Insurance help needed

[Shaners]

Here is the story:

 

My father was involved in an accident (he's fine), in Florida.

 

He was stopped between 2 cars when the car behind him was rear-ended and was pushed into him and he was pushed into the vehicle in front of him. The car that caused the accident was doing 30+ MPH.

 

My father was driving a 1988 Honda CRX with 60K miles and in mint condition. The car is now totalled. The person who caused the accident has NATIONWIDE INSURANCE .

 

Nationwide is giving my father the run-around and lowballing him with figures. They refuse to give him "Actual Cash Value". They refuse to give him book price. They refuse to give him what he paid for the car (which was less than book price two months ago when he bought it). They even refuse to give him his tax, registration fees, or any money for the new tires and exhaust etc... They say "This is the way we do it and if you don't like it, too bad".

 

Is this legal for the insurance company to do this? Does my father have any recourse other than small claims court?

 

Since this was a low dollar commuter vehicle my father did not have collision insurance on the car, so he has to deal with Nationwide and not his insurance company. I think Nationwide sees a retired man in his late 60's as easy money and that they are playing tuffguy.

 

Has anyone had to pursue anything like this before??? Any help or reasonable info would be appreciated.

[SnakeEyeSS]

gte his insurance involved, tell them whats going on. they might step in and help out, or if they are any good, tell your father his rights in florida, and give him advice on how to get what the car is really worth. good luck!!!

 

also, this happened to my dad with a 1987 325is hge used to have. they did the same thing. My dad just kept telling them it wasn't enough. we ended up going TO the insurance compionies office, so he could talk to them. appearently, he wouldn't take no for an answer, and told them they HAD to give him a decent value for the car. they ended up give him the money to fix it, plus the car's worth in the condtion it was in, while he kept the car. We think they did it just to get him out of their hair, as he let them know he wasn't gonna be ripped off.

 

So STAND FIRM!!!!

[R Dogg 56]

Yeah, I would get your insurance company involved in this too, and see if there is any way that they can help you and your father in this. Nationwide is trying to undermind your father and that's not cool. Even though he's retired and at an age where most people are suceptable for things like this, that doesn't mean he has no right to fight.

 

Give 'em hell, Shane!! We got your back.

[Shaners]

My father has an appointment with someone other than an adjuster at the Nationwide ofice in the AM.

 

My Dad's insurance company isn't involved because he wasn't carrying collision on the car. If he had collision, then he would have made the claim with his company and they would have fought it out with Nationwide.

 

My father contacted the Florida Insurance Commision today, and they just explained his options, but really weren't of much help.

[Shaners]

I was under the impression that in cases like this, the at fault insurance company would pay "Actual Cash Value" plus license, registration, and taxes.

 

Actual cash value on this car is determined by Blue Book and the asking price of similar cars in the local area. This car is a very popular "Ricer" and beeing that it is mint and low miles it would be hard to find one like it for a decent price.

 

I think the insurance company is taking him for a ride!!! If he had been carrying collision on the car from his insurance company, I think the settlement offer would be much higher.

[gixxer]

Your father wouldnt need collision coverage since he was not the one liable for the acceident. If he had collision all that it would do would make fixing his car faster. They have to settle out with you and agree on a price. If i were you , I would get the price from kbb.com and nada retail values (since you are a consumer) and then I would get my own insurance company involved as well as a lawyer for any injuries he might have suffered.

[Charlie in TX]

The state has laws about how much the insurance co has to pay. The law will state something like fair market, replacement or something else, without knowing what the law is in FL we can only speculate. I would think fair is what he payed a couple months ago. I have never heard of getting extra money for new tires, taxes or licence fees payed.

 

A little story. My buddy got in a wreck. The other person was at fault (ran a red light) and ticketed. Her insurance refused to pay for his truck, $4k range, telling him "you only have liability, we are not responsible for your car unless you prove fault". Being ticketed by a policeman is not proof.

 

Comp and col is cheap. I pay about $150 per month for full coverage on 2 new trucks. If I went to just liability I would only save about $25 per month. It sounds penny wise, pound foolish to me. We spend extra money on Moble1 and change it at 3k miles but won't put a few dollors into insurance!

[Shaners]

[/b]Well, Nationwide broke my fathers back and he settled.

 

He had enough of their high pressure BS and settled for about 25% less than he paid for the car and about 40% less than it was worth. However, he was able to bring their offer up about 1/3 over their initial offer.

 

I feel bad for any of you who have Nationwide Insurance or anyone who gets involved in an accident where the at fault driver has Nationwide.

 

Believe me when I say "Nationwide's not on your side"

[Shaners]

The end of the Saga...

 

My dad needs an extra car and since the weather in PA has been crap fro the last few years, I offered to sell him my convertible for what he got from the insurance company.

 

I'll lose about 1/2 the value of my car by selling it, but it's my dad, and I owe him everything so I guess it's a good deal for us both!!! The Olds Cutty 'verte will have a better life in Florida!!!

 

I'll be leaving Wed. and traveling Wed-Thurs and flying home on Friday.

[ManyCamaroz]

In the late 80's I had a '68 Camaro that I had been working on profusely to get ready to paint. It had a fresh coat of primer and ready for the final blocking to be done. I had a GM Target-Master 350 in it with a fairly wild bump stick and a 4 speed. The interior was in good shape and IMO the car was worth about $2500. to 3k at the time.

I was traveling home from work one sunny afternoon going the back roads rounding a curve and here comes this little toyota station wagon from the opposite direction totally (his whole vehicle) in my lane. He swerved left and I right, we still hit headlight to headlight and tore up both cars pretty good. His insurance company called me and offered me $800.00 and they became owner of my car. I about went stupid. I immediately refused the offer and told her they were crazy. She stated that they would make one more offer and if we couldn't reach an agreement it would go before the insurance commision board for review and I could either get more money (I had no say so in the matter and had to settle with their offer) or lose all together and get nothing. I talked it over with my dad who had owned a body shop all of his life and he told me to call them back and tell them that I would take $1800. and take care of my own Chiropractor bills. I called and made my offer she said she would call me back and give me an answer. Ten minutes later she called to say that they would accept my offer. I never told her that I was seeing a chiropractor, only that I would pay my own chiropractor bills.

 

I had to replaced the fender, grill, core support, upper and lower A arms and all attached components. I got the parts for near nothing from a buddy that had 4-5 old 67 and 68 parts cars. It was fairly simple for someone with the ability and knowledge to make the repairs. I came out real good in that case.

 

Now when I tried to knock the a** end off of a new Ford F-250 the other year with my Yukon, that was a whole different story. "Pay Up Sucker"...

[capnfrantic]

Too little, Too late but... Never give in to an insurance company! Especially when it's not your fault. This was a strong arm tactic on the insurance companies side. It is their responsibilty to make you happy! I was recently involved with a similar circumstance

when my daughter was rear ended. They lowballed us as well, but we held our ground and came out ahead. It does take getting tough with them but like I said

it was not your fault! Maybe consider a detailed lettter to the states insurance comissioner? Sorry about your troubles.