Useful Insurance Claims Websites and Resources

Post Insurance Claims Websites Questions (below)

Following are insurance claims websites and resources with descriptions that will provide information to help you maximize your car, home and business insurance claim.

 

Automobile Claims:

Kelley Blue Book – www.kbb.com New and used vehicle pricing/valuations for Automobiles, Trucks (light), Motorcycles, Boats, Classic Cars. In our opinion, their valuations are generally higher than NADA on cars and pickup trucks, but lower on watercraft. Note, their online valuations are not nearly as detailed as their paper guide books, which you can usually find at your local public or county law library or car dealer. This guide book is more popular with insurers in the US western states.

NADA “Gold Book” – www.nadaguides.com Vehicle pricing/valuations for new and used Automobiles, Trucks (light), Motorcycles, Boats, Classic Cars, RVs. In our opinion, their valuations are generally higher than Kelley Book on watercraft and lower on cars and pickup trucks. Note, their online valuations are not nearly as detailed as their paper guide books, which you can usually find at your local public or county law library or car dealer. This guide book is more popular with insurers in the US eastern states. (It is also more popular with tax assessors in counties that annually tax watercraft).

Trader Online – www.traderonline.com New and used classified listings of motorized vehicles for sale such as Automobiles, Trucks (heavy and light), Motorcycles, Boats, Aircraft, Equipment, Classic Cars, RVs. In our opinion this site has not only the largest selection, but is the easiest to search by type and geographic region. Use this website to find comparable vehicles to yours for claim settlement purposes. Start here first.

Cars.Com – www.cars.com New and used classified listings of motorized vehicles for sale such as Automobiles, Trucks (light). It tends to be tied into newspaper classified ads. Use this website to find comparable vehicles to yours for claim settlement purposes.

Car Fax – www.carfax.com Provides vehicle history based on vin (vehicle ID number). Of course this site is useful for purchasing a used vehicle to see if it was previously totaled or crashed, to check odometer mileage and type of use (rental, fleet). You can also use it to discredit an insurers “comparable” vehicle if you suspect the insurer is using it in a “lowball” valuation. Motorcycles are not listed as of July 2008.

Auto Check – www.autocheck.com Provides vehicle history based on vin (vehicle ID number). Of course this site is useful for purchasing a used vehicle to see if it was previously totaled or crashed, to check odometer mileage and type of use (rental, fleet). You can also use it to discredit an insurers “comparable” vehicle if you suspect the insurer is using it in a “lowball” valuation.

California Auto Body Association – www.calautobody.com Useful information if your insured vehicle is being repaired.

National Auto Body Council – www.autobodycouncil.org As of 2007, not really of much benefit to the consumer. But the closest thing to a national auto body association available. Individual state auto body associations may be of more benefit to consumers.

California Bureau of Automotive Repair – www.autorepair.ca.gov A good source to check on a body shops complaint record before agreeing to using the insurer’s body shop. For example, to see if it has a habit of repairing parts that it was paid to replace. (Look under that trim panel to see if the sheet metal was repaired or replaced). Check your own states department of consumer affairs, automotive repair division. This is usually one government service (unlike state insurance departments) that is eager to investigate your complaint. State investigators are usually snubbed by body shops and so they have a bit of a revenge motive. That works to the consumers benefit.

Property Claims:

NAPIA (National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters) – www.napia.com A good way to find public adjusters in your area. Although the organization provides excellent education for its members, many members join just to put the logo on their advertising and skip the education part. Look for “certified” NAPIA members when considering hiring a public adjuster.

National Contractors State License Referral Website – www.contractors-license.org – A good way to get linked to any US state contractor license board and check for complaints as well as aids in hiring and managing a contractor in your state. Note – if your state has no such free publications, get them from the California License Board. You can tell the clerk you are considering building or buying in California.

California State Contractors License Board – www.cslb.ca.gov A good source to check on a contractor’s complaint record before hiring him. Also provides very good free publications on how to hire and manage a contractor. You would be surprised how many consumers sign contracts that don’t meet the basic legal requirements.

Association of General Contractors – www.agc.org As of 2007, not really of much benefit to the consumer. But the closest thing to a national contractor association available. Individual state contractor associations may be of more benefit to consumers.

Miscellaneous:

Findlaw – www.findlaw.com Use this link and go to “Legal Professionals” to find federal and state law, cases, statutes, etc. in all US states. It is open to the public and very easy to use. Start with this legal research site first.

Emory University Law Library – www.law.emory.edu/index.php?id=552 A public source for legal research.

California Department of Insurance – www.insurance.ca.gov A good source for consumer information that is free. Also some very good free publications. Note – no state insurance department is going to help you “maximize” your insurance claim. Most of their employees are recruited from the insurance industry and their attitudes are similar. When they boast about fighting fraud, its fraud by policy holders, not fraud by insurers. A $5,000.00 maximum fine for an unfair claim practice by an insurer is a joke, especially in a legal system that can fine you, a consumer, $150,000.00 per song downloaded illegally! No government department of insurance has the guts to revoke the license of an Allstate or a State Farm Insurance.

General Insurance Links – www.ultimateinsurancelinks.com More geared to people in the insurance business, but here it is anyway. It has links to US states departments of insurance.

NAIC (National Association of Insurance commissioners) – www.naic.org/cis We give you this link because it may help you in shopping for a good insurer. It will show the number of complaints and the complaint ratio for complaints against insurers. It can also be shown by state.

Better Business Bureau – www.bbb.org If you believe the BBB can have any impact on an insurance company, then here it is. You could use the BBB to establish a record on the insurer’s “preferred” body shops and contractors and local agent. You might also want to consider their mediation and arbitration services offered in some areas. They can be very economical and a fresh departure if your local judicial mediation and arbitration services seem to be dominated by the “Good Ol Boys” ..

21 Responses to “Useful Insurance Claims Websites and Resources”

  1. February 11th, 2009 at 4:52 am #J. D. Howard

    Good Web Site … Good Information … Am Much Impressed … from One Consumer Advocate to Another – Keep Up the Good Work !

  2. February 13th, 2009 at 1:40 am #admin

    Thanks for the nice comments J.D. . Note that your website is listed in our Other Claims Resource Sites. We would appreciate a mention and/or link to our website from somewhere within your site. Mutual links help us “real advocates” to get ahead of those pretending to offer help, but really just selling insurance. Thanks again.

  3. August 17th, 2012 at 4:57 pm #jimmy

    can you get more than the ins limits where seriousinjury is involved permanent disability

  4. October 10th, 2012 at 8:13 pm #james

    Hello , I have a statement and question about my vechicle that was hit in my driveway. I dont have ins on my 2003 windstar its my business vech. and business has been really bad and I have satica which has slowed me down for the last 4 mths . I was in my home when heard the crash .called police then after seeing this man asking for a jump so he could leave and would take care of the very small damage. When i seen what was going on with my van I went in house locked doors an called then called my ins company same for house my wifes car and duaghters car and my business ins . took vech ins off because times were getting bad.well now been 2 weeks and think ther ins co. witch is the same as mine would help me threw this say value is 3300.00 and it was ta total loss because the slider door need s replaced OEM 1495.00 not used or after market can be used ?? I am a body man and witch I thought here we go <I,ve rplaced alot of doors with used doors over the yrs and quarter panels used cut out and weld ond old panel to save on cost well they wont put an OEM used door that cost 600-900 or LKQ at 1125.00 to keep it from being totaled .And will not put me in a rental because that will go over their limit . Now I ,m the victom here and now I,m a victum again . I have 24 yrs in this field and want to save my van ,but they seem to be forcing me to take it as a total and I must buy my van that I paid off last yr to the sum of 895.00. and found a used door for 500.00 and beind a ASE refinish tech since 2001 I want too keep my van fix it and not get a salvaged title fix it then get it retitled again after inspection . UNFAIR !!! ?

  5. December 10th, 2012 at 5:20 am #valerie

    My mothers’ insurance company are asking that she pays the contractors they have supplied and then they will reimburse her. Is this normal practice?

    Mother is 76 and having to move out of her home while this work is carried out.

  6. January 11th, 2014 at 11:30 pm #Patti Dunlap

    In need of information concerning homeowners Insurance on a fire claim we had 12/11/2012 we had a fire which destroyed 90% of our home to a fire but I am trying to get a copy of the contract that my daughter signed with Allstate & Procraft general contractors in Texas! Our house is a total disaster inside and out and we are trying to find someone to help us! I have contacted claims for Allstate and our house looks like it is made bk out of Legos and is totally falling apart piece by piece! My daughter signed the contract for us but she wasn’t on our policy and I have contacted our agent , claims supervisor and many others but no one will help what should we do?? Thanks waiting in Texas!!!

  7. January 14th, 2014 at 7:29 pm #dawn

    ok so my ? is if an office manager filled wrong for almost a yr and the dr. thought everything was good but now that she is gone. and we are finding out that nothing was resubmitted can we still get something back even tho its past the 90 days past the point that you can resubmit a claim. Is there a way to recoup this loss?

  8. May 11th, 2014 at 4:05 pm #stacy shaffer

    I gave a friend of mine who sells cars my truck and my van on April 11th. He was holding them until he found a vehicle I wanted and would use them as trade in toward the new one. My fiance went to him on April 14th and found a truck he liked, I said he could use my truck as trade toward the vehicle he wanted and I would use the van. 10 min after he bought it, he hit someone. He doesn’t have a license. But only bumped her at 10 miles an hour. N damage. He didn’t have anything with our address on him except my insurance card for the old truck, so He gave her that so she could find him if she needed to. Once I seen the truck I decided it was too nice and a great price to let him drive it with the possibility of getting it towed. He agreed and signed ownership over to me on the 16th. Two days after the accident. And that day I added it to my insurance. I didn’t know he even hit someone till the next day when she called our office demanding $1700. He told her no way. It was maybe a 50 cent dent. So she filed a claim against my insurance.
    I did not own the vehicle the day of the accident, my fiance is not not has he ever beven on my insurance. So why is my insurance company saying I’m responsible?

  9. December 18th, 2014 at 4:03 am #Daren

    I recently had a fire in my garage the entire garage burned down my 1961 Chevy impala was inside of the garage I didn’t have insurance because I was repairing the seats the insurance company said it’s not covered

  10. March 15th, 2015 at 7:15 am #Marleen Giordano

    Had a wreck on Feb 9, still dealing with Liberty Mutual, it was at Bank of America, a guy did not see me and acked into me. The y only want to pay me 70% and 30% for a renter, They won’t budge it was 100% the other person’s fault this is a sham. I have a witness that worked at the bank he is an officer. Do you have anysuggestions?I have 2 estimates, but there Insurance Company wants to go on the lowest estimate. One was 953.00 the other is 1,184.00. Thnak You, Marleen

  11. July 28th, 2015 at 9:59 am #Rhonda

    I recently called my home ins. Company to send an adjuster to check my roof for damage. I had lost 91 shingles according to the adjuster and ladder assist. No mention of hail damage by him and said the cost to replace would not meet my deductible. When I called a roofer out to get an estimate for replacing lost shingles he noted hail damage on my roof, and air conditioning unit. The adjuster had only been working for 3 months. When roofer checked and found hail damage I called ins. Company to please rein spect. They sent the same adjuster and the manager of the same ladder assist which then admitted to some hail damage, but said not enough to warrant entire roof. The assist was on the phone most of the entire time and not really focused on what he was supposed to be doing. He did not mark of a 10 x 10 ft. Area. They are denying paying for the claim, yet did not send anyone different to rein spect. In my opinion, this is biased opinion and they said they weren’t required to send someone different. Please advise- let me also had that there are other homes in my neighborhood that had hail damage also within 100 yards of my home and ins. Is paying their claim for new roof.

  12. May 29th, 2016 at 8:45 pm #Fawzi

    1. Will the insurance company ask me if I got a ticket.
    2. If my parents drop me from the car insurance policy after the accident will they still raise the rates on the rest of my family’s plan?
    3. I got a ticket but I did not tell my story to the state trooper because they didn’t ask me and I did not want to have a confrontation with the police because I an a minority and want to be safe. But before my accident the other driver was driving behind me really fast so I switched lanes by the time I could they had switched into the lane I was switching into already and I swerved away too late. This was on a highway so I was too nervous and did not want to get into an argument so I just told the other driver to call the police. The damage is just paint damage but the troopers didn’t take my side of the story. So I would like to contact a lawyer will that help?
    4. There is some damage on my car I never reported because it occurred on my property and no other drivers were involved am I supposed to explain that or could I just get the damage fixed and bill the insurance specifically for the damage done from this accident above?

  13. June 29th, 2016 at 1:21 pm #Kathy

    We had a flood in our house. Our insurance Adjuster wants to “repair” contaminated water damaged kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them. I’m not happy with this but what can I do?

  14. July 2nd, 2016 at 6:01 am #Jason

    Kathy,
    Your insurance company can either repair or replace a covered damage component as they see fit. Your happiness is not a factor they consider when making their repair or replace decision.

  15. September 27th, 2016 at 4:52 pm #LS

    I was recently rear ended. Due to a holiday and vacation I was not able to file a claim with driver’s insurance company for a couple weeks. They called me back a few days after filing a claim and said driver was uninsured at the time. I have a 1k deductible, so i was planning to get a full estimate on damages prior to filing a claim with my insurance company. Meanwhile, I have an appointment scheduled this week and today my check engine light came on an most signs are pointing to my transmission going out (unrelated to accident). I’m affraid to drive to get estimate in case I get stranded on the interstate. IF my transmission goes out prior to estimate, how does that affect anything? Will it reduce the value of my potential compensation or is it unrelated? Should i share the scenario with my insurance agent?

  16. September 28th, 2016 at 5:04 pm #Jason

    LS,
    Your transmission is not related to your claim. I don’t know how it would effect your claim in the slightest. Your agent doesn’t care about your car maintenance needs so sharing that info. would not be beneficial.

  17. October 5th, 2017 at 11:56 am #Terry Gotchall

    I have been working with my last insurance company trying to recoup flood insurance premiums paid in that found out was not in flood plain. My old agents secretary has been trying to help me but we are both getting the run around . Have signed papers and sent them in several times it seems there is always another set to sign. She emailed me another set again yesterday that was dated Sept 9th they said they already sent us but we never got. They basically say the same thing just different forms. Help please Terry Gotchall

  18. October 5th, 2017 at 6:40 pm #Jason

    Terry,
    You paid your premium for flood insurance and you received flood insurance protection. There aren’t refunds after the premium is earned and coverage has been extended.

    Anybody can buy flood insurance, even if one is not in a flood plain. A home built on the top of a mesa in the desert can have flood insurance. If a premium was paid, coverage was extended, and the passage of time has occurred, the business arrangement has ended and nothing will happen. Just like you can’t undo the coverage that protected your property from the insurance coverage, your insurance company isn’t going to undo the premium they already earned.

  19. October 26th, 2017 at 9:10 pm #Choco Lite Slim Body Review

    This is the right blog for anyone who hopes to understand
    this topic. You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally
    will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic that has been discussed
    for years. Wonderful stuff, just great!

  20. November 14th, 2017 at 5:15 pm #Beth

    I have a question, ok if a Patient has a Insurance but their initial consult with the physician was never billed and it is now past the filing deadline by a few weeks, should we assume insurance will not pay due to filing deadline or should we aleast send to insurance for the denial first then do the proper adjustments. Or just adjust off waste of time.?

  21. November 14th, 2017 at 5:33 pm #Jason

    Beth,
    The insurance coverage is a contract between the insured and the insurance company. Your involvement with the patient is that of a third party. You are not bound by the agreement between the insurance company and their insured. File the bill with the insurance company. Their deadline is basically an incentive guideline to get the stuff from you as soon as reasonable.

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