Accident/Insurance question.

NYSpeed Automotive NYSpeed Off Topic
1

I’ll make this as easy as possible, if you are just speculating an answer, don’t respond. I just want a real answer from personal experience not a “my sisters brother’s girlfriends cousin told me one time” bs…

My brother got hit in the rear. The driver took off. The cop ruled it no fault, our insurance has already stated for the no fault he has no deductible. The damage is only cosmetic, the rear hatch is all dented, but still locks and opens, rear bumped pushed in and paint all messed up. The replacement quote was $3000.

He has no intent to get this fixed as he could care less its a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 160k on it that he DD’s 60k a year so to him looks/resale don’t mean anything as he plans to drive it til its scrap.

My question is will the insurance company release the check to him if he just states he will fix it himself, rather than release the check to a dealer/business to do the work? I’ve heard of people doing this in the past but never had first hand experience. He could use the $$$ and I can always pop the bumper/dents out and touch up any bare metal to prevent rust.

Will he legally be given the money to fix it, and not have to prove he fixed it? Or will that bite him in the ass? Thanks.

2

The insurance company should have no problems at all writing a check directly to your brother.

3

Yep.
Take the check and run

4

Yup. I got $900 for some cosmetic damage once that buffed out and became nearly unnoticable, but the shops quoted as being $900 damage.

The check was in my name.

5

Yup. They gave me a check for what they thought it would cost for the damage to be fixed. I took it to a shop, and it was cheaper. Never had to prove I got it fixed, how much it cost, or anything.

6

Take the check, but be warned that is really $3000+ im damage.

7

my car got hit a while back and when the ins check came through they did not ask me any questions. i did the repair myself but they did not ask for proof.
i think it depends on the ins co.

8

If you have collision and comp, you need to prove it was fixed, if you have liability only, you can pocket the money. Does that make sense?

9

[quote=“eMKay,post:8,topic:39357"”]

If you have collision and comp, you need to prove it was fixed, if you have liability only, you can pocket the money. Does that make sense?

[/quote]

Not in all cases. I had collision and was able to pocket the cash. The check was from the other drivers insurance company (Allstate)

10

[quote=“Bigairskier1580,post:9,topic:39357"”]

Not in all cases. I had collision and was able to pocket the cash. The check was from the other drivers insurance company (Allstate)

[/quote]

same situation here. their guy came to estimate my damage and printed the check in my name and left.

11

[quote=“eMKay,post:8,topic:39357"”]

If you have collision and comp, you need to prove it was fixed, if you have liability only, you can pocket the money. Does that make sense?

[/quote]

He has full coverage.

Mike, he realizes the extent of the damage, when he was home I checked for leaks, no leaks, so he could care less about the work being fixed.

Another thing, he has a lien on the vehicle. Will that affect the check being given to him or not?

12

I had a accident in my leased focus, they always make the check out to you and the lease company. They did this for me and my dads leased mountaineer. the Check had to get sent off to ford credit for them to sign and send back to the collosion(sp) shop. if you own, then the INS will write you a check. Im guessing he is still paying on it if theres a lein??? He may be like me and since the lein holder still owns the car, the INS will cut him and the lein holder a check

13

Yes, he still owes on the vehicle. He was planning to pay the rest of the vehicle off with the check, and the remainder of it going on his credit card.

If it gets issued to him and his bank the bank would need to sign off on it first, then would it get sent back to him, or directly to a repair shop? Anybody know for certain?

14

yep, insurance company can cut the check to anyone you specify.

15

[quote=“ryanmcell,post:13,topic:39357"”]

Yes, he still owes on the vehicle. He was planning to pay the rest of the vehicle off with the check, and the remainder of it going on his credit card.

If it gets issued to him and his bank the bank would need to sign off on it first, then would it get sent back to him, or directly to a repair shop? Anybody know for certain?

[/quote]

i have always had to sign the check, give to to the repair center(kind of like a deposit for them to order parts) they will send the check off and the lease co will send the check back directly to the repair shop. I would say toss a shop a hundo or 2 and have them send the check off. but I bet they wont do it cuz its INS fraud or 2 they could keep the check when it comes back signed. tell him to hurry up and pay it off

16

Ok well that ends that. Insurance guy called him back, said that they are going to cut the check to the repair center that does the work to “protect the investment of the bank”.

Thanks for the information everyone.

17

a simple “no make it out to me” would be fine.

I have had allstate and geico make checks directly out to me just by asking them.

And I owed on both cars.

18

I’ll have him ask the agent handling the claim to change it to him and see what they say.

19

how much is owed, if you say he plans to hurry up and pay it off anyway, just do it now. Then tell the INS agent that he wants the check made out directly to him. But Im not sure how much is owed and if he could come up with the cash

20

Na he can’t come up with the cash, even if it was like $300 ha.