CNN iReport

Last week, my sister & her family set out to attend a fundraiser picnic for Parkinson's Disease research.  The site of the picnic was a little over two hours from their home.  As they approached the destination, there was an auto accident that involved a total of five cars.  My sister's van was the fourth of the five vehicles in the line of cars.  She stopped soon enough that she was not knocked into the car in front of her when she was rear-ended.  After a trip to the emergency room, she went on to the picnic knowing that her neck was not injured and her minivan would be repaired or replaced by the other driver's insurance company.

So far this week, she has managed to get the adjuster to increase the offer from $1600 to $1750 to replace the van that is unrepairable.  The van was purchased from a dealer at the beginning of the Summer for $3000.  Of course she could find a van for $1600, but it would probably need a new engine,  transmission, major brake or suspension work in order to be roadworthy.

Grange Insurance is adding insult to injury by failing to give a fair market value on a vehicle that their client destroyed borders on being criminal.  Insurance is required in this state.  The financial responsibility, for which any licensed driver pays insurance premiums, is intended to guarantee replacement of a damaged vehicle.  The insurance company is doing everything they can to avoid their responsibility to their client and to the injured party.

I have been through the same battle with Progressive in the past.  Progressive, being a bargain basement insurance of last resort, this sort of behavior is expected, but Grange used to be a reputable company.  If they persist in this course of action, they will be relegated to 3rd rate status with Geico, Progressive, Safe Auto and The General.