Auto Insurance Claims: Freak snowstorm damaged car, freak snowstorm, honda emblem

Question
Before moving from Portland OR to Jacksonville FL, I called my ins. com. to ask if my '10 Honda Insight would be covered and they said yes, I have a $500 deductible. In Rawlings WY the state troopers closed I-45 for 5 hrs. while they graveled the roads. When they opened it, to my horror WY DOT had used gravel the size of filberts to cover the roads still packed with snow and ice. Many semi trucks flew by me, one threw an ice ball the size of a soccer, which damaged my front grill. I drove from Rawlings to Cheyenne WY. I gassed up there and found 3 dime-size cracks in the windshield, aand thousands of rice-size chips on all car lights, roof of car, all over the other windows and the whole body of car. There were also several body dents from rocks thrown at my new car, and scratches on my new wheel covers and Honda emblem. Than I had to suddenly move to Las Vegas to help my parents. I took my car to the Honda dealership, they said it would take 4-6 weeks to repair, the ins. com. adjuster said my car only needed a paint job and told me to go to their company's auto shop, which I did. Their company's shop ignored body dents, wheel cover damages and said they couldn't give an estimate until they had my car in the garage. They said if they found more damage they'd call the ins. company and the ins. company would pay them. I was also told only 2 auto body shops in Vegas repair Hondas. When I bought my new car in Portland, I paid the dealership $1,200 to apply a special sealant to the body of my car, special tinting for the windows.

My parents, and sister and brother (who've lived in vegas for 20 yrs.) told me I should just have the ins. com. pay me rather than use their repair shop. I've never had to make a claim before so I'm not savvy about these matters, but am very leery of having either body shop repair my car. The ins. com. adjuster won't tell me how much they'll pay to repair my car. Your advice would be helpful. When I drove my car from FL to Vegas, I encountered no rain or additional damage to my car. I also told my ins. co. my GPS had me taking a shorter route through Kansas City to drive to FL, but instead I drove south to New Mexico to get out of the snowstorm which was headed for Kansas City. By doing this, my trip took longer and I incurred additional costs for gas, motel and food expenses.

Thank you for your help. I took digital photos of my car, kept receipts and the history of the trip on my GPS system to prove my claim. This happened on Oct. 10, 2009 and now it is Dec. 9, 2009.

Sherry

Answer
Sherry,

What is your question? Are you asking whether or not to make the claim and go ahead with the repairs? As far as the choice of body shops goes, you are not required to use any shop, particularly the ones endorsed by your insurance company. I have a colleague in Vegas with years of experience in these matters. You may want to contact Rocco Avelini for guidance in collision damage claims. His e mail address is rocco@roccos1.com

Charlie Barone