Two months ago an Allstate client backed into the side of my car in a parking lot in Illinois. Filed claim with Allstate for repairs ($2,000) and provided photos of damage to both cars along with text message string with their client in which I provided him with the repair estimate (he requested this in case he just wanted to pay for my repairs directly instead of going through insurance). A few days later Allstate informed me that their client was denying any responsibility, that their car was not moving and somehow I hit the back of their car with the side of my car. The Allstate rep even admitted that this did not sound reasonable to her, nor could she explain why their client asked for a damage estimate to my car. Nonetheless, after waiting over a month for camera footage from the parking lot that never showed up, Allstate is denying liability because of their client's story. Now my insurance company (Farmers) has to pay and I get stuck with the deductible. Not giving up yet - Farmers said they will seek arbitration against Allstate and I may end up making a small claims filing in Denton just to be a nuisance to Allstate. Will NEVER do business with Allstate again. Sad, because I really like their mayhem commercials.

I’ve been with State Farm over 30 years and had 2 dealings with All State clients. Both took forever but State Farm beat their arse both times.

Had allstate for 25 years. never an issue.

Maybe because you were never on the other side of the relationship with Allstate. I have no problem with an insurance company standing by their client, but not when the evidence is so clear that their client is a liar.

They used to be the Good Hands People...these days more like one finger (old Bob Hope joke). That said my family used to have them but they tried to screw me on a wreck not my fault but I only had liability and the person who caused the wreck full coverage both Allstate. They tried to deny the claim so they would only have to pay to fix one car but we had an Attorney draft one letter and they miraculously paid immediately. We then change to State Farm and I would not use Allstate if they were the last insurance company on the face of this earth...

i've been thru that twice with progressive.

What does the police report show?

Bob typically the police don't come out or don't want to come out on something like this especially if there are no injuries or a large metro area.

I work in the industry and maybe it's coincidence but it seems like there are more and more incidents like this where at the scene the party knows it was their fault but later tells their insurance company that they were not at fault. I also hate it when I hear that the company makes multiple attempts to reach their insured and the person never responds. This is going to go down in company records so it likely is going to be a problem for that driver in the future when their company issues their renewal rates.

I sympathize with the OP because it is BS that you have to pay your deductible and Farmers has to pay the claim. The terminology on this is "subrogation" meaning Farmers will attempt to subrogate against Allstate for its loss.

I feel your pain. I've been with Allstate several years ago, but quite a few years ago I watched Farmers (the insurer of the person who hit me) pay $12,000+ in repairs and rentals on my vehicle that was worth about $7,000 because they were so incompetent - I said I would never deal with them again. And I haven't!

Went through this same scenario, high school parking lot . Several witnesses and a video. After a couple weeks of standing up to the lies presented by the other party, their insurance accepted full responsibility.

Public parking lots are a problem when it comes to this type of claim. Depending on what proof you have to support the claim , fault may be divided into percentages.

My insurance was ready to subrogate against the other because it was "easy to win".

If you go this option and win, you'll get your deductible back.

In Illinois the police only show up if more than three are shot.

Oh. That's right I forgot.

you're in good hands with allstate if you got a good lawyer....I insured boats,cars and houses with them for 25 years...had two small claims over the years and both times had to get an attorney to write them a letter before they would pay....
ask any body shop or boat dealer what's the worse company they have to deal with on insurance claims and you can bet allstate will be at the top or in the top 3 ….

You can add home claims to that list as well. They are not the best to deal with

File a complaint against them with the state board of insurance. I had State Farm try to pull something similar years back. I filed a complaint and had a check a few days later.