Legal Question in Insurance Law in Indiana

The electric company sent out a company to trim the trees away from our electric lines, which resulted in them backing their chipper into my yard and crushing the side of my asphalt driveway.

There are only two companies that will do repairs in my town. One I have been trying to get an estimate from for two weeks now, and the other gave me an estimate of $1500.

The insurance company's appraiser came out and gave an estimate of $800. They said that is all that they will pay. A direct quote: You can put our settlement toward that company for repairs or look for someone else to make repairs or make the repairs yourself.

So, does that leave me with the only option of taking the $800 and paying the rest myself? Is there anything else I can do? Is it worth contacting a lawyer?


Asked on 11/10/14, 1:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kenneth Wilk Rubino Ruman Crosmer & Polen

You can file a suit in small claims court for the $41500, but you'll need the person who gave you the estimate to come to court to testify. If you hire a lawyer, you have to pay your own costs. The judge could accept either your estimate or the insurance company's. It looks like it would cost more than its worth to fight about it, especially if the court accepts the insurance company estimate and you have to pay your costs on top of that.

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Answered on 11/10/14, 2:24 pm


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