car insurance appraiser question

Wife hit a patch of ice in her car today and slid into the side of a curb, damaging the alignment of her car pretty badly. The national chain she took it to said they didn't have the parts to fix it -- she'd have to go to the dealership -- and it was probably going to be upwards of $500 or more. So she called our insurance company and they're sending an appraiser to look at the car before we go getting it fixed.

My question: What is the appraiser going to do, because there is no visible damage? He can't take the car apart himself. So what can he possibly base his estimate on?

 

He is going to screw you, because that is what insurance companies do.

 

Do you have an estimate or something from the national chain as to what was damaged?

I'd show that to the appraiser.

 

WFW

 

The appraiser should be able to analyze things beyond the superficial.

Having said that, unless the power steering rack was damaged - or both wheels and tires - I dunno how much good getting an appraiser will do.

If it's little more than bent tie-rods and/or a broken tie-rod end, I don't know if I would involve an appraiser. It might not be worth the increased premiums unless your insurance has a low, low deductible, say less than $250.