Auto Insurance Claims: mud on a pick up, two different places, paint shops

Question
Hello, we had an issue where our daughter along with two others had put mud on some kids pick up this happend Aug 16th 2009 the three families involved have tried to work w/ them wanted to be present to go w/ to auto shops for esimates one of our families even has family members that own window tinting & body/paint shops and they don't want to work w/ us.  We had asked why they don't go through their insurance and we pay the deductable they don't want thier insurance to go up ( It won't I checked) Then the three families involved couldn't get a hold of them and we didn't here from them for like 2wks.  Now all of a sudden they want $1900 because that is what they were quoted from two different places which we weren't involved with to know if they were pointing out stuff that didn't pertain to the mud issue.  They want the money(cash, check, money order, cirt. check) as long as they get $1900.  We have not seen the pick up and they don't understand why we want to or seem to think that we need to.  We are not trying to get out of paying for it we know that our daughter is in the wrong but it isn't fair to us to pay $1900 if they used their insurance or are going to.  We will pay the deductable or what ever money they have paid all we want is proof.  What are our options? Can they use their insurance and still charge us $1900 just because that is what they were quoted that? If its not fixed yet do we have to give our money to them can't we pay the auto shop or insurance company how do we know they are going to use our money to fix the pick up?  Is there a time limit for them to file a claim with their insurance?  Is there a time limit for them to press charges(that is what they are threatening)against the girls(they are 14 & 15 years)?  Please Please email me @ AS SOON AS POSSIBLE they want their money by the end of the day or they will press charges.

Thank you
Brandy Jensen

Answer
The party with the damaged truck can take it anywhere he wishes for the repair. Their shop's estimate is subject to your review to see whether they are charging only for the damage your daughter did to it. If you are paying out of pocket for the damage, then, yes, you have the right to inspect the damage and even hire your own appraiser to assess the cost of repairs.

If the party with the truck filed an insurance claim for the same damage you paid them to repair, then they would be guilty of insurance fraud. It is illegal to make a profit on a claim. I am not sure what the time limit to file a claim is.