I want to sue my auto ins. company. How can i do it the smart way?

Question

My truck got stolen on 6/2. On 6/16 the adjuster said that it would be a total loss. They have not told me how much they are going to pay. I feel that they are taking to long and i am going thru some depression. How can I make them speed the process?

Answer 1

Good luck with that one.  Three weeks is hardly a long time, and it has been only one week since your vehicle was declared a total loss.  Do you realize how many claims an adjuster receives and has to resolve each day.  Your claim is not their only claim.

You cannot be compensated for your alleged depression because your car was stolen.  Further, you cannot sue your insurance company unless you can prove that they are acting in bad faith.  If you have a beef, which you don't, contact your states Insurance Commissioner and file a complaint.

If you want to "speed up the process", politely contact your claims rep tomorrow, and ask him/her when you can expect a settlement offer.  

Since this is a stolen vehicle claim, the insurance company needs to secure all needed information including the police report, your theft affidavit etc.  You better hope the ignition was defeated.  If not, your claim will be thrown right into their Special Investigation Unit.  That is when your claim will drag out.

Answer 2

Call and and ask to talk to the field manager for a better update on what is happening.  You stated that the adjuster said the truck would be a total loss.  Was the truck recovered to make this statement?  My previous dealings with insurance companies usually took at less 30 days for payment approval.

Answer 3

Only 2 weeks after the theft you got a message from the adjuster?  That's amazingly fast.  It usually takes over 30 days before they even start on the process, they allow the first 30 to go by to see it the truck is found and recovered.

They aren't taking too long at all.  There is nothing you can do to speed up the process, in fact as I said they are moving faster than you'd expect them to.

They will give you fair market value for your truck.  Not what a new one costs, not what you owe (if anything), but fair market value, adjusted for condition.

Answer 4

oaklatom is 100% correct.  consider yourself lucky they have even started the process at all.  you can't make them speed the process.  they have to wait to see if the car is recovered (usually 30 days) and THEN they normally do an investigation and THEN they will proceed with the claim.  try to be a little more patient.  they have done NOTHING wrong, so what do you think you are gonna sue them for?

Answer 5

call them everyday and ask what the progress is on your claim