[FWDLK] 'Screening Insurance

[eastern sierra Adj Services <esierraadj@xxxxxxxxx>]

All insurance carriers (assuming that you have the appropriate coverage
: "Comprehensive", or "Collision", as the 'claim' may be) will pay for
the cost of Like-Kind-Quality  parts--if they just 'happen' to be
pricey, and made out of 'Un-obtainium', well that's what "happens", with
the claim being subject to your aplicable deductible.

Howsumever, unless your policy is EXPRESSLY written (insurance code:
RTFP:
Read the Friggin Policy!) "at/for" full Replacement Cost, and/or for
Stipulated Value, your carrier COULD try to apply Depreciation
(partial-payment) toward the cost of replacing the windshield (or,
whatever other part/piece may be involved)  IF  it can be 'shown'  that
the
'replacement' part/piece  is signifcantly "Better" than that which
preceded it.

EG: if your W/S is obviously  sand-blasted, or faded-out, or cracked,
but you're making  a claim for something completely different (say:
Vandalism) and your clains-adjuster is competant, then your company
should pay only a reasonable portion of the Replacement cost (prior to
the application of your Deductible).

However, in Real-Life, your carrier willusually ask for nothing more
than a photo, MAYBE,  of the W/S, if your claim involves only the
replacement of the W/S---if the claim also involves significant
Collateral Damage, then Mr Adjuster will want to see the car--but, then,
if the car is in obviously-good condition, the subject of
possibly-Depreciating the Replacement Cost of the W/S, or other
parts/pieces will probably NOT ever even be mentioned.

The overworked/underpaid adjuster wiil just be GLAD to learn where
'replacement'  parts are available, to make his job easier, to close his
file asap.

NOW, if you don't carry a coverage (e.g.: "Collision") and are trying to
throw yoursef onto the tender- mercies of another-guy's carrier, because
"the accident's his fault", HIS company is COMPLETELY within its rights
to offer to you something less than the full Replacement Cost of any
"BRAND-NEW" part, that is going to be used to reolace a 'used/old' part,
on your car, IF (again that-word) it can be shown that "your"
existing part would have a reasonable Life-Expectancy--like any
"moving-parts", batteries, seat covers, PAINT, or W/S's (if the W/S had
any "old damage "( like: sand-blast/cracks/discoloration)  on it.

If you find "used parts" to replace your damaged parts, then there
should be NO depreciation applied, regardless of the costs involved, AS
LONG AS  the carrier can't find those 'new/used' parts @ a cheaper
cost!!!

The beauty of having your own stash of parts is that you can 'set' your
own "curent-market-price" on them, to the carrier---just be careful to
feel-out (up?) your adjuster, to let him/her know that the  subject used
parts "are available" for the prices you set, WITHOUT, necessarily,
telling him/her that YOU are supplying the parts, @ a nice profit, over
whatever you paid for them : "long-long-ago" , when they were MUCH
cheaper, than they are now!! The carrier 'must' pay current
market-value, but they MIGHT take umbrage in learning that YOU are the
parts supplier involved!

NOW, I've heard that LOF (or whomever) makes/sells flat-type, non-shaded
windshields--whatisthat: Type #453??  Where are these-guys available?


Neil Vedder