Can I keep the money from a car accident claim without repairing the vehicle?
Recently, someone backed into the side door of my car. It did approx $2,000 worth of damage. The insurance company and the repair shop I had do the estimate have been in contact to work out a final agree’d upon repair price. However, I am not sure I want to repair the car. Do I have the option to just keep the money and live with the damages, or do I have to have the vehicle repaired in order to go through with the claim?
Normally, if the other insurance company is paying, the check will be made out to just you. If it is your company that is paying, it will be made out to both you and the body shop. If your company is paying, you can ask them to pay just you and you can then keep the money but………….. They will fight you tooth and nail on making out the check to just you. it can be done but you will be told it can’t. If you succeed, they will not pay for the same damage again and may even cancel you.
Filed under: Work Accident Claims
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yes you can keep the money. tell adjuster you are undecided on where you are going to have repairs done and to do an estimate or have one of his direct repair shops do the estimate and make ck payable to you…goodluck
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If you still have any liens against the car, you are most likely required to make the repairs by law (depends on what state you live in). Furthermore, if you do not repair the vehicle, the insurance company can refuse to make future repairs which may be caused by or affected by the previously unrepaired damage.
I recommend that you make the repairs in a professional body shop. Have you considered shopping around? A hundred mile trip will cost you only $25 bucks or so and you could save hundreds on the bill. One other suggestion: Consider seeking a salvage yard. You indicated ‘door’ damage. Maybe you can find a car match that has been totaled in some way (flood, fire, wreck) and nab your door. Swapping out seals, glass, and trim on a replacement door and just popping the hinge pins to replace it is something even an amateur can accomplish, and costs way less than the skin replacement and paint that your repair quote probably includes.
Or you could take the $2000 to the casino and . . . . j/k
Good luck
References :
Yes you can keep the money. You have four options when it comes to a claim. 1. Take the car to a shop and have it repaired, the insurance company pays the shop for the repair. 2. Take the car to a shop, insurance company pays you, you pay the shop. 3. Insurance company give you the money, you repair the car. 4. Insurance company gives you the money, you drive around with a dented car.
References :
Normally, if the other insurance company is paying, the check will be made out to just you. If it is your company that is paying, it will be made out to both you and the body shop. If your company is paying, you can ask them to pay just you and you can then keep the money but………….. They will fight you tooth and nail on making out the check to just you. it can be done but you will be told it can’t. If you succeed, they will not pay for the same damage again and may even cancel you.
References :