The $4,000 Lesson

When Lisa Morgan got rear-ended at a red light, the damage didn’t look too bad—just a crumpled bumper and some hidden frame tweaks. Her 2021 Honda Accord still drove fine, and the guy who hit her had good insurance. She figured it would be a simple fix.

Her insurer sent her to a “preferred shop” and emailed a repair estimate for $2,300. Lisa trusted the process—until the body shop called her two days later, saying the real cost would be closer to $4,800 due to hidden structural damage.

Lisa was confused. “Why would the insurance company approve an estimate that’s less than half the actual repair cost?”

The shop rep explained: “They lowball the first estimate to see if they can get away with it. They know most people won’t push back or get second opinions.”

Frustrated, Lisa called her insurance company to ask about a more fair compensation. The rep told her: “We don’t usually pay for that unless the car is repaired.” But Lisa did some digging and discovered her policy included an Appraisal Clause. She hired a professional appraiser who determined her claim value was actually $4,000.

After invoking the appraisal clause and presenting the report, the insurance company finally agreed to settle—but only after weeks of delay.

By the end of it all, Lisa had learned something important:
Just because they say it’s fair doesn’t mean it is.

Moral of the story: Insurance companies are businesses first. Don’t accept less than you’re owed—know your rights, get independent evaluations, and be ready to stand your ground.