Pop up lights and the insurance company
 

So, I am trying to prove to my insurance company that the pop up light motor on my car was damaged as a result of a frontend collision. This is what happened: I “tapped” the front end of my car into a center retaining wall. This pushed the front bumper into the right head light. This shifted the entire headlight assembly which caused the headlight motor to run continuously until I was able to get out of harms way and unplug the battery. I pulled the bumper out and reset the light, then plugged the battery back up. This fixed the problem of the motor running continuously but the damage to the gears had already been done.
The “specialist” that reviewed the case had already made up his mind before I even talked to him. He basically treated me like a woman getting her oil changed by trying to sell me brakes. What I would like is for the RX7 community to post if and when this happened to you. I am hoping to get enough people to post that this situation is not only plausible but that it is true because it is true. Join in my fight against the insurance screwing the little man.

Insurance Company: USAA (Normally a very good insurance company.)
Year and Model: 1993 R1
Aftermarket bumper
Stock pop ups

1. Get the body shop to state that the damage was done in the accident.

2. Call your agent. Tell him you are going to cancel your policy unless they take care of you.

3. If that doesn't work, tell them you are going to take them to small claims court. Then do it if the they don't help you.

I assume the linkage was still connected and somehow rotated it enough for it to think it wasn't fully up or down? In that case, I can see how it would constantly run. If the linkage was disconnected, I don't know how that would be possible since it's internal metering (if you will) that tells it it's in the right position.

Can I assume that it's the former situation?

The only person to listen to is "adam c" as he worked in insurance for many years. The rest of us don't "tap" our bumpers against retaining walls to be able to provide backing evidence for you.

So what you said he should ignore as well? :gwink:

Adam,

Having made a claim myself with my FD some time ago, I would have to contend that they wouldn't necessarily care. Chances are, the premiums would go up anyway after making a claim. You're possibly now viewed as a higher risk so a threat to leave may not hold a lot of weight. In my case, they had attempted to total it out and only looked at NADA guides. They would not take into account any actual retail values, which at the time were several thousands higher than their offer. Granted, this isn't exactly the same scenario...

However, I would tend to agree with your comments. You need to play hard ball with these companies. Their goal is to pay as little as possible.

You don't mind if I "paraphrase" you're comment do you? :D
I just love looking at that ;)

The only person to listen to is "adam c"


Feeling the love? :lol:

That had to go in my sig :D

What was the repair estimate?

The linkage was still connected and yes the light wasn't fully up or down. The light was slightly down causing the light motor to constantly run.

I don't normally "tap" mine either, but the weather here in TN has been severely unpredictable, snow one day 70˚F the next. My car is my baby and is treated as such with the occasional embarrassing of a Mustang.

The insurance "specialist" had his mind made up before I even talked to him. He said the damage wasn't related because there was no impact damage to the motor. I may have lost my temper at this point... My reply was, "NO SHIT, the light is connected to the linkage which is connected to the motor. The light and the linkage was damaged which is connected to the motor. The light was stuck 3/4 of the way up which caused the motor to constantly run." My temper probably didn't help the situation but the Marines honed it to a sharp instrument and I'm still trying to get it back to normal.

Again, follow adam c's advice. He spent many years in the insurance discipline.

Exactly how much we talking in damage here?

Can you just get a headlight motor and be done with it?

^This is why I asked earlier. Does it exceed the OP's deductible? If so, how much? And since by the OP's own admission it's his fault, is it even worth adding to his claim history?

Adam? :)

i also have usaa. when my window was boken once, they only wanted to fix the window. but whoever broke the window, smashed the glass so hard i actually chipped my paint. i called usaa and explained to them that there was more damage then just the window. they had me take it to a body shop to be looked at for an estimate. 3 days later i had a check for the extra damage as well as my window fixed. call them and tell them there is more damage then what the agent that looked at the car says. they should have it re-checked out. good luck

There are a bunch of people defiling the look of the fd with non popups, could just get a used unit from the fs section

Heh...I've tried for 10 years now. Eventually you stop trying because people seem to get worse and worse. ;)

Semper Fi.

This hasn't been used in a while...

Man that sucks. Hope things work out for the best.

Seriously, don't accept the offer of your claim until you agree with it. I fought for six months before they paid out.

really? i like the way it looks with the sleeks....you dont think so? although i think i need some bigger lights to fill the gap

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...7/DSCN0303.jpg

USAA paid the body shop $2100. The damages exceeded the deductible by a few dollars. I could very easily get a new motor but at this point its more about the principle. As I stated before USAA is normally a great insurance company but at this point they are trying to screw me. I'd rather go for the win and lose money than take the easy way out.

dont settle. keep figting it. you can even have the mechanic tell them if he has the same thinking as you

awd rwd racer, im sorry that looks disgustin on a cym, maybe it would look a bit better on a different color but on the cym its just horrible... should of stick to pop up.

Jim,

The claim has already been filed, so he will incur whatever rate increases the company charges for an at-fault accident. There won't be any additional penalty because the damage was more extensive than they thought initially.

I hit a racoon with my fd, it broke the front bumper and cause the right side fender to be slightly tweaked. just enough for the headlamp lid to catch. after 1 or 2 times the motor was stuck and the lid broke. I can see how it would be possible for the motor to be burned up if the light were trying to retract or pop up and were caught and unable to move.

its not a true cym. although i didnt know it when i was buying it. lol. anyways the car was painted before i bought it and the seller doesnt know the paint code, otherwise id honestly paint the carbon fiber to match the color of the car.

I finally got a hold of someone who isn't an idiot and straightened everything out. Persistence prevails once again. With any luck I will have my girl back soon and to Honda will be back with the rental company. By the way 2010 Honda Accord=fail. The only thing I am going to miss about that thing is the gas mileage.