On mar 12 at 7 pm, I was leaving a grocery store. I was driving my 1993 nissan altima. I backed my car out of a parking stall and started driving down an isle toward the exit. While I was driving down the isle, I was hit on the drivers side rear by a chevy truck that was backing out of a parking stall. The driver wasn't looking back, so he hit me. I called his insurance company (GEICO) the next day and filed a claim.
2 days later Ryan Harding, a Geico liability adjustor contacted and interviewed me about the accident. He said as soon as we have a GEICO claims adjustor inspect the damage to your vehicle, I can let you know how much Geico will pay for the damage. I was certain GEICO would cover all repair costs since I was backed into while driving down a DRIVABLE LANE. It seemed like a pretty simple case to me.
I get the car inspected by a Geico claimers adjustor (bradley hurst) 2 days later (march 18th). The repair estimate was $2034.05. The damage extended from the driver rear door back to the headlight (over 4 foot wide area). I had been hit by the back bumper of this truck. The deepest dent was to the driver rear door (right on the door handle). The second deepest dent was right above the driver rear tire (quarter panel area). It was clear from visual inspection these 2 damaged areas were a result of ONE IMPACT. There was also a scrape from the gas cap area back to the tail light. This occured as a result of me moving forward while I was hit. The bulk of the cost to repair the vehicle was dues to replacement of the door and replacement of the quarter panel.
At the beginning of the next week (on tuesday) I called Ryan Harding (liability adjustor) and he says, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY (when being hit), YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 40% of the DAMAGE. I asked for clarification. He said, had you stopped immediately, the only damage done to your vehicle would of been the rear door. Otherwise, he's saying there would of been NO DAMAGE to the QUARTER PANEL. It was at this point i knew this liability adjustor was not going to be fair, honest, or act in good faith. He said he could mail out a check immediately if I'd like. I said no thanks, I'll hold off for now and hung up. I was upset to say the least.
I then looked at the GEICO repair estimate and noticed the quarter panel repair was one of the most expensive areas of the vehicle to repair. The liability adjustor knew that if the other driver was responsible for ANY DAMAGE of the quarter panel AT ALL, then GEICO would end up paying for MOST ALL REAPIR COSTS. I can see now why he denied accepting the damage to any of the quarter panel.
I called Ryan back a week later and said, what you've told me doesn't make any sense. (I was still trying to reason with him thinking he might actually come to his senses.) I repeated, it is obvious from looking at pictures (which he had) to my car that the damage done to my rear door and quarter panel area (above the rear tire) WAS A RESULT OF ONE IMPACT (this damaged area is about 18 inches wide). I told him to call the geico claims adjustor (bradley hurst) that inspected my car and he would agree. Ryan, then changed the subject and said, well our driver also said you MAY NOT have had your lights on. It was clear ryan was not hearing anything I said. He had told me NOTHING about my lights having anything to do with the accident until now. He's now telling me hearsay of the other driver is what he based his decision on.
In summary, geico and mr harding are saying of the approximately 4 1/2 foot wide damaged area, GEICO will only claim responsibility for an 18 inch wide area. I even went out and got a written statement from one of the local autobody shops saying the damage to the door and quarter panel area (above the rear tire) was the result of ONE IMPACT. I could of gotten written statements from the other 3 autobody shops that did estimates confirming that also but I haven't (YET). It wouldn't matter to Mr. Harding or GEICO. They've already decided what they are going to pay *PERIOD* (and not a penny more). They aren't interested in the facts to this accident if it doesn't benefit them.
I have gotten my car repaired. I travel a lot and the damage was severe (even though it was drivable) that it needed to be fixed. I did request a check from geico for 60% of the damage ($1220.43). The repair cost was $2034.05.
*geico owes me $813.62*
AS FAR AS I'm concerned, what GEICO has done is the equivalent of STEALING. They know I have NO LIABILITY whatsoever is this accident. They refuse to accept that fact. They are not acting in good faith. From what I've read about GEICO since this accident, geico WILL NOT TREAT YOU FAIRLY IF YOU FILE A CLAIM against one of their insured (as I did). They deny the claim or lowball it to make sure they keep the lowest rates in the industry.
BEWARE, if you have geico insurance and you hit somebody and it is 100% your fault. THE OTHER DRIVER WILL NOT BE TREATED FAIRLY if they file a claim with geico. I will never own geico insurance (not even if it was free). My family will never own geico. My kids will never own geico. THEY ARE THE MOST DISHONEST COMPANY I HAVE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.
*i would strongly ask everyone to reconsider before puchasing or continuing geico insurance coverage.*
especially if you care how they treat people who file claims against their drivers (as i did).
Blyth
Kaysville, Utah
U.S.A.
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