Auto Insurance Claims: Damage discovered after claims paid, slow leak, insurance carrier

Question
I was in an accident in November 2008. I was not at fault and the insurance carrier for the other person paid for all my repairs.  Last summer (2009) was cool and I didn't turn on the a/c in my car much.  Last week I discovered that the a/c was not working.  I took it to the dealer and after checking it they asked if I had an accident.  It turns out there is a slow leak in the condenser and it was leaking freon.  I have extended warranty on my car but this is not covered since that part does not break unless it was in an accident.  I now have to replace the condenser for $800.  Question: If I was not hit by this other person, there would not have been damages to the a/c unit.  Can I make a claim against the insurance who paid for my other damages?  Is there a limitation on how long after the claims are paid to add another claim?  I am in Illinois and the accident happened there.

Answer
Hi Carrie,

This is not another claim. This is a continuation of the same claim. You should call the other insurance comapny to let them know everything you stated here. You may also want to try to get a written statement from the mechanic that said it was damaged in the accident. The insurance company will ty to use the passage of time to raise the possibility that the damage to the condenser could have happened from another cause. So you may have a little fight on your hands, but it seems it would be woth trying.

If they do deny the claim and you have to pay, you may consider using an aftermarket condenser. It is just as good and will cost significantly less. If the insurance comapny does agree to pay they will only pay for an aftermarket condenser anyway.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh