B
Boxwood40
Guest
I was involved in a car accident in Georgia. Another driver hit my car and damaged both cars. No one was physically injured. The police accident report cites the other diver for failure to yield the right of way while making a left-hand turn at an intersection.
The other driver's insurance company has sent me checks totaling $995 based on their estimate of $924 to repair my car 12-year old, and $71 for three days car rental.
I have obtained repair estimates from two repair shops. Both estimates are in excess of $1,600. One of the repair shops said that it would take between four and five days to make the repairs to my car. A five-day car rental of a car, comparable in size to my car could cost over $200.
There are significant differences between the insurance adjuster's estimate and the estimates the repair shops gave me. The differences include the number and quality (new vs. used) parts needed; the number of labor hours needed to make the repairs; the method used to calculate the sales tax; and the number of days needed to make the repairs.
The insurance adjuster told me that the only way he can increase his estimate is for me to take may car to a repair shop and have them contact him if they cannot repair the car for the $924. I don't care for this approach.
The Website for my county's Magistrate Court includes the following: " The court will not accept affidavits or letters which are considered "hearsay". Estimates of repair bills without the maker of the estimates are not accepted either. You must have the maker of any documents in court in order to offer them as evidence."
Is there any point in my filing suit in this court if I cannot get one of the makers of the $1,600 repair estimates to appear in court and testify in my behalf? Would it be legal for me to pay money to the maker of an estimate to appear and testify in my behalf in court?
Must I have the car repaired with my own money first and then hope to recover by filing suit?
The other driver's insurance company has sent me checks totaling $995 based on their estimate of $924 to repair my car 12-year old, and $71 for three days car rental.
I have obtained repair estimates from two repair shops. Both estimates are in excess of $1,600. One of the repair shops said that it would take between four and five days to make the repairs to my car. A five-day car rental of a car, comparable in size to my car could cost over $200.
There are significant differences between the insurance adjuster's estimate and the estimates the repair shops gave me. The differences include the number and quality (new vs. used) parts needed; the number of labor hours needed to make the repairs; the method used to calculate the sales tax; and the number of days needed to make the repairs.
The insurance adjuster told me that the only way he can increase his estimate is for me to take may car to a repair shop and have them contact him if they cannot repair the car for the $924. I don't care for this approach.
The Website for my county's Magistrate Court includes the following: " The court will not accept affidavits or letters which are considered "hearsay". Estimates of repair bills without the maker of the estimates are not accepted either. You must have the maker of any documents in court in order to offer them as evidence."
Is there any point in my filing suit in this court if I cannot get one of the makers of the $1,600 repair estimates to appear in court and testify in my behalf? Would it be legal for me to pay money to the maker of an estimate to appear and testify in my behalf in court?
Must I have the car repaired with my own money first and then hope to recover by filing suit?