Florida/Canada accident - Allstate

[vsidles]

What is the name of your state? Florida

Our son is insured in Florida and was visiting in Canada, hit a sheet of ice and totaled his 2004 Dodge Ram pickup (fully loaded, hemi etc). Bluebook value is 27K. Allstate wants to give him 22K. What is our recourse if we feel the vehicle is worth more than this? Can he contact three adjusters or shops and have them give estimates? Car dealers? Who can we go to? If after this, Allstate still refuses to give us what it's worth or negotiate with us, what recourse do we have?
Thanks,
Vicki

 

[racer72]

What is our recourse

Are you listed as a legal owner of the vehicle? If not, you have no recourse, only your son does. Allstate is only going to pay fair market value, not what you think the vehicle is worth. Bluebook values are inflated to represent the value of a vehicle in salable condition, spotless inside and out, fresh wax job, engine compartment detailed, etc. Rarely are personal vehicles in this condition. Your only real chance of increasing the offer is to find other similiar vehicles in your area and prove that the same are selling for more in your area. Or your son can see if the insurance company will agree to arbitration.

 

[zippysgoddess]

You insurance company is also not obligated to factor in any extras that you guys had ordered special for the vehicle, or added after the purchase. Losing the value of what you invested in those items is just one of the hazards of having a "fully loaded" vehicle.

IE: We have a Dodge Grand Caravan with the optional 2nd sliding door. However, if we wreck the vehicle, our insurance company will not cover that value of that 2nd door since it was not standard on these vehicles. If it is totalled, and we must have the vehicle replaced, we will have to eat the cost to have the 2nd sliding door on the replacement vehicle, or just elect not to have it installed this time. The same would go for stereo systems, additional features for heating/cooling, whatever.

The insurance company, regardless of your coverage, has no obligation to cover these extras. So many people are surprised when they discover this, if you do a search, you will find tons of posts with similar subjects. However, you should really read the fine print of your policy, and if you were going to trick out a vehicle like that, you would have realized that you needed a good Gap insurance, in addition to your normal policy.

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? Florida

Our son is insured in Florida and was visiting in Canada, hit a sheet of ice and totaled his 2004 Dodge Ram pickup (fully loaded, hemi etc). Bluebook value is 27K. Allstate wants to give him 22K. What is our recourse if we feel the vehicle is worth more than this? Can he contact three adjusters or shops and have them give estimates? Car dealers? Who can we go to? If after this, Allstate still refuses to give us what it's worth or negotiate with us, what recourse do we have?
Thanks,
Vicki

Are you dealing with Canadians?