What to Do When the Assessed Damage is Too Low to Cover Repair Costs?
3 Answers
Protect the scene and do not disturb it. Call the traffic police and the insurance company to come and handle the situation. You will need to report the license plate number, the owner's name, the insurance policy number, and the driver's name. The insurance company will send someone to take photos and gather evidence (sometimes the insurance company does not come to the scene but only goes to the claims center). Both parties should drive the accident vehicles together to the traffic police's rapid claims center, fill out the rapid claims confirmation form, and present the vehicle registration certificate and driver's license. The traffic police will investigate and confirm the responsibility for the accident. The claims center will provide an initial estimate of the accident losses. According to each party's respective liability, they will need to prepay the repair costs (deposit) and keep the receipt.
When the assessed amount after my car accident was too low to cover the repair costs, I encountered this situation. That time, the assessment was short by several thousand yuan. I first contacted the insurance company's claims department to explain that the actual repair quote was higher. They asked me to provide detailed quotes from repair shops, so I visited three shops to obtain written proof. Then, through patient negotiation, I emphasized the necessity of replacing safety components like brakes. Eventually, the insurance company adjusted the compensation amount. My experience is that during communication, it's important to stay calm, gather more evidence, not rush to sign anything, and understanding the policy details can also help. Remember, if you feel the outcome is unreasonable, you can escalate to a supervisor or seek external mediation. Throughout the process, focus on actual data and liability attribution to avoid conflicts.
To address the issue of insufficient claim settlement for repair costs, my approach is to first compare the differences with an actual repair quotation. For instance, if the actual repair cost is higher, I obtain a detailed cost breakdown from a reputable repair shop, especially for critical components. Then, I directly discuss with the insurance claims specialist, politely expressing my concerns and clarifying that it's unreasonable if it doesn't affect driving safety. If they disagree, I request a higher-level review or file a complaint with the internal department. For prevention, I recommend choosing reputable insurance companies and designated repair shops to minimize risks. Here are some tips: keep all evidence documented, avoid hasty decisions, and resolve most cases through dialogue to improve efficiency.
