Definitely go through their insurance first.  If the adjuster is
unreasonable or difficult, you can always go through your own.  When
dealing with the adjuster, just be aware that you are entitled to a
rental car comparable to your maxima.  Do NOT settle for a neon or
kia.  You should also be able to pick which autobody shop you go to
although they may make you get at least two estimates.  I would be
leery of "insurer recommended" autobody shops as they often have
agreements to do the least-expensive work, although the insurance
company may offer you an appealing multi-year warranty.  Depending on
the damage, your best bet may be to get a whole door (even if from a
salvage yard).  Do not let them bondo large damage.  It'll look like
crap after just a few years.  Make sure they do a good job with the
paint.  It should match and the surface should feel slick and smooth.
Shops sometimes like to make shortcuts on the paint job.

Your car will never be the same, unfortunately.  Your job is to ensure
that the work they do will last a good long time since your car is so
new.  Hopefully you can find a good autobody shop near you.  Most,
IMHO, do very poor work.

CW

Here in Canada, specifically the Province of Ontario, the insurance industry
got regulated to iron out these issues. In a case such as yours, I go to my
preferred repair place (Delaer does excellent work and uses origianl parts)
and I rent a car. My insurance company covers the costs and then bills the
other company for the expenditure. I don't pay a thing, unless I caused the
accident.

However, the insurance costs go up if you have a number of accidents,
regardless on whether or not I caused them, because they then believe that I
live or drive in a high risk area.

I am surprised that for the amount of money you pay that the isurance
company doesn't handle the little petty deatils for you, like the deductible
and rental. That should be part of the service.

rtt

First find the body shop YOU want the car fixed at. Don't bother with
estimates from shops yet, call their insurance company and they'll have an
adjuster look at the car. They'll write an estimate which will probably be
about half the real damage (they hope you'll cash the check which ends
their liability!). Then they will attempt to steer you to one of their
"preferred" shops. Read this as someone who will do cheap work for what
they say they will pay, panel paint the car etc. If the insurance company
won't pay enough, they will cut whatever corners they have to to meet the
price to remain a "preferred" shop. Obviously we aren't a "preferred" shop
anymore because we won't play those games and neither are any of the good
body shops.

Once you take the car to a good shop, they will have to make suppliments,
reinspections, argue with adjusters etc etc. It's become a nightmare trying
to do repairs correctly but it's the only way to get a quality repair.

You -DO NOT- have to use their "preferred" shops but yes they will make you
jump through a bunch of hoops to use another shop. Also DEMAND only new
nissan parts, none of their LKQ (like kind and quality) crap parts they
will want to use. You are in the drivers seat because it's THEIR insured
fault, if it was your fault it would be worse. These companies have be sued
enough times now that they -WILL- do the right thing if they realize they
can't push you around. Threaten to report them to the insurance commisioner
if they start acting stupid -at all- about this! It seems to be the only
thing they understand.

I'd also DEMAND lost value as they are going to sell the information to the
reseller databases that this car has been wrecked, so even if it is
repaired perfectly, it's lost value because they sold your personal
information! It could be as much as several thousand dollars! I can't
believe it's legal for them to make money at your expense this way, but it
is so you need to get paid for this as well. You will probably have to go
to a dealer to find out the trade-in/resale value before and after the
wreck to determine how much lost value you need to ask for.

In another words, if you don't want to get screwed like 99% of people do,
you're going to have to fight with them so get ready! It's gotten so bad we
don't like even doing insurance repairs anymore and most of the
bodywork/paint we do now is restoration work. Good luck!

I'll just add to all the good advice you have gotten, one other not so nice
aspect of this event (at least here in California).  I had the misfortunate
to have a now bankrupt (and gone) major department store replace a blown
Michelin on my '89 Maxima.  They apparently twisted it changing the tire.
Buckled the roof!   I wasn't there but they either dropped it or who knows
what.  Nightmare.

Anyway, here in California, when a car has major damage, one is supposed to
disclose that to a buyer.  And I had damage...the freakin' frame (unit) had
to be crunched back into alignment.  Now, insurance paid for all this stuff
and the repairs looked fine but I really couldn't sell the car in good
conscience without disclosing.  Frankly, I believe fair would have been to
total (or near total the thing).  So, I am not sure of the cure but beware
of any need to disclose significant damages.

In my case, I gave the car to my sister (she needed one), in 1995.  She and
her hubby drove it for 8 years.  Got in a head-on with a Buick at low speed,
had it fixed.  A daughter rear-ended someone with it, had it fixed.  Now,
nearing 300K miles, one of my sister's kids and her hubby use it as daily
driver.  So, the result wasn't so sad but it could have been a real
pocketbook slammer.

M

what a sad story..... I was in a similiar suitation with my Saturn, to make a
long story short, it was a minor incident when someone took a turn out of a
parking lot a little too shart and clipped the front left part of my car,
scratching it pretty bad. called my insurance and they wanted me to pay a
deductable, I hung up on them and called the other guys insurance (Geico) they
sent an adjuster out in a week or so, and I got 1400 bucks for what was
basically paint scratches, had a friend buff out most of them, and just lived
with the 1 bigger scratch for a few months and sold the car. it worked out
pretty good
-Slick Nick

Thank you all for your valubale advice(s). Here is the current status,
I got in touch with the State Farm agent (other persons insurance
company) and they took my information and told me that someone from
their claims department will contact me with regard to fixing my car.

In the meanwhile I went to my Nissan Dealer Collision Center (Roanoke,
VA) and they have given me an estimate of about $1500 (apparently
these guys are certified estimaters for State Farm) and will take
approximately 5 days to repair. They told me that the entire rear door
needs to be replaced, the Quarter Pro needs to be repainted and other
minor things to be fixed. Also, can anyone guide me in how to claim
(and calculate) diminished value for my car due to the accident,
especially when it is the other persons fault.

thank you all for your valuable advice and time. I will keep you all
updated,
BI

Glad to hear you're not hurt.  

One thing to check out as well is diminished value compensation. You
can find websites which will appraise your car's diminished value. I'm
still fighing with State Farm on what they should pay me for my car's
diminished value.

By the way, I took my '98 to a shop which not only specialized in
accident body work, but was well known in the resto-mod world of
classic cars. I figured that they get paid to do work for people who
really care about their classics, so they must be good.

Turns out, I've been quite happy since getting the car back. I really
don't notice any issues. It did take three months to get my car back
after my wife's accident in '02, but the rental car did agree to let
me drive a Park Avenue Ultra while I was waiting.

HTH

I had an experience with State Farm a few years back -- wreck was the other
driver's fault -- which was quite unpleasant.  In all it took many phone
calls and finally mentioning the problem to an executive with State Farm who
attended our church before they agreed to take car of the accident.  In all,
it was over a month before they gave the OK for a repair.  I hope you have
better luck.

Hi guys,

  Just to give my status update, I called up State Farm (SF) claims
department and enquired about how I can file for diminished value of
my car. They put me through to another preson (I suppose she is an
expert in dealing with DV cases). I explained her that due to the
accident (not-my fault) my car has lost value and want to get paid for
my lost value. She plainly stated that its SF's position that "in the
state of Virginia, once the car is restored back to it pre-accident
condition they dont pay any Diminished value".
  I tried to explain her that I have been to the car dealer and they
have quoted me a lesser trade-in price (because my car was in an
accident), but she bluntly repeated the same thing.

  I don't know what to do, I know my car has certainly lost value due
to the accident. And also based on all the discussion on this post,
the car can never be restored to its pre-accident condition. I am
planning on calling the Commissioner's office of Virginia Bureau of
Insurance and see what he has to say about it. Any suggestions will be
greatly appreciated.

thanks alot for all your help and advice,
BI