Independent Car Damage Assessor for Insurance

Hi all, just to keep it short, I parked the streets during a very windy night near some construction sites. came back to my car with front windscreen cracked, and stone chips all over my car, bonnet, one side of car, and boot.

Report from their assessor says:
"There is no dents around these areas to support that impact has
occurred as listed.
It is reasonable to expect that if heavy objects have been blown around
and impacted the vehicle, the vehicle would have signs of dents evident."

Which in my opinion is not true because wind damage doesn't have to have large objects to cause dents.

At first the insurance said I would have to pay multiple excess to cover the range of damages, after a few weeks to try to gather evidence and with no car I gave in and told them I'm willing to pay multiple excess, now them come back and tell me they will only cover 50% of the cost and multiple excess won't do. The initial quote is around $10k, I've been with these guys for 5 years and never made a claim before, its my word vs them and there were no street cameras that caught the incident.

I'm very stressed out by this and they advised I would need to get an independent assessor for a 2nd opinion for the damage, I have searched around but could not find assessment shops out there for car damages, only for pre purchase inspections

Any help would be much appreciated to where I can find assessors for a 2nd opinion.

Comments

  • Scratch that. Edited comment:

    I think you're trying to claim for an "Act of God" with your insurer. I assume you have comprehensive insurance.

    The problem is, it needs to be one incident for you to pay one lot of excess, and it depends on how your insurance policy is worded whether or not this kind of damage is even covered. As an extreme example, you can't rack up years and years worth of normal wear and tear, and expect your insurance to cover all of it in one go under one excess payment.

  • There is AAMC.
    But if they're used by your insurance company they will no longer be "independent"….

    What Insurance Company?

  • +1

    whats the Quote of 10K for?
    I don't think wind can cause stone chips on bonnet, boot etc.

  • +2

    I know its bit off the subject…. but 10k for dents and scratches is extreme!!! you could get the whole car resprayed at half that price, throw in a windscreen from O'brien glass and your pushing $6k.

  • Speak to the insurance ombudsmen first

  • I have had an assessment done independently for an insurance claim before, using these guys, when someone made a claim against me.
    http://www.burgessassessments.com.au/individuals.htm
    Cost was about $200 to review and provide a written assessment of another assessors assessment.
    They could also do a physical inspection, but it would have cost more.
    In the end it was worth it as it reduced the amount it settled for.

  • Your insurance is trying to get out of covering you even if you are willing to pay the excess. Cost them more in repair bills then your excess.
    Standard insurance practise.
    If it's drivable, just replace the windscreen and live with the stone chips.
    I would suggest leaving them quick smart. If this is how they are treating you now, do you want to deal with them again in the future?

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