landell76

Ok today I am out at Lowes and it starts hailing,I pull under the loading canopy and park to wait it out.There is a large box delivery truck parked next to me facing the opposite way (see where this is going) Any way as I am sitting there the truck starts to move, I foresee what is about to happen and try to start the car and move but I am not fast enough. The truck digs into my passenger rear qtr, bumper and lower effect pulling me about 4 feet then stops. The bed of the truck also scratched my passenger upright on the windshield. The company has insurance and i have a police report.
Now getting to the question. My Camaro had zero body damage and zero rust, with the damage to the qtr and the upright it will now rust. If the qtr is replaced it will have to be cut out and welded. Basically there is no way for them to make my car the way it was before. I have thousands of dollars into this car and hundreds of hours and I will not be content with them offering me some low ball crap blue book value.
Has anyone had experience dealing with an insurance company on this type of issue?
On a side note the restoration was not completed but at 90% all that was left was some interior work and new paint. After completion I had planned to get a full classic policy. Wish I had it now.

landell76

anyone?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Good luck with that.

Sad though it may seem, it looks like you're about to get a lesson in how that sort of thing works. You probably won't get enough $$$ out of it to buy an un-rusted replacement, let alone replace whatever expenses you had racked up on it.

Note that I didn't use the word "investment", because, it's not.

I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but you'd do better to hear the truth rather than a bunch of "sympathy" unrelated to reality.

Best you can do is to show proof of what got tore up; which will HAVE TO take the form of receipts. You certainly won't get paid back for your labor.

Sorry to hear about this, it happens WAY too often. You have my valuable sympathy, which, along with $1.95, will buy you a cup of coffee at the shop at the corner. But as said, that's just how it works.

LHernandezJr

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Ransford2987

Are you expecting them to total it? If it's close to restored and has a decent NADA, I'm sure you could get them to fix it. If not, you have some options. If they total it, and offer you a lowball amount, you can appeal the insurance company's decision, and even buy back your car from the insurance company. How far along are you in the process?

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

My GTA fell off the trailer during delivery to me (long story).

Two insurance adjusters valued the car above $8K ... I got a check for the repairs at about $6K well above what I expected.

I doubt they would total yours unless condition is low ???

If in primer and the interior is trashed ... ?? Then different story.

Some shops are cocky, too good for older cars .... talk to a few different ones. Fortunately I have a friend w/ a shop. Even then I still had to round up the parts for them, some shops do want to have to hunt down old car parts.

Good luck.

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

I had an experience with something similiar. My ride was not on a thirdgen, but the principles are the same. Maybe my experiences can help you. After the accident, I had the wrecker driver take the vehicle to my house, and back it into the garage. I did not want it sitting outside in a storage lot.

My vehicle was damaged severely, and it was soley the other driver's fault. The damage estimate was 8K, and it was totaled. Due to the age of the vehicle, there was no question. The vehicle was in near perfect condition prior to the accident, and it was a model that has some collectability. A second repair estimate with all used parts came to 4K.

I had owned the thing since it was new, and had recently been doing some work on it. I had spent several thousand dollars on it. It was finished at the time of the accident. The original paint and body were nearly perfect. The worn parts of the interior had been recently replaced with OE fabrics, and was perfect at the time of the accident. The stereo, speakers, amps were all new. The AC had been rebuilt as was the tranmission. The exhaust, tires, shocks, and brakes were all brand new.

The insurance company wanted to total the vehicle, and offered me a low ball offer. They said that if I wanted to keep it, I would have to go to the auction and bid on it. I refused both. After a month the insurance adjuster called me and asked what it would take to resolve the claim. I had printed and submitted ads for the same model of vehicle that were currently for sale at that time to establish the value of my ride. I told them that if they paid me the amount to repair with used parts, 4K, and did not total it, we could settle the claim. They agreed, paid me the 4K, and I kept my vehicle with still with a clean one owner title.

I could have rebuilt it. Instead added 3K of my own money and bought a vehicle similar to mine, but two years newer. The replacment was just as clean, but with 130K less miles on it. Over the next few years the wreck sat in the back of the garage, and eventually I used some parts off of it.

Two years ago, I sold it to a fellow from Canada, who was looking for a rust free southern body. All of the damage was forward of the firewall. The cab was still perfect. He paid me for it, and had an auto transport company pick it up. Once in Canada, he rebuilt it. At the same time he modded it installing a crate 426 street Hemi from Mopar Performance. It made one very cool custom ride. And it still has a clean title.

If the insurance company wants to total your car, and you want to keep it, maybe you can use some of these stratigies to get a decent settlement. If your want to repair your car, you can prevent it from having a salvage title, which pretty much ruins the value of the car. Good Luck!

PS: For the record the vehicle was a 1985 Dodge AW150 (4x4) Ramcharger full size SUV.

mr305

iTrader: (1)

As an auto insurance agent I can confirm what most people have told you here is right, but regardless of the amount the insurance company is ofcourse still liable for the accident if it was their insureds fault. So they are responsible for settling the claim, they will use kelly blue book because it is the best way to get a "fair" current value of the car in its present condition. BUT if you hold your ground and insist and hold your ground possibly by threatining to sue they will give in and be more fair on the settlement its how it works I have gone thru this and won't with another thirdgen even before being an insurance agent hold your ground and you will get what you want

landell76

Thanks every one. I was not hurt in the accident. I was parked and the truck was doing like 3mph.
I have not heard from the other insurance company as of yet but i did go and get an estimate. The estimate was not as much as I thought $2600 and no cutting and welding.
As for condition I guess with a 3g thats always in the eye of the beholder. Body was 100% minus needing fresh paint. Interior is solid minus dash pad and headliner.
Not a perfect car but getting close.
I will let everyone know what happens after I work with the insurance.

Richboll

Been there too. All that I can say is good luck. Really try to stay away from a salvage title. In some states you can't register a car with a salvage title. And don't forget to ask about a rental car while yours is in the shop. It won't be an "In by 9 out by 5" scenario.

landell76

The judgement is in! I have 3 estimates from local shops: 1- $2947 2- $2650 3- $2377.

Insurance company sent a "non bias" third party to asses the damage and he gave them $1435!!!!

After a few well worded emails I got them to agree to $1950 thats it.... Sad day indeed.

They said anything more and they will have to call it a total loss. I guess I could have pushed the issue and got more $$$$ but then would have a salvage title to go with it.

Guess I will have to repair myself. At least it will be cheaper to do myself since i plan to have the entire car painted anyhow.