Has anybody had experience with farmer's auto insurance on filing insurance claims? in particular a hit-and-run/side swiped case? What is the process like exactly? Do they send you to a body shop to get a quote or do they have an inspector come out and look at the car?

I parked my car on the street, came back and found out that it was side swiped on a one way street on the passenger side...

I won't be able to file a claim against another party because I have no idea who/what it was.

thanks in advance!

 

I'd say call your agent, he'll know what your coverage is and will suggest the next steps for you to take.

Anyone here would only be guessing at best and probably telling you complete BS, since they don't know the specifics of your policy coverage, nor Farmer's preferred methods for reviewing and adjusting claims.

I hope for your sake that you filed an accident report with the local PD or CHP...

 

like psoper said

1. file a police report
2. call your agent (you pay them a monthly fee for their service, they will be happy to help you)

 

Kevin, you can actually bypass your agent, who is honestly just a glorified salesperson (unless it makes you feel more comfortable dealing with him/her, although the agent just adds another middleman to the claim).

First off, you filed a police report, right?

Next, call Farmers' Help Point to report a hit-and-run with no identifiable second party (the douche that hit you). Provide them the police report number for the file. They'll have an adjuster contact you to do an estimate for the damages to your car whenever and wherever you want it done; if it's at a shop, the adjuster will have an easier time as the car can be taken apart to inspect and write for damages not visible on the surface (and the adjuster can also put heads together with the shop guys). What's most likely gonna happen is that they'll have you pay your collision deductible since the *** that hit you can't be identified (but they won't count you as being at fault, so your deductible won't rise -- MAKE SURE that they don't list you as at fault NO MATTER WHAT, don't be afraid to speak up about this!); if in the future he can be identified one way or another (that's what the police report is for), they'll subrogate against him and return your deductible to you (honestly speaking, an unlikely scenario). The check for repairs can then either go directly to you or to the shop of your choice; note that pay-out rates can vary depending on whether you have named a shop or not (regardless if you get the check or if the shop gets the check -- in other words, tell the insurance company what shop you're planning to bring your car to in order to get the highest repair rate and therefore payout for the damages), and can also vary depending on what county the shop is located (hint: San Francisco county has the highest per hour rates in the Bay Area).

ALTERNATELY, if you bring your car to a Farmers' Circle of Dependability shop (one of their direct-repair network shops), there will be no money involved except for your deductible; all payments to the shop will be taken care of in-house by Farmers.

 

All that may be true, provided he has full coverage, which is why I'd say consult your agent to make sure this type of damage is even covered by your policy, if you know the ins and outs of all the terms and limits of your policy, then sure- deal with it through their phone help line and online services.

 

Farmers' Help Point hotline can walk an insured through his policy and often does a better job than the agents. Adjusters are also often more knowledgeable than agents as well. Otherwise, like I said, an insured can consult the agent if he/she feels more comfortable with that and doesn't mind another party involved in the claims process (some agents have been known make the claims process even worse due to ignorance or misplaced priorities). My 2 cents based on professional experience.

 

ive been dealing with farmers the past couple of days from an incendent that happend a couple weeks ago...they tried to jerk me aroung till i put my foot down,i feel like there are trying to catch me in a lie or somethin

 

Are you the insured or the claimant? You can always ask to talk to the adjuster's supervisor if you feel you're getting treated unfairly.