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12-07-2015, 09:20 PM | #1 |
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Accident / Experience with Progressive Insurance
Hello Old Brothers....
I no longer have my "1" but had to post this for you guys anyway! Miss that 135i MT..... My Car: 2014 335i 11,000 miles. I was unfortunate enough to get rear ended pretty hard on the Florida Turnpike. 5 cars total in accident. I was one of two vehicles where the drivers were NOT sent to the hospital. Safe car! I'm ok and I think all other drivers are ok also. Call the Assist Tow -- takes 70 minutes to arrive. Once in a safe place, I contact Progressive insurance who I have been with for 3+ years. They tow the car to "Fields BMW Bodyshop" near Longwood. Many of you are familiar with Fields -- many threads have been written about this questionable dealer group here in central Florida. (any further comments about that would be off topic). Feel free to research that one on your own. So...progressive informs me they do not pay for BMWs to get repaired @ certified BMW shops. BMW shops (at least in Florida) charge "too much." Additionally, Progressive only pays for CRASHED PARTS and will not pay BMW hourly repair rates. It does not matter that I was not at fault. It does not matter that my car is almost new and was in pristine condition. Progressive is so far unwilling to investigate what insurance company the other driver has (they were taken to hospital). If the customer wants his/her car repaired by a BMW shop, you must consent to giving them a blank check for additional costs. No amount was given for what this could possibly be. I spoke to 4? representatives and 2 supervisors here in Orlando. The general attitude is if you don't like it, we don't have to repair your car. I was also told, have your lawyer call us, we'll tell him the same thing. Florida Highway Patrol will not have the accident report for 10 business days. I am just sharing for people who may be paying Progressive and may be unaware (just like I was) that Progressive does not pay to repair BMWs with new BMW certified parts. Imagine getting in to an accident and being asked to give a blank check, or worse having your car fixed at some unknown repair facility in ghetto Orlando (look up "Orange Blossom Trail" -- that's where my car was towed to after Fields). Totally shitty business practices. BEWARE. Change from Progressive if you have it -- even if you have to pay more. I am obviously switching and will gladly pay more with someone else (after doing research of course). An extra $400 bucks a year or something is a small price to pay to have descent coverage.
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12-07-2015, 10:35 PM | #2 |
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Insurance laws differ from state to state. In California, the consumer has the right to choose which shop performs the repair. I do not believe the same applies in FL.
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12-07-2015, 10:40 PM | #3 |
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You are in the beginning of this process, so don't give up, just yet.
Your advice about Progressive Insurance is well taken, and thanks for sharing it. You may need to get a lawyer, but you do have a contract with this insurance company and the contracts they offer are governed to at least some extent by your state's regulations. Don't let them do anything to your car that you are not comfortable with. Don't accept their explanation of what they are going to say to your lawyer. And use every tool you have available to you, to get the word out. In the end, I like your chances, I think you will prevail. Whether it will be with a few hours of a lawyer's time or if it will come from your publicizing this situation through the internet, companies like Progressive know that every dollar they spend on advertising can be negated by 2 cents worth of bad publicity. You should reinforce that message. |
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12-07-2015, 11:21 PM | #4 |
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I was an adj for them for a while. They are stingy on the repairs. I am assuming you are filing on your covg to get this resolved. It use to be in the policy jacket here in ga that no one ever read that unless your car was current year model and i believe less than 12k miles, they could use aftermarket and or used parts if availible. They will tell you to kick rocks if they feel your shop is too expensive or tell you to pay the diffrence. I couldnt stand working for them.
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12-07-2015, 11:50 PM | #5 |
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Everyone wants cheap insurance, because, after all, insurance is one of those things that no one expects to use, and when they don't use it they usually feel like their premium was simply wasted. And since the premium is likely to be wasted, why spend very much on it?
Everyone's need for insurance is different. If you have some money and some investments, then your primary interest is to not have any of your assets taken away from you, and the details about coverage for repairs becomes secondary. If you have no assets, then you don't really care much about liability, and your major concern is getting your car or house or whatever back to original form after an untoward event. So, you do need to tailor your insurance to your situation. For many here, not only do you need automobile insurance but you also need an "umbrella" policy to protect yourself from liability over and beyond what your auto insurance will cover. For some others, a catastrophic claim can be dealt with by filing bankruptcy, although I would not suggest that approach. Getting back to this particular situation, there is more to life than saving money. I have watched my share of Progressive Insurance commercials, as I am sure everyone else here has. Not once have I heard them talk about how good their coverage is and how they will get your life and car and situation back into one piece after an accident. All I have ever heard is how they are XXX dollars cheaper than some other very cheap insurance company (like Geico or Farmers). This is to say they are competing only on price. So, I have never been attracted to this insurance company, because in the end, if you need to claim on your insurance, how important is it really that you saved $47/year on the coverage? My advice would be to get yourself decent coverage. You don't need to get the most expensive coverage that is out there, but get coverage that if you need it, you won't regret having chosen that company. Most of the major line companies are at least adequate in this regard, be it Allstate, State Farm, Safeco, Liberty Mutual, etc. -- all the ones that talk about their service and how they perform for their clients when needed, who don't talk only about saving money, usually with them you will come out at least OK. |
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12-08-2015, 07:52 AM | #6 |
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If you are not at fault, then why would your insurance company have anything to do with paying for the damage?
The insurance company of the driver who is found liable is responsible for paying for the repairs. You need to call THEIR insurance company and file a claim, and they will use the police report to determine liability. It does seem weird that Progressive didn't do this for you once you called them but maybe they are just really shitty. If you didn't get the other driver's insurance information then it should be on the police report. Maybe Progressive is giving you a hard time because the police report is not available yet, so they can't yet assess who is liable. If they are talking about what they are willing to pay for, that's only under the assumption that you will be liable, otherwise the liable party and their insurance is responsible for paying for everything. |
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12-08-2015, 08:49 AM | #7 | |
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No insurance company wants to pay out claims to someone they don't insure (i.e. you the victim in this case). As a result, they can be a PITA to deal with and your own company can smooth this over for you. In addition, the other party may be uninsured or underinsured, or the other party's insurance could be very shitty (think Progressive in this example) and they could try to stiff you. Again, your own coverage, if it is good, can fill in the gaps as necessary and can get the other party's insurance to pay what is owed. It would be a huge error not to contact your own insurance company in an accident situation, regardless of fault. The only exception I can think of (and personally speaking I would not cooperate) would be where the responsible party wants to avoid racking up a record with their own insurance company and tries to pay you directly without involving their insurance. This can be a very bad idea for you, as the victim, for reasons you can easily figure out, but in extraordinary circumstances some people do this. |
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12-08-2015, 09:15 AM | #8 |
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You definitely want to file with the at-fault driver's insurance
First, they may be less restrictive on who you can use for repair. Second, you can not make a claim for diminished value if you use your own insurance company. I learned when a truck backed into my 14 month old pristine car that most insurance companies have wording in their policies that prohibit the insured from getting diminished value after a wreck, even if it was not their fault. There is no such limitation if the other driver's insurance repairs the car. Most companies will fight you about diminished value and you will likely have to go to small claims court (State Farm is one rare exception here in NV). I won in small claims for $6.5K in diminished value (which is what my appraisers determined to be the loss) which the other driver's insurance paid promptly. (BTW, they offered my $500, then $1K, then $3K to settle as the court date approached.) If you let your insurance company handle the claim, you can not later sue the at-fault driver for diminished value because your insurance company will sign a release to the at-fault's insurance company for you when repairs are finished.
Regarding claiming diminished value, first get your car repaired and never mention to anyone your intent to ask for diminished value during the repair process. After you car is repaired, start the diminished value discussion and do it all by email so you can use it as evidence in trial. |
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12-08-2015, 10:31 AM | #9 |
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I've had two BMWs with relatively minor damage repaired at a Progressive Concierge Center (in Oldsmar, FL) and had a great experience each time. No experience with serious damage.... but I'm still a customer and if I get smashed, I'll get a tow to that same center and hope for the best.
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12-08-2015, 10:31 AM | #10 |
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yeah... I question why YOUR insurance has to do anything. My expereince with not-at-fault accidents is that insurance will pay for whatever repairs necessary then go after the person at fault to collect on that.
IMO: Florida is one of those unfortunate states where the company has all the power and you are just along for the ride. Sadly, this is becoming more common these days.
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12-08-2015, 12:54 PM | #11 |
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There is a fundamental misunderstanding of how insurance works in this thread. As champignon said, there is nothing wrong with filing a claim with your own insurance company. In fact, every time I've been in an accident with another party, I have filed a claim with my own agent. I have been with State Farm for a long time and I'm also covered under an umbrella policy.
Long story short, last year my E36 M3 was involved in a hit & run accident. I did a bit of sleuthing and actually found out who hit my car. Rather than messing with the other party's insurance (Geico), which ended up trying to deny the claim 3 times, I filed with my own neighborhood agent. It took a few months, but my car was repaired perfectly and eventually, State Farm reached a settlement after subrogation. My entire repair was covered in addition to my entire deductible. Every last penny. And my rates did not increase. Last edited by tock172; 12-08-2015 at 05:18 PM.. |
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12-08-2015, 02:35 PM | #12 |
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Just to clarify what I wrote earlier on this thread, I am not proposing that you, the victim, would necessarily collect anything directly from your own insurance company; this would only happen in a case such as tock172 laid out. What I was suggesting was that you could use your insurance company and/or agent to negotiate with the guilty party's agent or company, because they are going to be a lot better at it than you are, unless you're really tough and good at this sort of thing. Plus, it can be a huge PITA to do it yourself.
As an example, I was driving in my small town about 15 years ago in my red 1993 325i when a 16 year old female driver made a U-turn in the middle of a block with parking spaces in the middle of the street separating the lanes. She plowed right into my car while I was minding my own business driving down the street at 15 or 20 miles per hour. The rear quarter panel damage was extensive. This young girl was hysterical as she hadn't been driving for very long and this was her first accident. I got her information and called her agent, who sold Farmer's insurance iirc. His initial response was, "my understanding was that you ran into her." At that point I said, "goodbye," hung up the phone and called my own agent. She took care of everything and the girl's dad later called me and insisted in paying the body shop directly so that his auto premiums wouldn't go up given his several teenage kids on his policies at the time. Since he was a well known business man in my town and I trusted him, I went along with it and it got taken care of at his expense. Bottom line, insurance agents are in the service business. If you are insuring more than just one vehicle, or for example your house also, maybe also an umbrella policy, there are lots of discounts the main line companies give you to consolidate all of your business with their company. At that point you become a real customer to the insurance company, and they have every incentive to keep you happy, because they don't want to lose your business on your house, multiple vehicles, umbrella, maybe business insurance also. So, if your intention is to just find the cheapest insurance out there, that is certainly an option. But if you become a real customer to one good insurance company, you can get some discounts and some real service that makes the whole package attractive, and can spare you some grief if someone else damages your car. |
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12-08-2015, 02:59 PM | #13 |
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In an accident first you should ALWAYS report it to your insurance company.
They are your representative. And will be your advocate. After the police report is completed, blame is determined. If the other party is 100% to blame you can get your car repaired under your policy and pay the deductible you carry. Your insurance company will get payment from the other person's insurance including the deductible and repay you for the deductible you paid. |
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12-08-2015, 05:24 PM | #14 |
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champignon Raises some great points. When shopping for insurance, I have always felt the extra money spent using a company like State Farm was worth every penny. It's always been very clear that companies like Progressive, Geico and others which advertise like crazy and always claim to have the lowest price are clearly spending their money attracting new customers as opposed to serving their current policyholders. Not to mention the discounts you get when everything's bundled together. It really makes a lot of sense in the long run. The best part is, my agent is also a true auto enthusiast and actually owned a few BMWs during his lifetime.
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12-08-2015, 08:34 PM | #15 | |
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Thank you.
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12-08-2015, 08:40 PM | #16 | |
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You asked a great question (and mostly answered it yourself):
I don't have the other person's insurance information. It has been 6 days I and I still don't have it. Florida Highway Patrol doesn't release it for up to 10 days. I have been calling daily for the crash report (including the other's partys contact info). FHP says this is standard practice with multiple car accidents. The trooper has not completed it yet; he has 10 full days to do it. For 1-2 car accidents it's sometimes provided immediately at the time of the accident, or shortly there after. The FHP operator actually told me SHE was involved in a recent accident and had to wait for the report as well. She says lots of people are in "limbo" especially in Orlando when the 2 speeds are "slow" and "stop." That's why I even have to deal with Progressive (my carrier). Quote:
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12-08-2015, 09:59 PM | #17 | |
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You would think that having endured a gut-wrenching experience like that over such a long period, would make me better at waiting out uncertainties, but it really hasn't. I think it is human nature. The important thing to remember is that all bad things ultimately end; they just do. And when it is all over you won't give it another thought, or at least not very often. Good luck! |
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12-09-2015, 10:57 AM | #18 |
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Well what you need to do is get a good insurance company.
I have Auto-Owners which is a top rated outfit. Another one is USAA. Incidentally State Farm is in the middle of the pack, and you generally pay more for the same coverage compared to other companies. Next, you have to learn the laws in your state regarding what your rights are in an accident. You have to remember that the company wants to dispose of your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. A good tactic is to always claim some sort of injury and insist on being taken to a hospital, then your company will be much more sympathetic! |
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12-09-2015, 11:09 AM | #19 |
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Something that I haven't seen mentioned yet: Florida is a no-fault state.
All Florida drivers are required to carry minimum PIP benefits in their policies. When a crash occurs, each person involved in the crash turns to his or her own policy to pay the costs of medical care and other losses. These benefits kick in regardless of who was at fault in the accident. By contrast, in an "at-fault" insurance state (also known as a "fault" or "tort liability" state), drivers may choose whether to file claims with their own insurers, file claims with another driver's insurer, or take the other driver to court to prove he or she was the one at fault, and therefore the one responsible for paying the costs of the accident. See: http://www.all-about-car-accidents.c...uto-insurance-
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12-10-2015, 02:49 AM | #20 | |
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12-10-2015, 10:06 AM | #21 | |
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A Sqid Eh?
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I once lived in Florida, and I remember when State Farm wanted to drop auto insurance in the state due to the number of claims. Of all the insurance lines that companies offer, auto is always a loser. Hence you can't blame companies for being discriminatory or very selective in who they are willing to offer policies to. Your driving record is very important for your financial and physical health. If you have a cavalier attitude about your driving proficiency, it is going to cost you dearly. Those who have a poor driving record with accidents or breaking the traffic laws will find themselves without insurance. Of course, you might get something from the General, but he'll get rid of your ass if you don't wake up. Here's another thing people aren't aware of. Your driving record is public information along with a lot of other data about you. With computers and databases, it isn't hard for a creditor or a potential employer to form a picture or profile of what kind of person you are. |
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12-10-2015, 11:33 AM | #22 | |
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On a side note my parents have had state farm for 20 years and pay no more than 240 every six months for both their cars combined |
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