Can insurance company only reimburse me for a used bumper?
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Can insurance company only reimburse me for a used bumper?
I was rear ended by a woman. I got an estimate which included a new bumper. Her insurance says they only have to pay for a replacement used bumper as long as it is
comparable to the old bumper.
Asked on February 13, 2017 under Accident Law, Missouri
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
When there is more than one way to repair a damaged car, the law allows the at-fault driver--and by extension, her insurer--to pay for the lesser or least expensive option; the law does not let the owner of the damage car insist on an unnecessarily expensive repair. So if the used bumper truly is comparable, that's all they'd have to pay for; only if the used bumper is not comparable to the old one could you insist on a new bumper.
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