My 88 GTA got hit in the front left. I got an estimate for $1500. (New GM parts. New nose, new left front fender, new fog light. The estimate mentions 'hidden damage' too, and says 'hidden damage' discovered after the outside pieces are off, will ADD to the bill. The headlight assembly might need to be replaced, which would add $ also.

So.... the other guy's insurance co sent out an adjuster, and I showed him the bodyshop estimate for $1500. The adjuster estimated it at $1700. (Yeah, even more!) I haven't had any work done on it yet.

I got a phone call a few days after the adjuster came over, from the ins office, and they said they were sending me a check for the $1700. Iasked about the 'hidden damage' and they said they would take care of it, with the bodyshop, if there was any.

But I noticed on the attachment to the check it says "Full and final settlement - 1988 Pontiac Firebird". I wonder if I cash the check if I will be legally 'agreeing' that I only get $1700. Hmmmm. Any thoughts on this ? Thanks


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88 GTA 5.7 TPI Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.

 

Dude be happy with 1700$. The damage you described can be fixed with only a couple of hundred (if you can do the work yourself) and the rest is yours to keep. The hidden damage he was likely talking about was the frame under the bumper or under the fender being bent. Also check your radiator to make sure it hasn't been hit.

-Max

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86 Trans Am LB9/700R4
-Flowmaster 3inch exhaust, K&N, Ported Plenum, Redone Ignition system

 

A couple of hundred ? It needs paint and a new fender and a new nose (cover). Fender and nose have paint flaking off. How am I going to paint it?
The nose is actually off the rest of the car by about a half inch on the front left. I don't really want to get into the bodywork business.

 

The safest thing to do would be to ask your insurance company. They will be able to settle with the other guys company so that you don't have to. That's what a good insurance company will do for you. That's why you pay them. Ask them first.

 

My insurance company sucks, unfortunately. They have refused to help me out before in a similar situation. I am going to drop them, probably. Maybe should have dropped them already. So I am not going to even bother asking since I know they will say "sorry, we can't help you. But thanks for those premiums!" I have already asked the other ins co (the other guy's ins) and they SAID that they would pay the supplemental, but I don't really trust them.

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88 GTA 5.7 TPI Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.

 

If you don't want to do any bodywork yourself (BTW A busted fender and nose cover can easily be fixed fro 300$ and painted), I say take the car to a bodyshop, make them do all the work and if the bill is more then 1700$ send it to the other guy's insurance. Otherwise pay them out of the 1700 and enjoy the rest

-Max

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86 Trans Am LB9/700R4
-Flowmaster 3inch exhaust, K&N, Ported Plenum, Redone Ignition system

 

A bodyshop will write a supplement for any concealed damage to your car and they will call the adjuster to come look at it.

The insurance company is under a sort of pressure to make settlement to you. The bodyshop will stop work and wait for the supplemental money to come in. Try to get the other guys insurance to provide rental car funds while yours is being worked on. That really gets them in a hurry to settle.

Also they put "endorsement indicates full and final settlement". There is nothing that stops you from endorsing with your own statement "endorsement indicates settlement of known damages only and does not include concealed damages or supplements"... and sign your name.

Your stipulations are just as legal as theirs.

I had the same thing happen and if you are in doubt or feel uncomfortable have them reissue the check with the above statement. That's what I did. They reissued the check with the words vehicle damage only, because I also had property loss.