State Farm Insurance Adjusters

[RiverRat37]

Anybody have experience dealing with State Farm insurance adjusters? They are going to be coming out to look at my ride and I'm wondering if anybody knows how badly they might try to low ball me on my estimate? Thanks for any and all replies!!

 

[OffRoadGuy]

Its their duty to get the lowest possible. Don't sign or cash anything until you're satisfy with the settlement. Try to get other estimates to contest the amount they offered and have it in hand for proof. State Farm is okay company. Its the deep so called discount companies people should worry about.

 

[littlehandegan]

Be ready to argue for more.

Have listings for other 4runner comparable etc.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Yeah, get a second estimate if you feel it is low.

Just refuse to sign anything.

 

[TOY2G]

Anybody have experience dealing with State Farm insurance adjusters? They are going to be coming out to look at my ride and I'm wondering if anybody knows how badly they might try to low ball me on my estimate? Thanks for any and all replies!!

My wife has worked for State Farm for about ten years. The estimator will want to write as high as claim as he can to avoid adjustments. When your vehicle goes into the shop for repair anyhe did not write it high enough to cover repairs and the shop has to request an adjustment it reflects poorly on the estimator. Most major insurance companies are this way now.

If you want to get paid on add-ons you will need a combination of receipts and or examples of cost (price of similar modded vehicle)

Also worth mentioning, if they give you a repair estimate and you feel it is low and you start asking for more money before it is even in the repair shop, there is a good chance you will get canceled on your next renewal, and that can make it hard to get new insurance. I fit is a total loss, it will be priced through the total loss dept and they will give you a check for NADA value plus tax

Its their duty to get the lowest possible. Don't sign or cash anything until you're satisfy with the settlement. Try to get other estimates to contest the amount they offered and have it in hand for proof. State Farm is okay company. Its the deep so called discount companies people should worry about.

Their duty???? Dime stor insurance that relies on customer premiums to sustain the business, perhaps. One of the big 7, not so much. However I have heard some bad stories about Geico. There is a reason State Farm and Amica have the highest Cust sat rating by a massive margin over all other companies.

 

[RiverRat37]

Hey thanks for the replies!! Its not my insurance so no worry of cancellation its the guy's that hit me. I'm wanting to just get a check in hand to me for estimate amount. I'll get it fixed in reasonable time but need the money for other stuff now... Thanks for the info!!

 

[blueblur1984]

I second this. I worked for State Farm for 4 years and typically they're fair. Every once in awhile they'll send a total loss estimate that's based on a less than comparable vehicle (they'll use sedans as a comp when you have a wagon, etc) but just read it over carefully and have your maintenance records handy. Again, any mods have receipts for. If you have a heavily modified 4runner you may want to buy the total loss back and swap back over the usable parts to the new one. Best of luck!

My wife has worked for State Farm for about ten years. The estimator will want to write as high as claim as he can to avoid adjustments. When your vehicle goes into the shop for repair anyhe did not write it high enough to cover repairs and the shop has to request an adjustment it reflects poorly on the estimator. Most major insurance companies are this way now.

If you want to get paid on add-ons you will need a combination of receipts and or examples of cost (price of similar modded vehicle)

Also worth mentioning, if they give you a repair estimate and you feel it is low and you start asking for more money before it is even in the repair shop, there is a good chance you will get canceled on your next renewal, and that can make it hard to get new insurance. I fit is a total loss, it will be priced through the total loss dept and they will give you a check for NADA value plus tax





Their duty???? Dime stor insurance that relies on customer premiums to sustain the business, perhaps. One of the big 7, not so much. However I have heard some bad stories about Geico. There is a reason State Farm and Amica have the highest Cust sat rating by a massive margin over all other companies.

 

[OffRoadGuy]

My wife has worked for State Farm for about ten years. The estimator will want to write as high as claim as he can to avoid adjustments. When your vehicle goes into the shop for repair anyhe did not write it high enough to cover repairs and the shop has to request an adjustment it reflects poorly on the estimator. Most major insurance companies are this way now.

Their duty???? Dime stor insurance that relies on customer premiums to sustain the business, perhaps. One of the big 7, not so much. However I have heard some bad stories about Geico. There is a reason State Farm and Amica have the highest Cust sat rating by a massive margin over all other companies.

Yes, their duty, it's part of their job description. To Protect the interest of the insurance company the adjuster represents, when dealing with claimants. Not your interest. Farmers and Mercury is the worse. They'll raise your rates or drop you in a heart beat. I've dealt with both. Had Geico for my $10k Honda CBR. It got stolen less then 8 months old. They paid $10.5k so that was a plus

 

[kernel.panik]

I don't know if it's common practice nowadays, but when I had hail damage (along with about a million people from a freak storm here in AZ) we all had to visit certain adjustment centers often located in parking lots. They wrote me a check for $2200 and said if it costs more then the body shop will request the rest. I think what they were doing was offering me $2200 cash to go away and if I wanted it fixed, they'd pay for getting it fixed.

I didn't get it fixed because there is about 4 tiny dents in the roof that are really hard to see. The adjuster said they would replace the entire roof section (no freekin way).

Anyways...in my experience if you want cash to "do the work yourself" they may give you less than if you get it fixed.

 

[02SE]

I've been a State Farm customer for about 11 years now, with only 1 claim. That claim was a vandalism claim on a Motorcycle.

Some moron decided they wanted to sit on my Motorcycle while it was parked in a parking lot. Being too stupid to stay off a vehicle they didn't own in the first place, they added insult to their stupidity, and managed to drop it on it's side.

No major damage, just lots of cosmetic scuff marks. Replacing all of the scuffed parts, plus the estimated time for labor to replace the parts, brought the total estimate to around 2K.

State Farm cut me a check for the full amount with no hassles whatsoever.

 

[Millerad1651]

All of this would be good advice if State Farm was his insurer and he was at fault. However, since another party caused the damage, and State Farm is coming to look at your truck on their dime, be prepared for a low offer. I'd take it to a few places for estimates. By law, at least in Indiana, you can take it anywhere you want, not just a place they recommend. Go over it with him, and when you get the offer, remember there is stuff that he can't see and won't become noticeable until after work starts.
I was hit by another person, and when the shop I took it to got into it, there was a lot more damage than previously thought. Their insurance had to cover that. Once you get a number you like, talk with whoever does the work and let them know you want an aftermarket bumper, if you still do.

 

[TOY2G]

Yes, their duty, it's part of their job description. To Protect the interest of the insurance company the adjuster represents, when dealing with claimants. Not your interest. Farmers and Mercury is the worse. They'll raise your rates or drop you in a heart beat. I've dealt with both. Had Geico for my $10k Honda CBR. It got stolen less then 8 months old. They paid $10.5k so that was a plus

FACT: State Farm Loss estimators are trained to write higher estimates. TRAINED... It is policy.... State farm has incredible actuaries, something that MOST insurance companies do not have. You would have to understand the diff between mutual and county mutual. And that is about a 7 hour course at state farm.

 

[REDSANDFORME]

I currently work for State Farm and have been for 4 years now. I work in an agent's office and see these types of claims daily. State Farm is the best I've seen at handling claims with the other party, if our insured is at fault we will settle in a more than fair fashion. As for low balling, I would actually say I think that most of the time we settle too high. But I agree that you should have at least one estimate with you when the adjuster gets there, this will allow for you to dispute if the adjusters estimate is low. Sorry to hear about the accident, my runner has been a magnet for carts and people that open there doors without care in parking lots. I'm even the guy that parks at the back of the lot where there isn't any cars..lol

 

[Brian757]

My wife has worked for State Farm for about ten years. The estimator will want to write as high as claim as he can to avoid adjustments. When your vehicle goes into the shop for repair anyhe did not write it high enough to cover repairs and the shop has to request an adjustment it reflects poorly on the estimator. Most major insurance companies are this way now.

If you want to get paid on add-ons you will need a combination of receipts and or examples of cost (price of similar modded vehicle)

Also worth mentioning, if they give you a repair estimate and you feel it is low and you start asking for more money before it is even in the repair shop, there is a good chance you will get canceled on your next renewal, and that can make it hard to get new insurance. I fit is a total loss, it will be priced through the total loss dept and they will give you a check for NADA value plus tax.

I agree with whom I quoted.

My fiance has worked for Statefarm for 4 years(Why is 4 years so common?), and says that they will try to give you the most fair estimate possible. She said that someone with a 1998 Honda Civic got almost $5,000 about a year ago, and the car's worth was nowhere near that price. So at least in my area, they over-estimate, if anything.

 

[shadow247]

They should write you a fair estimate. I work in a State Farm Select Service shop that also has a State Farm Drive-In estimating center. My estimates are usually right in line with what the State Farm adjuster writes. If you wanna PM me a copy of the estimate and some good pics of the damage after you get it, I will look it over and let you know if it is a fair estimate.

 

[RockyMtnYota]

My wife has worked for State Farm for about ten years. The estimator will want to write as high as claim as he can to avoid adjustments. When your vehicle goes into the shop for repair anyhe did not write it high enough to cover repairs and the shop has to request an adjustment it reflects poorly on the estimator. Most major insurance companies are this way now.

If you want to get paid on add-ons you will need a combination of receipts and or examples of cost (price of similar modded vehicle)

Also worth mentioning, if they give you a repair estimate and you feel it is low and you start asking for more money before it is even in the repair shop, there is a good chance you will get canceled on your next renewal, and that can make it hard to get new insurance. I fit is a total loss, it will be priced through the total loss dept and they will give you a check for NADA value plus tax





Their duty???? Dime stor insurance that relies on customer premiums to sustain the business, perhaps. One of the big 7, not so much. However I have heard some bad stories about Geico. There is a reason State Farm and Amica have the highest Cust sat rating by a massive margin over all other companies.

X2. They are not going to try to lowball you, they don't want to be low or high but right on...that is their job and it's less work for them.

 

[Brique]

I used to work in the claims department for a different one of the big insurance companies. My experience was that our adjusters did their best to estimate what it would actually take to fix your vehicle in a reputable shop. They can't estimate what they can't see, however, so be advised that your check will be only for what's visible. If you get it into the shop and they pull off a panel and find something additional, the shop can call in what's called a "supplement" where the adjuster goes back in and sees what the shop states they need to complete the repair. If it looks kosher, they cut the shop a check for the difference and often times the person getting their vehicle repaired never knows there was an issue.

Just be aware that if you're going to spend the money on something else now and wait to get the repairs done later, a supplement is going to be harder to get paid down the road if you need one. It just looks fishy if someone comes in a year and a half after the accident and then "needs" more money to get a repair finished. I had cases where it happened and they still got paid, but it's a pain for the adjuster to make the judgement call on what was part of the accident and what might have happened in an unrelated incident that the person is just trying to get money for.

From what I saw, our adjusters did a great and fair job. We respected state farm, and in my dealings with them they were always a fair company. I didn't always agree with them on liability, but that's another matter entirely...