Ranger vs. Lincoln (The saga)

[Mitchell-Ranger Boy]

As you all know I was rear ended by a lady who ran a red light. After talking to her Insurance company yesterday they are only willing to pay depreciated value for my 1997 Ranger Trail trailer and fix my boat.

What should I do?

I am the innocent one here and they want me to shell out the extra money for a new trailer.

Guys give me some advice here on how I should handle this... I want my boat and trailer back the way they were before the accident or the INS company should total the boat and trailer and I will get me a different one.

Please advise me...

Mitchell-Ranger Boy
Ryan Mitchell

[DJD]

Man, been there done that and unless you get either a lucky break or an insurance friend who can help you through the process your going to feel the sting of injustice. When it happened to me my insurance company said they would fight for me to get what is fair but after two years I figured it was a lost cause. Good luck.

[offdtop]

Ryan - Hate to say it but take her to small claims for the difference, it's cheap enough and I'm sure you have pictures of your boat. Call her and tell her what your going to do and see what she says if she hacks you off pay the $35 to file - to say the least you can try to recoupe some of the money you'll need. You also need to have your tow vehicle checked out to see if the frame is still straight, bumper is ok etc....

[tfmuch]

I would document every conversation about this claim, who u talk to, when, what was said, your loss. Keep track of everything if you are unsatisfied send a complaint to the KY Insurance COMMISSIONER. I had a problem a few years back where my daughters auto was hit and the guys insurance sent her a check for half the amount to fix it. They told me that is all they would pay due to being an older truck, I sent all info to State Insurance Commissioners and with in a week the insurance company called from home office to verify address to overnight check for the full repair. They think most people want stand there ground. Complaints to the dept. of Insurance are not good for them, let your tax dollars help you with this. When talking to them ask for everything they tell you in writing. You can let them know your are filling a complaint to Insurance commissioner.

Good Luck!!!

Terry

http://doi.ppr.ky.gov/kentucky/

[Cobra190]

Been through this also in the past. Each peice of advice that has been offered is true and you should, though timely, go throgh each channel that has been brought up. You should also get your own ins. company involved and let them fight for you. This will tell you what kind of company you trust your own insurance to. They know that if your not returned to same state you were in before the accident, you could file with them to recover the difference, and in most cases they will go after the other company to keep you out of their pocket. Either way, you are intitled to recieve back all that has been lost and have equal to what you had to begin with. Not only request your ins. group to have your truck checked out, but also have any and all equipment and components checked both on the boat and in your storage compartments, (including rods and reels), for any damage from the impact.
When this happened to me, my trailer was replaced totally, and I also recieved a checked for damaged equipment. Hair line fractures in fiberglass are sometimes hard to detect. To be on the safe side, I put ther plug in my boat and filled the inside up with water just below the battery level and checked for any water leaking out.
Good luck with this!

[Bobby Headrick]

The advice given you has been good I am an EX ins saleman due to the fact that most ins co's are crooks, you should not have to go thru this as that is what ins is supposed to be for but look after Katrina how they reacted to that, you might have to get a lawyer, as we all know it takes a crook to stop a crook. Good luck.Glad you are OK and did not get hurt.

[BassJunkie]

If you are noting getting the response that you are looking for take it up the latter. Ask for their supervisor and keep moving up the latter all the way to the top if you have to. Let them know that you are not going to accept anything less then what is right. Also you may have to go sit in front of them and state your case. Some people aren’t so bold when they are face to face with someone, but always be professional. ALWAYS! Demand involvement from your insurance company. This is part for their job to fight for you. I can’t prove it, but it would not surprise me if some of these adjusters don’t get a percent or two for saving the company money by being tough with people.

I don’t know the amount of damage but if it were me and I had major damage to my boat I would be asking when are they going to pick it up as they just bought it. These things are not like cars were you can slap on a new fender or bumper and everything is normal. During the repairs is more weight going to be added to the boat? This will affect the performance of it and can also be a safety issue down the road. Can they prove that it will be restored to the same manufactures specs? I know this sounds extreme but so are the rollers at Kentucky lake. What happens when things are repaired and cracks start showing up around the repairs?

Keep fighting for what is right.

[Mitchell-Ranger Boy]

Thanks for all the great advice and I appreciate all of the concern for the situation. I will let you all know as the situation progresses.

Mitchell-Ranger Boy
Ryan Mitchell

[Tom523]

get an attorney. It took me a almost a year but it's worth it. I had my vehichle repaired and they gave me a check for $28000.00. I never had to spend a day in court. It helped that a sheriff was behind the car that hit me.