Having just gone through this dilemma in New Jersey, I will tell you that you need to know what your rights are. First, contact their insurance carrier to file the claim. Find out what your rental rights are and have them tell you how much is allowed per day. In NJ, you are able to have a rental until they SETTLE. I was told that I had three days after they made a "legitimate" offer until the rental stops. That is not what the law says.

Go to your insurance commission website and look for claims settlement pages. I found a lot of info there and on our State University's Law School website.

Do your homework! Find out what vehicles in similar condition are being sold RETAIL for, both on the web and in the paper. You cannot replace the car at wholesale cost. Ask the adjuster for all information that is collected that they will use to determine the value of the car.

If it is allstate, go to allstateinsurancesucks.com for insight into their tactics.

By going through all of these gyrations, I went from an offer of $3200 to $4485 - enough to replace the car.

If I can help in any other way, please let me know. The best part of the your daughter's accident is that they are not hurt. The car can be replaced

__________________
Paul

1991 300TE (280,000)
1985 300TD (432,000 miles - retired)
1976 300D (225,000 - retired)
1975 300D (165,000 - retired)