't know how much higher the other insurance companies would be, but sounds like it's time to change insurers. even if progressive is giving you the lowest rate, they aren't giving you anything else!

Merc63

I have a front bumper off a 09. Parktronic though.

CoolBDPhenom03

BULL***T. You need to demand a supervisor. My body shop guy said when something like that happened to him, AAA wrote it as a non-fault incident. His premiums didn't go up. I'm expecting the same result after my recent pothole incident. The squeaky wheel gets the oil in the insurance world. Keep going up the chain of command until you find someone reasonable who will give you what you want. Then dump their butts when it's fixed.

m a x i m u s

I take it yours were always classified as comprehensive?