Rear-Ended in the X5

[Tazojla]

Apologies for going off topic and being a bit nosey; What is this thing attached to your X5?

[texvette]

Even if file on his insurance. Your premium will probably go up.
I had a agent tell me if file a claim, your companies will know, go
on your account. insurance companies are not your friend

[95wildtt]

Got 3 estimates today, ranging from $1350 to $1750. Basically replacing the bumper cover, bracket and center section of the aero kit. Will probably do the work myself as it looks straight forward and that way I know nothing else will get screwed up.

My insurance estimator told me to let him know if I find anything else and they will add it to the total. I have a check in hand for the $1750 amount.

Tazojla: That's one of my custom lighting modules, see photos for views of both front and rear.

[Doug Huffman]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

[ ... ] Tazojla: That's one of my custom lighting modules, see photos for views of both front and rear.

I wonder if his battery will make it from one oil change to the next.

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by Doug Huffman

I wonder if his battery will make it from one oil change to the next.

The front's are on when the AEs are lit, and the rears only when the Plate lights are on. They are all LEDS, so they would run from a 9v battery 24/7 for about a month.

Thanks.

[Tazojla]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

Tazojla: That's one of my custom lighting modules, see photos for views of both front and rear.

Hmm, not sure if I like it. Kinda weird but in a good way. No chance I'd get away with it in the UK

[absentmathis]

Originally Posted by texvette

Even if file on his insurance. Your premium will probably go up.
I had a agent tell me if file a claim, your companies will know, go
on your account. insurance companies are not your friend

Sorry to dredge up an older post but this is 100% false and needs to be corrected. A driver should not and would not be penalized by their insurance company if the other party is at fault. They will also not be charged a deductible. Of course people so often don't know the rules that they get scammed by insurance, but this is how it works. There is also no reason to get three estimates. Take it to the shop of your choice and have it repaired like new at he cost of the party that caused the collision.

[absentmathis]

Originally Posted by trader4

I mostly agree about your insurance company not raising your
rates for an accident where you were not at fault. In fact, I posted
similar here. But while I think most insurance companies would
not, I don't think you can absolutely rule out that some might.
It also could depend on your driving history. Clean record, no
claims in 10 years, is one thing. But if you had some tickets, had
other claims, then I could see them using the latest accident, even
though you were not at fault, to raise your rates. But I agree, that
with the facts given here, I'd put the claim into my insurance company.

I think you're wrong on saying that you can take it anywhere and
don't need more than one quote. There is no guarantee that the
other party's insurance company will fully pay any price for the repair.
If you choose to get it done for $5000 and they say it can be done
for $2500, there are other reputable shops that will do it at that
price, then the insurance company may only pay the $2500. You
could then sue the other party to try to collect the difference,
but having a few quotes so you know what's realistic, what position
you're in to negotiate upfront, etc I think isn't a bad idea.
Simplest thing I'd do is take the car to the body shop of my choice
and have the insurance adjuster go over there to check it out.
That way, the body shop guy can tell him, "look, that also needs
to be fixed, you can't just replace this one piece, etc". If that
results in a good number, you're done. If not, then I'd go get
other estimates and start arguing.

If an insurance company raises your rates as a result of an accident where you were not at fault, they are acting unethically and outside of the law. One's driving history does not matter at all in this instance. Now they may adjust your rates for OTHER occurrences (tickets, etc) that happened in the same renewal period, but that's not the same thing.

Laws vary by state, but in Indiana (OP) and NC (where I live) there is absolutely no requirement to get three estimates and you can take your car anywhere you want to get it fixed. It is then up to the insurance company and the body shop to negotiate mutually acceptable terms. The shop may refuse to come to terms with the insurer, but that is basically unheard of. I agree that getting multiple estimates is a good way to inform yourself though, and you can always try to get paid out at a higher rate and repaired for less. That's your right.