[luis84]

Well as you all probably have read, I have had my ford escape 2001 XLS for 2 weeks. It's the V6 and I love her.

Today i was driving and happened to be exiting a road when an idiot happened to SIDE SWIPE me, creating a huge scratch along 2 of my doors (passenger side). Insurance will not cover it (on my side) and the other person ran off aka hit and run.

The damage is basically... on the passanger side door is a small ding/dent, and a semi-deep scrape along 2 doors. The plastic shielding at the bottom is scrapped, all the way along (2 peices + 2 small end peices). My rim has a scratch but thats MINOR. Tire is okay.

So basically, small dent, 4 plastic peices and door paint = how much? I don't know.

I am so upset I could cry, It;s barely visible to some but to me it's the end of the world! My poor girl, tomorrow i will take her for estimates, i can't stand to see her like this.

Dramatic? Yes. I don't care. I love my ford escape. With xmas coming money is tight, do any of you dearest ford escape lovers know what the afforementioned might cost me? Just in theory not exacty and without photos?

( I will post before + after later)

Thanks........... ;(

 

[megascape]

it's going to be spendy unless you are a great negotiator.
you may want to look for warehouses/outlets that sell OE 2001 Escape parts as far as the plastic goes. You may also just start hitting the local junk yards/pick a parts whatever they are called in your area. you may be able to do it yourself at much less cost, but it would probably be a fairly time consuming effort.
Good luck.. :rockon: :rockon:

 

[luis84]

What do you think is spendy?

I found someone who will do the paint job (high quality) for 150. He;s a friend, just charging cost of paint.

The plastic peices go on ebay for 40-50 each. So If I do it, i estimate a cost of 400-500. But..........

What would it cost me in the street? Aka in a body shop? rough estimate?

 

[slavrenz]

What do you think is spendy?

I found someone who will do the paint job (high quality) for 150. He;s a friend, just charging cost of paint.

The plastic peices go on ebay for 40-50 each. So If I do it, i estimate a cost of 400-500. But..........

What would it cost me in the street? Aka in a body shop? rough estimate?

I would guess double that price "on the street". What's the reason that your insurance company won't cover it?

 

[megascape]

I think you have a decent price and I would agree probably 1 to 2X the amount in the shop. Although again if you can get the auto shop to concentrate only on the dings you may get it for less. Usually they will say the whole door is going to need to be removed so they can get the paint to blend correct, or something to that effect..... It makes sense to me the reason they do it the way they do. If I had a friend good enough to do the repair and blend the paint I would go that route myself.

 

[luis84]

I have geico, they have low rates because they never pay out. They don't want to cover it, at first the adjuster tried to say I was liable ........... then she changed her story and then she said they couldnn't determine liability without seeing the other vewhicle in the collision, which obviously he or she drove off so thats no possible.

 

[Four_Eyes]

Well that's just nuts.

Did you file a police report for the hit and run and file that report with your claim?

(note to self : Stay away from geico)

 

[jeepin79]

This should be covered under you uninsured/underinsured I would think. They cant not pay on something, why even have insurance then. I would push back on them and not stand for this. Insurance companies always try to get off easy when you try to file a claim.

 

[luis84]

Yeah they are ridiculous. The worst part is I have 2 mustangs insured with them and I have NEVER EVER had a claim or accident, and I have years with them. You would think they would not want to loose a customer.

I am going to fight with them and I did file a police report. I am working on getting an estimate today.

 

[slavrenz]

Yeah they are ridiculous. The worst part is I have 2 mustangs insured with them and I have NEVER EVER had a claim or accident, and I have years with them. You would think they would not want to loose a customer.

I am going to fight with them and I did file a police report. I am working on getting an estimate today.

Good. Let us know how it goes.

I have Progressive (which interestingly, their agents drive nothing but Ford Escapes), and it was a lot cheaper than any other insurance for full coverage. Granted, I am a 22 year old male, but I am married, and I am a homeowner, so that helps bring the cost down to about $300 for 6 months.

 

[mcescape]

You do have uninsured motorist coverage, right? It always amazes me that some people don't. Assuming that you do, there is no reason for them to deny your claim. First, depending on what state you are in, contact the insurance regulatory agency and find out what you need to do in order to file a complaint. Then, call the 800 # and ask for a supervisor, and then write down the full name or employee ID of that person. Politely but firmly ask for another adjuster to review your claim. Let that person know that you have been in contact with the insurance commissioners office of your state and that you would prefer to work it out amicably but will lodge a formal fraud complaint if a resolution is not reached.

Don't let them BS you and don't be afraid to go over the head of anybody who does.

 

[hurk]

...

Did you file a police report for the hit and run and file that report with your claim?

....

See quote.

 

[jonas1022]

We have a similar scrape on our Tribbie's right passenger door and dog leg, peeling some of the stone sheild off. Estimated cost was over $1400. The scrape is still there. I think we can ignore that little expense. Especially since it's well over 30K miles already.

 

[fotojack]

Don't EVER let insurance companies walk all over you! They work for YOU.....not the other way around. Tell them they'll lose ALL your business if they don't cover your claim. Remind them that you pay your premiums for a reason, and it's not just for their fancy office decor. I personally hate insurance companies with a passion. All they ever seem to do is rake money in and not pay out when it comes time. Legalized robbery. If they can get away with not paying a claim, they'll find a way. Take them to court if you have to. Go over the adjusters head. Do what you have to do to make them pay.

 

[Eryx-The-Escape]

Don't EVER let insurance companies walk all over you! They work for YOU.....not the other way around. Tell them they'll lose ALL your business if they don't cover your claim. Remind them that you pay your premiums for a reason, and it's not just for their fancy office decor. I personally hate insurance companies with a passion. All they ever seem to do is rake money in and not pay out when it comes time. Legalized robbery. If they can get away with not paying a claim, they'll find a way. Take them to court if you have to. Go over the adjusters head. Do what you have to do to make them pay.

+1000 Beast mode for fotojack! Get em! :box:

 

[American outdoorsman]

The insurance company is required by law to make you whole. It should be covered under comprehensive coverage. If they won't cover it you'll need to hire a lawyer and sue them. Just make sure you keep all paperwork where they denied your claim. They will probably try to settle out of court for repair of the damage minus your deductible court costs and attorney fees. Don't take that offer make sure it goes to court. They will lose their asses in court and they know it. They will have pay to repair the damages, your attorney fees, court costs, lost wages, and in some cases punitive damages. They will probably cancel your insurance afterwards but they will have to pay, the trick is to get new insurance with another company and then cancel them before they can cancel you, otherwise your insurance will be higher and you will have to pay for a vehicle inspection. After everything is said and done you can also go to your state's insurance commissioner and file a complaint, which will be easy to investigate since its been to court. The insurance commissioner can revoke your agent's license, or fine him for noncompliance.