THSCC Forums

I was the last car rear-ended in a three car incident on Friday. I'm okay, my miata bumper is not (minimal damage to the back bumper consists of: small paint scratches, bent bumper panel around trunk key and the bumper panel is just a little but out of place lining up with the surrounding panels).

I have been given the option from the other car owners insurance (Nationwide):
A) Go to one of their shops in the local area (Al Smith Buick Mazda, Autoshape inside the beltline, Tru2Form outside the beltline).
Or
B)go into the regional office and cash out.

Has anyone dealt with any of those vendors or can recommend someone else or cashed out the Nationwide and found the amount to be insufficient?

Post here, email (miner_amy@yahoo.com) or private message -
Thanks - Amy

I'm sure there are people here that know for certain, but it's my understanding they (insurance companies) can't force you to use a particular shop for the repairs. You may have to negotiate the figures, but you should get to use the shop of YOUR choice.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Amy,

I've had Nationwide Insurance for a long time, they've always been fair to me. That said, I'd take the car to someone like "Colors on Parade" (see Bob Dow's review under Vendors). Get an estimate from them and then see what Nationwide offers you.

Frank

Amy -- When my saturn met a deer on a foggy morning last year... We took the car to the shop of our choice with an estimate check from the insurance and then the shop had to deal with the insurance in the end becuase their estimate was way low!! I would ask around and find the right shop and then let them deal with the insurance b/c it can be a pain!!! Good Luck!! Glad your OK!!!

Malia

Amy,

Good to hear that you are all right.

Look up the various insurance laws / talk to your insurance agent.

If parts are needed, then they must buy new parts (they can't make you put on used).

If you are willing to be flexible with a body shop, and don't necessarily care, you could probably get an estimate for all new parts, "cash out", and go pick up the needed used parts off the internet/junkyard, and viola...you have some money for car mods

It doesn't really sound like you need a new bumper (repairable) - but knowing the way things things go, they will probably specify a new one.

As for quality shops to work with:
www.kennyhawkins.com

has been recommended to me by a Miata owner who had aftermarket body panels fitted and painted to match on his turbo Miata.

Glad to hear you're ok Amy.

I went through this a couple of years back with the insurance companies. Each one has their own list of shops. I don't know about the shops you listed. But I went to the shop my insurance company provided when I got hit in the rear. The nice thing is the shop deals directly with the insurance company so no money goes back and forth between you and the insurance company. The shop does the work and bills the insurance company. The adjuster deals with the shop, not you. The other benefit I found is that when they pulled the rear clip off the car they found some body panel braces that were bent and needed to be replaced. The adjuster hadn't taken that into account. So they worked the issue out and I didn't get involved in the quotes being too low and more parts being needed. Had I done it via estimates I would have had to go back to the insurance company for round 2. It would have been time consuming. The other advantage was that the insurance company guaranteed the work so if it was done wrong it wasn't my issue to resolve.

I have Liberty Mutual for my car insurance and they like Tar Heel Autobody. I was very happy with the work. Only drawback is they are slow. I have heard the same thing with Kenny Hawkins.

Graham

I know a couple people who have used Tru2Form near the airport and been very pleased.

Nationwide is probably the fairest insurance co out there, I highly recommend them for coverage, I've been on both sides of claims with them. Al Smith is their designated estimator, just take you Miata to them and get the estimate. Nationwide will mail you a check for the estimated amount in a couple days. You can elect to have any shop you want do the work, and if the actual bill is higher you just send the adjuster a copy of the bill, and they will cut you a check for the difference. If the actual bill is less than the estimate, the difference is yours. If you decide you don't want to have it fixed or want to do it ourself, you can rest assured the estimate from AS is a fair one.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

Amy,

First of all, glad to hear that you are OK. Miatas are tougher than people give them credit for.

I was rearended in my 99 Miata 3 weeks after getting it. Stupid drunk driver hit us while we were at a traffic light in Gatlinburg. And the stupid Gburg police didn't even give her a ticket. He was too busy looking at the drunk's daughter's chest to write one. But that is a whole different story.

Anyway, The damage sounds like it is similar to your's. We took the car to Al Smith's shop and they did a great job. Couldn't even tell that we had been hit.

Hope this helps.

Todd

_________________
Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

I have had a lot of experience with insurance as I have targets on both my cars . I have heard good things about Tru-to Form, Tar Heel, Kenny Hawkins. (I always look for Mercedes, Volvos, BMWs etc at a repair shop as their owners tend to be picky.

The insurance can't dictate where you go, and they can not dictate that you use non-Mazda parts, you may have to holler at them to get results as they will usually say "no" or tell you it will delay your work etc. No Matter what you do - Do Not Forget that the insurance company's job is NOT TO PAY any claim they can get away with not paying. Depending upon how the agent is compensated/reviewed, they may be very willing to help, or they may dig their feet in.

Just treat them politely, but firmly and know your rights and don't accept what they say that is not in your best interest at face value.

Good Luck