Auto Insurance Claims: Insurance company wont pay total loss, auto body shop, insurance comapny

Question
Hi, My husband got into an accident recently. The other party was pulling out so my husband tried to avoid him hitting his rear end and then slamming the passenger side into a wall. If he didn't do that it would have been head on and probably bodily injuries. We contacted the other party's insurance company and they gave us a list of shops they preferred. We brought the car to one of there shops, and the total for repairs was $10 grand. The adjuster told the auto body shop that the damages were only worth about $2,000. The body shop said that was impossible. He then told the body shop to revise their quote to something lower then $5,000. On top of that we kept asking for a rent a car, and following up and all the adjuster gave us was the run around. After two weeks with out an progress, I then contacted my insurance company and my adjuster did a quote of about $10 grand as well. It was over 80% damaged so we decided to go total loss. I am using my policy for the rent a car and claiming total against my insurance company. Now my question is. The party at faults insurance finally agreed to pay $5000, my car is worth $10,000.00 and that is what my insurance company is going to pay. How do they get back the difference? I have a $500 deductible that I may never get back. How do we get them to pay the full claim? There adjuster believes that a head lamp with deep scratches can be buffed. He's out of his mind.

Answer
Hi Joleen,

The other insurance comapny is just trying to rip you off. You should let your insurance company handle the entire claim. They will pay you for the value of your car plus sales tax, less your deductible.  Your insurance company will then go through a process called subrogation to get back their money as well as your deductible. This process may take up to a year. You should consider your deductible to just be gone. Then when your insurance company settles the claim, they will send you a check for your deductible.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh