repairs cost less than value of car yet insurance wants to tatal?

[artmaker]

What is the name of your state? Michigan.
Last year my car was totaled when some moron pulled in front of an oncoming car. No one hurt but I got to experiance our "no fault" insurance for the first time. Seems as long as the guilty party is covered, I cannot sue for damages and had to settle for a whopping 500 bucks. Three lawyers told me our "mini tort" laws protect against law suites. Swell! (I swear the guy was stoned too.)

After that I put ALL our vehicals (four now) on full coverage believing that at least we would get blue book value if this ever happens again.
Well about a week ago, a huge tree came down on my 1991 mazda and amazingly only broke the rear window and dented the quarter panel. I know that car is old but it's in PERFECT condition. Not even a speck of rust on the wheel wells. Nothing. Blue book shows it worth between 1650 and 2300 bucks. Even our adjustor (who just left) came up with 1600 as a value. Repair estimates range between 1100 and 1300. So WHY is this car a total? Since when does "FULL coverage" only mean 80%??? I was NEVER told that when I ordered full coverage. The adjustor told me the company may "offer" to buy my car then sell it back to me for half as a "salvage." Which translates to 800 dollars. Why oh why am I paying for FULL coverage if all I'd get is the same few hundred bucks for a 1600+ car?

I want to fight this! Not afraid of going to court. Even against an insurance company. No fear! Need advice here.

 

[JETX]

Advice for what???
Simply, your options are:
1) Accept their offer, take money, move on, or
2) Accept their offer and negotiate buy-back. Get car fixed, move on, or
3) Do NOT accept their offer. File complaint with state insurance agency. Move on, or
4) Do NOT accept their offer. File lawsuit.

The options are pretty simple. Now, which are you going to do??

 

[artmaker]

Hello, thanks for the reply.

I'll probably pick option 1 here. Take what they offer and move on.

But.... if I tried option 4, refuse and file lawsuit, there has to be a basis. Do I have one? I looked closely over my insurance papers and there is not one word about only paying 80%, or any value for that matter. Ya would think SOMEONE could tell me hey, don't bother getting full coverage, you won't get diddly if anything happens?

"Insurance." What a legal scam!

 

[artmaker]

final follow up

Hello again,
Thought I'd follow up here. The insurance company changed their tune. (pays to be a B**** sometimes.) they will FIX my car now. Doing it for a little less than my estimate but did call my shop and they agreed to the price. So very cool huh?
I wonder what changed their mind? Their adjustor came up with the same figures as the claims guy on the phone but perhaps once he saw this car sitting there looking like it just rolled out of a dealer new, he put something in the computer. Or maybe my threat of insuring our FOUR vehicals elsewhere did it???? Whatever. It will be fixed. And I learned a ton using this and a few other message boards.
Thanks.

 

[JETX]

The insurance claims folks just love to tease you, don't they?? They were probably going to repair the vehicle all along but just wanted to see your reaction. What a bunch of scamps, huh???

Any way, congratulations.

 

[Peety]

The last insurance adjuster I witnessed "in action" actually started grinning as he typed up his report that denied repairs. It's their job to be weasels, so it's a role they must play ..... but some are so good at it it's sickening !!!