I'm living this nightmare, look down a couple threads. If he's at fault they will pay you for your vacation. If its still under warranty make sure the collision center you choose is BMW certified. If the damage is significant you need to get diminished value. It costs me $40 a year on my insurance to get oem Porsche parts.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
What's wrong with using the app? It'll get the ball rolling and once it's in the shop of your choice they'll bug the shop.

I'm not doing the job they are paid to do. With their customers' premiums.

The last time my truck got hit, I used the photo app and they tried to refuse bodywork because the bent bumper hid it.

They also tried to use a shit chinese bumper and I refused the work until an OEM Nissan bumper was installed. They claimed they had "the right" to choose ANY parts they wanted to repair the damage their insured caused. I asked them to show me GA law where it stated that. It's a lie.

If you use your own collision, you sign a contract stating your carrier can do so, but as a victim, they have no such contract.

My Dad is retired autobody and from what he has told me you can be assured they'll try the same thing even if their own adjuster or the direct repair shop does the pics and estimate. Underlying stuff is hidden behind visible stuff, and a good shop will get the supplement either through good documentation or letting it sit a couple days until an adjustor shows up and sees for themselves.

It's not like the old days where autobody guys knees, hips, backs, etc got bad so they went to work as an assurance adjuster and knew WTF they were talking about. Now, insurance adjusters are hired right out of college and don't know the difference between a trunk and a hood.

In other words, due to the weaselly nature of insurance companies they'll try to save money whether you use the app or their claim center. I'd do the app since it's less hassle.

Well, it could be much worse OP. You could have an accident claim against GEICO.

Don’t know how old your bmw is, or if it’s been in a wreck already, but don’t forget to ask for depreciation. Buddy of mine is in the middle of this, his 3 year old 5 series hit, is good for a $2500-$3000 value knock. I mean two identical cars sitting on a car lot, car fax says one wrecked, the other not... which you gonna buy? The reasponsible party’s insurance is Gieco. They were all good until the bmw shop told him it’s gonna be another 2 weeks. Now, the rental car place is screaming for their car back now, and Gieco won’t return any of his calls...originally Gieco said sure, no problemo, we’ll take care of it. My buddy estimates he has about 20 hours of legwork into getting his fixed so far.

I’m wondering if you can file a complaint with your State Insurance Commission, or whatever it’s called in your state.

Or trash them on social media.

Man that sucks, good luck to you.

Well well well.

Progressive just got REALLY polite after they reviewed the video.

I am to drop my car off at the body shop of my choice and a rental will be waiting.

They stated they will comply with my request of all BMW oem parts.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
The last time I used MY insurance in a NON-at fault accident, my rates TRIPLED.

Funny you mention this in a Progressive Ins topic. In 98' I had Progressive Ins on a 98' Lincoln Mk and pulling it into the garage during a South Florida summertime downpour, I ripped off the right passenger side mirror. It too was a NON-at fault since I did it. All went great for the service and repair but a few months passed and they dumped me...

I have developed absolutely no loyalties to insurance companies these days, and for a relatively small savings for equal coverages and/or services I haven't any problem jumping ship. I'm having another go with Progressive the last year but I'll definitely check with my insurance agent before making decisions about my claims. My agent is a friend of the family and a damn good agent. He saved me over 2k this year with a state run hurricane insurance group by having his inspector come out and update my home from my last inspection. I trust him more than I'd trust any rep from the insurance carrier and will seek his advice first should the situation arise.

Glad to see that they were more responsive after viewing the video. Makes me re-think more about the dash cams!

quote:

Glad to see that they were more responsive after viewing the video. Makes me re-think more about the dash cams!

Dash cams are $17 at Wal-Mart. A 32gig chip is $9.

Small price to pay to silence a lying asshole.

quote:

Dash cams are $17 at Wal-Mart. A 32gig chip is $9.

Mars, I just started a quick browse on dash cams, the topic is daunting. Let me ask, In the past as with several radar detectors, I used a Valentine One until somebody broke in and snatched it. The one thing that without pre-wiring into the dash was, I wasn't a big fan of cords hanging, this time purchasing an Escort batt powered one but soon discovered with the windshield mount it interfered with Honda lane sensing and front collision warning applications. The rearview mirror is kinda thick and takes up windshield viewing space with it's mount and electronics, plus I have to have in place a Sunpass toll paying device on the windshield too.

Is your dash cam wireless or could you recommend one that does from your experiences? I really have an unusual shape dash because of the Accords design that kinda restricts placement with line-of-view also. I can see this is going to be a timely search especially with web searches and available Youtube videos. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:

quote:

Glad to see that they were more responsive after viewing the video. Makes me re-think more about the dash cams!

Dash cams are $17 at Wal-Mart. A 32gig chip is $9.

Small price to pay to silence a lying asshole.

Yep. I got side swiped by a lying POS, he said I hit him. Cop said no tickets cause it was he said, he said. The POS even tried to make a claim on my insurance, they told him to pack sand. I bought cams for all of our vehicles after that, would have sure helped in that situation. I bought one off of amazon and two of the Blackweb ones from wally world for $20. They all work great. The $20 ones even came with the winsheild mount that I had to pay extra for from Amazon.

Yeah, they will lie. Like a rug.

I posted video here a while ago, showing Mercedes Girl running a red light to slam into me on the starboard side. She lied and told the cop that I had run the light.

Cop was not happy with me until I showed him the video. Then he said, "You're all right, don't worry about a thing," and proceeded to write up Mercedes Girl.

The cost of both cameras (for my vehicles, and my wife's), was more than covered by what would have been the cost of one traffic ticket for me.

Well worth it. If you don't have a camera, get one. Or two.

Within a couple days of the accident allstate sent me a check for a couple vacation days and a very small amount for bodily injury. I promptly tore it up. My dash cam literally saved my ass after the guy who hit me in the ass lied and said I cut in front of him. The cop believed him and wrote it up this way. He changed his mind when I showed him the dash cam video. I also had a clip, sound only, where he apologizes to me and basically gives the details of what he did wrong. If your in an accident leave the cam on and do all the talking within ear shot of it.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Well well well.

Progressive just got REALLY polite after they reviewed the video.

I am to drop my car off at the body shop of my choice and a rental will be waiting.

They stated they will comply with my request of all BMW oem parts.

Yeah, glad to hear things are turning out better!

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:


Is your dash cam wireless or could you recommend one that does from your experiences? I really have an unusual shape dash because of the Accords design that kinda restricts placement with line-of-view also. I can see this is going to be a timely search especially with web searches and available Youtube videos. Thanks.

All of my dash cams are wired. I stick it to the windshield and route the wire under the headliner, across to under the support cover and then into the fuse block.

My best dashcam is my Garmin DriveAssist 50 (51 is the newest model). It takes incredible video.

This video is from my shitty Walmart Pilot dashcam.

You will want a 32 gig chip. An expensive one. The cheap shit ones die within a week.

I can not stress the importance of a reliable witness that is stupid cheap. I will keep harping on y'all until every last one of us here are using them. Better to have the camera and only have boring video then to need it because some asshole was careless and now accusing you of his shit, then it cost you thousands.

I got hit in a parking lot while I was sitting in my car. I called my insurance company and made a claim. They dealt with the other insurance company, which accepted fault and paid me. I never had to talk to them and my rates didn't go up.

I have American Family. The experience was as painless as it could have been.

Just front, but now I have one facing to the rear after this.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:


Is your dash cam wireless or could you recommend one that does from your experiences? I really have an unusual shape dash because of the Accords design that kinda restricts placement with line-of-view also. I can see this is going to be a timely search especially with web searches and available Youtube videos. Thanks.

All of my dash cams are wired. I stick it to the windshield and route the wire under the headliner, across to under the support cover and then into the fuse block.

My best dashcam is my Garmin DriveAssist 50 (51 is the newest model). It takes incredible video.

This video is from my shitty Walmart Pilot dashcam.

You will want a 32 gig chip. An expensive one. The cheap shit ones die within a week.

I can not stress the importance of a reliable witness that is stupid cheap. I will keep harping on y'all until every last one of us here are using them. Better to have the camera and only have boring video then to need it because some asshole was careless and now accusing you of his shit, then it cost you thousands.

Thanks for the info Mars. I even discussed it with the wife, we're both covered by the Progressive policy. She's also interested as she got nailed in a left turn accident being the second car after the light turned red and the first car hitting the brakes trying to rush thru, as the second in back of her tried pushing her thru the light..

Anyways after hours of reading and searching the Youtube videos I've come to the conclusion that they don't yet manufacture a good completely portable battery dash cam like my Escort Solo radar detecter with no wires. So I'll have to route the wires as you mentioned. I think after looking at a few models I'll likely go with one with front and rear cameras. Still lots of info to digest with various cams. Thanks for all your info Mars, I'm definitely "in" though!

check out this link as to a buying guide for dash cams:

https://dashcamtalk.com/best-dash-cams-of-2019/

I got this with a cheap shit Wal-Mart camera.

More than enough to prove my case. However I have a second one facing rearward now.

I think I will just pony up for this one. However, the convertible won't allow me to place the back one in the rear window and will be required to be mounted under the tag light.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/r...J_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


A dashcam will keep you polite in heavy traffic.