- Report: #1474751
Complaint Review: American Family Insurance - colorado springs co colorado
Reported By:
Cynthia -
Peyton, Colorado, United States
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
American Family Insurance
colorado springs co, 80907 colorado, United States
Phone:
(800) 692-6326
Web:
https://www.amfam.com/
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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American Family Insurance Failed to pay insurance claim colorado springs co colorado
On 8/30/2018 I was involved in a minor collision. I had backed out of a parking spot and another vehicle backed into me, pushing my driver side rear view mirror into my window and breaking the other drivers taillight. The accident took place on private property (supermarket parking lot).
I took photos which clearly displayed this information. The insurance adjuster did not come out and look at my vehicle and apparently has no common sense to see how the other vehicle had to be the one who backed into me. They decided I was at fault despite the evidence to the contrary.
Subsequent to this, they raised my rates by $258 dollars for a 6 month period to cover a cost of approximately $1500 to repair the other driver's vehicle. I will cover the cost of my own vehicle's repair.
I will be changing insurance companies very soon, but felt like I needed to warn other consumers of this practice.
If I was at fault, I would totally understand their position; but I was definitely not at fault and the pictures which I took clearly demonstrate this fact.
Had I been the vehicle in motion and backed into the other driver, my rear view mirror on the drivers side would have been pushed in the direction of the front of my car and would have been broken. As it is, I have a couple of small scrapes in my driver side door right underneath the mirror. The other driver sustained damage on their rear passenger side bumper and their rear taillight housing was broken on my mirror.
I am not an accident reconstructionist, but common sense alone is enough to parse out what exactly transpired.
Very disappointed in American Family Insurance.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Irvine,California,
United States
A few things
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, March 07, 2019
I will just say that "simple physics" and "who hit who" does not always identify fault.
For example, if a person runs a red light at an intersection and is hit by another vehicle. It is the person that ran the red light that would be determined to be at fault even though they were the one that was hit. More for your situation, and not saying this is the case, but for example if the other vehicle had started to back out first and you didn't see them. If they could not stop in time or aviod the accident you could be seen as at fault because they had the right of way by starting out first and your failure to observe them.
If the other party insurance company pays, they are also responsible for your deductible. So if you have a $2000 deductible with your carrier and the damage was $2200. If they paid claim they would be required to pay you your total out of pocket expenses which would be the $2200. So you in fact are losing out more than you think by not pursuing the other driver. If their insurance won't pay, then file a Small Claims case against the driver, for the amount you are talking it is probably $100 or less to do that and you could claim that back as well if you prevail. In court you could then tell the judge your side and hopefully they will see it your way. In fact just filing the suit may be enough to get their insurance company to pay.
Good Luck
cynthia
peyton,Colorado,
United States
rebuttal to reply from random stranger
#3Author of original report
Wed, March 06, 2019
Yes, I agree that the damages seem high for replacing a tail-light lens and basically rubbing my paint off her bumper, but that's the information I was given. To be clear, these are the other drivers supposed damages....not mine.
I did file a claim with her insurance company, no luck. I will pay for my own repair because I carry a high deductible and the difference in cost will be minimal.
Simple physics shows who backed in to who....so regardless of what I say or what the other party said....that fact alone is clear.
My disappointment lies in the fact that the insurance company decided to raise my rates substantially for something that I was not at fault for.
Robert
Irvine,California,
United States
Confused
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, March 06, 2019
I am not going to say you were or were not at fault. But while I will say that I am sure you belive that the pictures "clearly" show the other driver is at fault, the reality is that it may not be as clear as you think.
But there are a few confusing items. First is the amount of damage seems a bit high for an accident that based on your narrative would have taken place at "parking lot" speeds of someone just backing out. How fast were each of you actually going?
Then why if you truly believe you are not at fault why are you paying for your own damages? Why did you not put a claim in with the other drivers insurance company? If that didn't work out for you, why didn't you file a suit against them in Small Claims court? The insurance company isn't a court of law, and unless you signed some legal document signing away your rights to sue the other driver there is nothing that would keep you from doing that.
As for the insurance adjuster not coming out to look at your vehicle. Why would they? You most likely sent them pictures so there would be nothing new for them to see, and according to your post you are paying for the damages yourself. In fact MANY insurance companies no longer will send adjusters out for minor accidents and rely on the pictures that were taken by the people involved in the accident.
