I know that some of you remember the post that i put on here about a month ago about damaging my car at the local Sonic drive-in thing. I blew out a tire hitting this huge pothole, and when i replaced it with my stocker and an almost new tire, it was vibrating the next day. I took it to my mechanic and he knew the cv shaft already had some wear in it, but stated that it could have been damaged further, and tehat my wheel bearing was messed up too. I got estimates and turned them in to the owner of the Sonic and he claimed it on their insurance. it took his insurance a couple of weeks to get an appraiser out there to see my car. I informed him that i already had estimates for everything, and they had been turned in to the owner. I told him the price of a wheel and tire, and he asked me to take to a shop to have it looked at again. I explained to him that it wasn't possible since my tranny had gone out not long after it happened. i reminded him that it had already been looked at by a mechanic. he said alright and shut up shop and left. I didn't get a claim number or anything. well, i called the guy who was the owner when this occurred, since he has since sold the place, and asked him for his info. he wouldn't give it to me and said that he would check into it and call me back. he never did. i called him again, and the new owners called me with the info that i needed. the insurance company dragged around, saying that someone had said the car was owned by someone else than me. they needed proof of my ownership. i faxed them a tag receipt from the day i registered my car. They called me back like a week later, stating that they wouldn't do pay for any mechanical damages, that i obviously knew little about cars and taht the damage could no have happened unless i was going too fast, which i wasn't. She began trying to belittle me on the phone, telling me how much she knows about cars and all this other crap. I have sent a signed and dated estimate from the mechanic again, and she called me this morning and said taht she would pay for the shop's estimate for a different tire, mount & balance, and for a four wheel alignment. this didn't include a wheel, which she said that she would purchase. I was thinking that i was gonna call and tell her that i would bite the mech. damages if she'll pay for the estimate that she got yesterdayk, which is more than i was gonna spend on it anyways, and she can buy a wheel. Is this the best thing to do?


SOrry for the length...

man...tell her you want to talk to a supervisor. Things like this you might need to take to the top and make sure you document everything. They want to give you the short end of the stick, so they don't lose capital...all insurance companies do so. Be persistant..and most of all CALM! good luck

When you are talking to her remember her job is to give you as little as possible. When she offers you some pittance, say to yourself; "It is her job to give me as little as possible." Don't let HER get a bonus for stiffing you.

If you feel that you have good evidence (two written estimates from qualified mechanics stating that the damage was almost definitely caused by the pothole, and why the damage was specifically not normal wear and tear) then you can just tell them that you'll go to small claims court to get the money. Be ready to have them claim you were speeding - it would be cool to show the judge pictures of the lot proving that you were, or could only have been, driving at a reasonable speed (if that is possible). I hope you got pics and measurements of the pothole before they fill(ed) it in. ;-)

Two idea's:

1. File a complaint with the state insurance commissioner.

2. Procede with a small court claim.

Insurance adjusters always want to pay as little as possible. Stick to your guns and only settle for full repair cost. Otherwise, just go ahead and file a small court claim. It'll cost the insurance company more to show up in court and lose the case.