Insurance payout; what should I require?

[Ms. FastNasty]

OK...posted a couple days ago that some show off in a Corvette hit my GN. He damanged the bumper filler (cracked it), the rubber strip that is on the bumper, and there are a couple spots where the paint is chipped on the bumper itself, and the piece right behind the bumper.
Kyle looked under the car, and there's noticeable changes in where the bumper supports are mounted...but not sure if those changes warrant repair??
My question is...I have the guys insurance adjuster coming out here on Friday to look at the car. I know I would expect a low ball offer if this were one of my daily drivers and parts were easy to find...BUT, what should I expect to see at a minimum to fix these issues? I've been told the GM bumper fillers are harder to find, and run $600.00 a pair. I don't want the insurance company trying to lowball the repairs to get the claim off their desk... and I'm not sure of what this stuff costs to repair realistically. Thanks guys!

 

[DCVING 6]

DO NOT take a check before the car is fixed. If the body shop finds anything else wrong, you will have already signed off on it, thus making the repairs come out of your pocket.

I would pick a good body shop that can get the car on a frame rack and measure to make sure everything is where it should be. You have the right to take the car to any shop YOU want, don't let the insurance co tell you otherwise.

 

[Ms. FastNasty]

DO NOT take a check before the car is fixed. If the body shop finds anything else wrong, you will have already signed off on it, thus making the repairs come out of your pocket.

I would pick a good body shop that can get the car on a frame rack and measure to make sure everything is where it should be. You have the right to take the car to any shop YOU want, don't let the insurance co tell you otherwise.

I had planned on taking it to a body shop to have them look at it and give me an estimate before the insurance guy even gets here. I guess I just figured with some of the parts for these cars being harder to find, maybe not all body shops would be able to get their hands on them...and maybe I would have to do some finding of my own as well...I could be completely wrong on that though. :tongue:

 

[novaderrik]

you got hit by a Corvette- but flip it around..
if you were a typical Corvette owner that had just gotten hit by some old black Regal with some weird badges on the fender, you'd be demading that everything be put back to perfect becasue, you know, it's a Corvette.
be a dick about it- settle for nothing but the best.

 

[INEEDAGN]

Do a search here and get the part numbers for the gm rear fillers. Go to the nearest GM dealer and get a quote for them (list price). They should still be available. Make sure the insurance adjuster knows how much new fillers are and make them pay you list price for them. Do the same with any other damaged parts that are still available (rub strip, bumperettes, etc.) Any parts that are discontinued get them the best estimate you can for NEW NOS PARTS. This is your baby and don't let them dick you around with used stuff. It was their guy's fault after all and make sure they know that. You don't have to come out kicking and screaming at the adjuster because that will only make things worse, but make sure they know how expensive this is and who is at fault. Depending on his insurance co. you may get a car guy type of adjuster that will agree to everything you put forth. Not likely, but it's possible.

 

[carlsbadGN]

I agree, stick with your guns and demand NOS parts. By the way, I tried to buy some rear bumper fillers last week from 2 local GM dealers and they said the items were discontinued. About 6 weeks ago, the left side was still available so looks like it just went bye bye. Expect to pay about $1000.00 for the NOS rear pair, if you can find any.

 

[Ms. FastNasty]

Is there a website for these NOS parts I can look at?

 

[xcessiv6]

I believe you can get the stock bumper filler and rubber strip still if you have parts numbers I will run them and see if available and what cost is. I work at Chevy store

 

[klrv6]

Take a body person with you. I used to work in a body shop so, I had a pretty good idea of what was really involved when someone ran into my truck. I went out and got three estimates from the body shops the insurance company said I had to go to. Then I went out and got real estimates. The original ones were around $700 when I got done picking all the stuff that was wrong, it was over $5500 in damage. They gave me a check for that amount. A few things to be very picky about when getting estimates. Don't be afraid to ask and push for this stuff to be on the estimate.

- Will the color match? If it's shot with something like PPG black, it will have a brown cast to it when sitting beside a true black car. Not pretty.

- Does yours have original paint or a clear coat on it? Make sure to point this out as each requires adjustments on the estimate. Ask them if they can match the texture of the paint you already have on the car. Ask to speak with the person who will be shooting the car. Just run over a few things with the painter, if they don't have time for you, I doubt they would have time to do the job correctly anyways. Will they repair any and all damaged undercoating to prevent rust from show up because of this person running into your car.

- Ask the body shop to show you recent repairs to cars on their lot. It would always make shop owners mad when I could walk around their customers cars and show them without them having to say a word. I would point out over spray, bad paint matches, texture, panel fitment and lots of other issues. BTW: That is also a good way to be asked to leave car lots

- Just make subtle hints that you really know what you are talking about and you want it fixed right.

- Look at it this way, if you ask enough questions to the person giving the estimate, they may price it so high that they won't get the work (and lose money on the job). Now take this high estimate to another body shop and show it to them before they write the second one for you. If you stress them a little, it may even be higher, repeat at the third shop and you're all set to show the insurance company what the real damage was.

 

[Ms. FastNasty]

Take a body person with you. I used to work in a body shop so, I had a pretty good idea of what was really involved when someone ran into my truck. I went out and got three estimates from the body shops the insurance company said I had to go to. Then I went out and got real estimates. The original ones were around $700 when I got done picking all the stuff that was wrong, it was over $5500 in damage. They gave me a check for that amount. A few things to be very picky about when getting estimates. Don't be afraid to ask and push for this stuff to be on the estimate.

- Will the color match? If it's shot with something like PPG black, it will have a brown cast to it when sitting beside a true black car. Not pretty.

- Does yours have original paint or a clear coat on it? Make sure to point this out as each requires adjustments on the estimate. Ask them if they can match the texture of the paint you already have on the car. Ask to speak with the person who will be shooting the car. Just run over a few things with the painter, if they don't have time for you, I doubt they would have time to do the job correctly anyways. Will they repair any and all damaged undercoating to prevent rust from show up because of this person running into your car.

- Ask the body shop to show you recent repairs to cars on their lot. It would always make shop owners mad when I could walk around their customers cars and show them without them having to say a word. I would point out over spray, bad paint matches, texture, panel fitment and lots of other issues. BTW: That is also a good way to be asked to leave car lots

- Just make subtle hints that you really know what you are talking about and you want it fixed right.

- Look at it this way, if you ask enough questions to the person giving the estimate, they may price it so high that they won't get the work (and lose money on the job). Now take this high estimate to another body shop and show it to them before they write the second one for you. If you stress them a little, it may even be higher, repeat at the third shop and you're all set to show the insurance company what the real damage was.

Thank you VERY much for all the detailed information! You know, I have to sit back and laugh today. I just got done playing lawyer today, and I guess Friday I'll be playing body shop pro...lol...ah, such is life!

 

[Ms. FastNasty]

Update

Guy came over today...roughly $1000 estimate is what he gave. He said the process is to issue a check for the estimate amount. If the body shop finds additional damage, or the parts cost a different amount than what is estimated, we would need to call the "supplemental" line.

Question on this. They are paying to have the right bumper filler replaced and painted. But don't they come in pairs? In other words, shouldn't they be paying to have the left one painted as well?

Anybody have any thoughts on if this quote should be enough to get the work done? I'll be sending the car to a restoration shop, not a body shop...are those more expensive?

Ugh, stupid corvette dude...causing me all kinds of headache!

 

[DCVING 6]

I would take the car to the restoration shop FIRST and see what they estimate. Usually the adjuster "adjusts" the shops estimate.