Auto insurance, did i cash insurance check too soon? (pay, deposit, vehicle)

[carrot]

I recently had an auto accident happen (a parking garage metal door ripped the roof rack off my car, came down on it suddenly as I was driving through). The garage is paying for it through their insurance. I had estimates done and it came to about 2400 bucks. Their adjuster sent me a check for 2100 bucks. I deposited that and went ahead today and dropped off the car at the repair shop that cost 2400. I assumed i would cut a check for what it cost and their insurance would pay the rest...I hope i am right on that but now not so sure, did i screw myself by depositing that check?

Will the garage insurance pay the rest of the fix over what they sent me?
There is a chance it will cost more, once they dive into the repair...will insurance pay that difference?
Will their insurance still give me a check for diminished value?

Thanks!

[flyonpa]

1. No.
2. Maybe, You can put claim in on your Ins. but would be unlikely to be over the Deductible, so you would pay the whole thing away.
3. No

You can ask the Body Shop to Get its price down, maybe there are some things they can skip when doing the repair. (Also you are under no requirement to fix it 'back to new' (unless its a leased car).

[texdav]

no; you can still seek the full amount as you never really settled anything permanently. I'd let the body shop call the insurance company to discuss their estimates being different.

[carrot]

This must be how they hose people...obviously next time I'll know, but I've never dealt with someone else's insurance in a situation like this.

I'm sick to my stomach as i'm probably out thousands of dollars now for this education.

Can I get my insurance Involved, pay my deductible to get a check for the diminished value and rest of the repairs?

[midwestlaxer]

body shop "supplements" are common practice. Depositing a check does not necessarily release liability. Tell your shop to prepare the supplement and go over it with you so you can see what the differences between the estimate and the final bill.

Then call the insurance company. When you call them, be sure to also point out that they owe for a rental car while you are out of a car (if they have not given one to you), also you can try to negotiate pay for your time and "loss of use" of your vehicle (if you did NOT get a rental). The flip side of this is you can always file a claim under your insurance, pay your deductible and your insurance company will subrogate them to get the money back. You should not be out of any coin due to someone else's negligence.

YMMV.