The pictures speak for themselfs. But heres what happened, some lady in a white pick up was driving in front of me in the right lane, while I was in the left. She suddenly decides she needs to turn left into the break in the median. Thats when she cuts into my lane forcing me to SLAM on my brakes, unfortunatly It still wasnt enough to avoid me plowing my right headlight into her back left wheel. Luckily I had two witnesses and they testified in the police report, automatically giving her a ticket. So this was in no way MY fault. But it really is a shame just to walk out of my car after the accident and see MY car like that, you know? Like the car I pay meticulous detail into keeping it nice is now folded up like a tin can because of someones stupid mistake... However, The insurance agency is coming on tuesday or wednesday; to give me an estimate. My dad said that knowing how the insurance agents are they might just decalare it totalled and give me the full value of the car if its cheaper than spending all the money to fix it. A kelly blue book value for a 1990 firebird
is about $3,500 right? I doubt they will claim it as totalled, I mean the airbag didnt even go off. Well.. I dont know what will happen. But whatever is going to be done my car IS going to be in working order if not better than it was before and maybe I'll even get that Trans Am hood I wanted .



Stay tuned for updates...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Redsand5101/accident/DSCF1622.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Redsand5101/accident/DSCF1621.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Redsand5101/accident/DSCF1631.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Redsand5101/accident/DSCF1633.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Redsand5101/accident/DSCF1640.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Redsand5101/accident/DSCF1642.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

 

This is what it used to look like:
<img src=http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/862000-862999/862187_9_full.jpg><img src=http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/862000-862999/862187_3_full.jpg><img src=http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/862000-862999/862187_2_full.jpg>

 

They might try and claim it as totaled. I seen these insurance companies do that even for a car that just recieved a dent. And that means it'll get a salvage title not cool . I hope they pay for the damages though.

 

Radiator support is bent not good.

Hope it turns out for you.

 

my wifes little Hyundai Accent, an 03!!!!, had about that same amount of damage and was still worth like 9,000 and they still totaled it out! they said they werent sure if the suspension would be damaged or not... well at least we got out of that little foreign POS and we got an Explorer, its a gas guzzler but its safer and has more room for us and the baby...
hopefully yours will turn out good

 

ive had 2 f-bodies totaled by insurance companies and both of them were repairable. i think it comes down to percent of value versus cost of repair. whatever the blue book for your car is versus the estimate for the repair. if the repairs are gonna be more then half the value of the car then they will probably total it out

 

I'm an auto claims adjustor and that car is most likely totaled...

I can tell you right now that most insurance companies don't use kelly blue book b/c kelly values are always too high! KBB adds in the cost of the dealership doing business (ie. advertising, etc)... which no insurance company or individual will pay for. *read the fine print on their website*

Most insurance companies write an estimate for the amount of damages and run NADA retail (or use a market search company like CCC) to determine the value of a car sitting on a lot w/no problems or defects (ie. no excessive wear and tear like cig burns, seat/dash tears, broken *****, wore tires, faded paint, etc.). Then they will take off any damage to your car (ie. hail, dents, non-working items as stated above) to get the ACTUAL CASH VALUE (ACV) of your car.

Once they get this value, if it is close to the cost to repair, they will look if there are any possible supplements (ie. suspension damage, hidden damage to inner panels, etc.). They will also get a salvage quote from their salvage vendor who sells that insurance companies salvage.

IF the cost to repair + rental + towing is greater than the ACV of your car, then it will total. If not, then it won't (at least for the company I work for)

Now you get to make a decision.... if you want to keep the car, the company will essentially make u "buy back" your car -- they will give you the value of the car, minus the salvage value. This means you are buying the car for the salvage value. You will get the car and a check for the ACV - salvage value. Otherwise the company will pay you the ACV for your car and tow it away.

I can tell you that 3rd gens get crappy salvage (As do most American cars), and that means you can "buy it back" for a decent price.

Its all a #'s game - the insurance is going to go the cheapest route and they do take into account how much $$$ they may make off of the salvage to help offset what they pay out on the claim.

With all this said, some adjustors are d*cks and will take off for a few door dings or light hail....I say show me a 10+ year old vehicle that isn't going to have a few battle scars. I think its ridiculous to kill a car just b/c you can. Just be very involved in your claim and keep on top of the adjustor. Make them explain every deduction and amount they get. If they really are trying to do the right thing, they will be able to explain all the numbers and it will make sense.


& ohhhh yah! Always remember... don't be one of those people that thinks your car is worth a gold mine.... usually its not - specially 3rd gens! (I own two!!)

Hope that helps! BTW, what insurance company does the other party have if I may ask! Lemme know if you have any ?'s!! I'll help in any way i can!


P.S> Used parts are a wrecked cars best friend! Can help reduce the cost of the estimate to save the vehicle from totaling...and remember that in most states it is written into law that the insurance company CAN use alternative parts!

 

Thats because hyundai parts are a pain in the **** to get and are expensive!!!