HELP - KJ Insurance Claim advice needed!!!

daspes · **Posted:** Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:24 pm

Here's the backstory:

Last Sunday (8/30) drove my KJ from Norfolk up to Maryland to meet another Jeeper and pick up some parts from him. Got back home about 10 that night and parked the Libby in the lawn by the street (driver side tires in the street, rest of the Jeep was up in the grass, I live at the main corner to the entrance to my subdivision, and I try not to occupy to much street real estate because of the traffic that comes through).
Anyway... parked there because I didn't want to fuss with moving it in the morning when I went to work in the JK. Left work the next morning and didn't pay the KJ any mind. However when I got home I noticed the hood was collapsed in! Parked and started to look over the whole jeep, besides the hood, the grill was broken, front bumper cracked, driver side rear door, dented in, rear bumper dented, and both passenger doors had dents and a long scrape.
Called the police, cop was amazed at the damage (normally a nice area of town) and wrote the report up as Destruction of Personal Property. He commented that it was probably some kids with a baseball bat. Called our new insurance co. (Liberty Mutual) and filed the claim, they said they would have an adjuster out to look at it today (9/7) between 8am and 5pm (why the hell can't companies narrow down the timeframe just a little bit more?). Kinda pissed to begin with, then they are saying it will be a full 8 days before they can get someone to take care of their customer... at this point, I mentally say Whatever, I know I'm pissed to begin with so I didn't want to blow up at the poor person on the phone about their priorities on taking care of their customers, so I let it ride, had a 2nd Jeep after all, so I wasn't in the hurt locker with the KJ.

**important section**

Adjuster shows up a little before noon-ish today while I was at work and looks over the Jeep and comments to my wife that the damage was obviously caused at different times and we will have to file seperate claims (with a 500 deductible for each). One for the hood and grill, another for the front bumper, another for the driver side door, another for the rear bumper, and a fifth claim for the passenger side doors!!! WTF!!!
Jenny calls me to tell me this, so I immediately call up the lady who was supposed to be "assisting" us with our claim... No answer... Left a message in best disappointed with you voice, explaining who I was, my number, and that I had a very large problem with the adjusters visit today, and to call me.
4 hours later, call again.... no answer, left another message detailing that it was now several hours later with no returned phone call, and I still have the same problem with her adjuster... Hour later (5pm now), call her supervisor, and guess what? No answer! Leave a third message, who I am, my number, why I was calling, and the fact that I had been trying to reach her clerk all day and left two messages and no return phone call. Hour later, try one last time, nothing. Office now closed... Seriously!!!

They can KMA if they think I'm going to pay $2500 out of pocket on 5 different claims, because some punk kid hit my Jeep in that many spots.

** Rant off **

What do I do about this adjuster and his asinine determination that one nights vandalism (with supporting police report) happened at different times?

Any other advice (i'm sure as hell going to claim "Diminshed Value" now on this after the way they have (not) handled this over the past 8 days)?

TIA

kskj · **Posted:** Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:27 pm

Here in Kansas (not sure in your state) if you have a problem with your insurance company you can file a complaint with the state insurance commissioner.

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

Show them the police report stating the damage accoured at the same time. If all else fails, would your Jeep melted in a pile be just one claim? :wink:

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:35 pm

It's more likely a claim against your home owner's insurance not your automobile insurance policy.

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:57 pm

kskj wrote:

Here in Kansas (not sure in your state) if you have a problem with your insurance company you can file a complaint with the state insurance commissioner.

I know here in South Carolina we have a few people in charge of keeping our insurance companys in check and pretty sure every state would have something along these lines. So i would do some reaserch on that asap and if all else fails I know a Lawyer consultation is cheaper then 2500 dollars.

And change insurance companies ASAP after you get it all settled out.

KJ Willy · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:54 pm

Good to meet you for the brief period, hope all went well with the phone call from the insurance comapany.

daspes · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:13 pm

KJ Willy wrote:

Good to meet you for the brief period, hope all went well with the phone call from the insurance comapany.

Not really. INS co. Contacted the adjuster who said the other dents (not the hood) WERE OBVIOUSLY CAUSED BY HITTING A CONCRETE POLE... I have to upload pics I guess, but it is impossible for the door to get hit where it was by a pole.

turbobike · **Posted:** Thu Sep 09, 2010 7:55 am

I find it interesting that Liberty Mutual is just as bad now as it was in 1972 when my wife was broadsided in our brand new (under 2000 miles) FIAT 124 coupe. Hit took place on Columbus day in '72. It took 60 days for adjuster to even look at car---he wouldn't total it, altho the cost to repair was over $3000. Then, repairs took until the following February of 1973. Car never was right after repair (big surprise). Front end alignment was never right and car ate tires every 10,000 miles. Good luck with your claim.........and find a NEW insurance company when this is over.

infernicus · **Posted:** Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:07 am

I have no advice, but I am sooorry, you don't deserve that.. I thought LibertyMutual was in a better financial situation, I guess not.. What was their reasoning behind the conclusion of "was obviously caused at different times"?

That's a bunch of BS.

I wouldn't mind seeing some pictures as well.
Good Luck

boilermaker2 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:27 pm

First of all, don't sign anything yet. The five "claims" will immediately get you dropped from this carrier and likely prevent you from getting another. Most companies are on a 2-3 strikes and you're out within a given time-frame.

Call you insurance commission at the state level that monitors and grants the license to practice to every insurance firm in your state (every state should have a department, commission, whatever).

Check to see how many independent estimates you need and get them BEFORE you talk to the insurance company again. By getting these on your own, under the guidance of the state commission, you will "lock" your insurance company into an estimate by have the magic number of independent estimates. They may deny the claim but your actions will likely force them into arbitration with the state commission looking over their shoulder.

I learned the hard way. I got two estimates one time instead of three in Indiana because I was being nice. I ended up changing insurers and paying the 7k out of my own pocket. I should have followed through. Please learn from my mistake. :banghead:

(Thanks Google) This is who I think you need to contact first thing Monday morning (because you've already had unsatisfactory relations with the insurance firm). http://www.scc.virginia.gov/division/boi/index.htm
Best regards and good luck,
Boilermaker2

Sean150 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:20 am

Sounds like who ever did that to your Jeep has only begun.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:44 am

If you have a friend or acquaintance who is a lawyer, I would call and offer to take them to lunch. At lunch, mention the situation, and ask for their help. You'd be amazed at what effect a call or letter from a lawyer will have on this situation. Also follow through with the report to the state insurance commissioners' office - they are an elected official and like to make good press for themselves. And if you really feel like getting down and dirty, call the local news affiliates. If it's a slow news day, they may want to pick up the story, but beware, they may try to make you look like ignorant trash.

boilermaker2 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 23, 2010 4:10 pm

In our state, three independent appraisals by a certified agent (collision repair shop, etc.) really locks in the insurance company and may force them into arbitration. You state Insurance Departmen (already linked in previous post) can help you through this process while looking over your shoulder to see what your insurance company does (or not to do) to you/for you.

HELP - KJ Insurance Claim advice needed!!!

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