Crashed into. Now getting it fixed. What if?

Hopefully this coming week will get me an adjuster to get things started. I realize now that sometimes you can get too attached to a car in the same way you can get too attached to a pet. It's only been 8 days since the accident, but not being able to even start in anyway is frustrating.

It's given me time to check around and find out virtually no one want's to tackle anything old, and the one who was willing is being knocked down by most everyone I ask about them.

About out of the pain killer for the back too and I never got around to getting another doctor after the last one I had retired and then died.
Went by the medical center and asked for a paper to show I should be off for the one day I took out of the 3 they recommended. Only took a half hour to get a paper that said I could go back on the day I was off.

So all of this is just something none of us really look forward to dealing with. Clear case of hit in rear and blame clearly do***ented. Should just be able to start the healing process without delay............. I know, be patient. I'll try.......

 

Sir woosh,
I can tell you right now that if you are wanting it repaired back to factory specs (meaning metal finished No bondo) your insurance company will total that car in a heartbeat, Not only that but unless you had agreed value insurance on it If they do total it, They are not going to pay much. Insurance co's **** and try to get out of paying claims when possible these days. Not trying to sound neg, But better learn to sleep at night knowing your car is going to have some filler in it from here on out, As I would almost bet that your insurance is not going to pay to have it metal finished. I understand that the car has alot of meaning to you, But to the rest of the world it is just another old car. Sorry this happened to you.

 

Since I see you still on Cowtown. What if I have receipts showing the ton of money invested in it I.E. drivetrain, interior and so on?

 

It All really depends on your insurance company, and how hard your agent is willing to fight for you. I mean if they total it, by law they only have to pay you what a 55 olds is worth, This is this reason that companys like grundy and such are far better than standard companys on antique and cl***ic cars. But I have seen deals like this play out before and not always good for the home team. I am not trying to tell you what to do or not to do, But if they are not willing to make you happy on fixing your car, perhaps your back pain, might be a little worse than you originally thought....just saying!!....A couple of years ago A guy backed into one of my semi's and broke the hood and front leaf spring, Adjuster said there was no way that their insured done that much damage to my truck (busted leaf spring) and they were not going to pay, Well when I told them no problem I was going in for a MRI to see if I had any injurys, They wanted to know who to make the check out to for the leaf spring damage......goodluck and keep us posted.

 

Thanks loads to you Cowtown and all who have helped relieve some of the stress of it all...................

Much appreciated Hambers!

 

All this talk about insurance companies denies the FACT that you were hit by another party and THAT PARTY OWES YOU RES***UTION not some insurance company.
Parties have insurance to hopefully cover what they owe YOU but they, the insurance company or the other party can't "total" and steal your car from you unless YOU let them.
Get your car's damage appraised and bill the party that hit you.
Let them deal with their insurance over it.

 

Sir, have you talked to Buckys?
I heard they`ve included a restoration shop next to their regular body shop, where also I`ve seen a frame machine.
Their somewhat close, in Martinsburg.
good luck

 

DrJ has it right.

 

FWIW, stay on top of the back thing. If you really have a injury that is more than a few aches and pains and you don't have a doctor, find one or go to the ER. The other insurance will fall all over themselves to flash a $500 check in your face to settle up the PI (personal injury) end of things.

Bob

 

I straightened frames for 39 years.You need to get that car on a real frame machine,those floor pots might be OK for a Honda civic,but you need proper anchoring and pulling to straighten your frame and body panels.Don't attempt to "push"the damage out with a porto power,it needs pulled,reversing the damage.A good frame man will pull the panels and work them while under tension. I really don't think a restoration shop would be much help in this case,other than for the finish body work and paint.

 

9 days and counting waiting for a call or adjuster to get anything started.

I straightened frames for 39 years.You need to get that car on a real frame machine,those floor pots might be OK for a Honda civic,but you need proper anchoring and pulling to straighten your frame and body panels.Don't attempt to "push"the damage out with a porto power,it needs pulled,reversing the damage.A good frame man will pull the panels and work them while under tension. I really don't think a restoration shop would be much help in this case,other than for the finish body work and paint. Makes all the sense in the world 6-71

Thanks!

 

6-71 is right.

Years ago I worked in a fleet shop and Barney the Blacksmith did the simple crash work. Major stuff went to a real body shop. These were unit bodied buses with aluminum and steel framing and rivited skins.

Old Barney would look at the job for a couple of days, trying to figure out the hit. Then he would drill one hole, put an eyebolt in and make a pull. Most of the time he was succesful with one pull. The whole shop would be there watching when he made the pulls. A real artist.

Frank

 

Call them EVERY DAY from a cell phone or other line that logs calls. Ask them to provide daily status updates-- what was accomplished the day before, what will be done today. If you have to drag someone to court, you can show due diligence on your part, and ***-dragging on their part with the call logs.

 

You may not be able to get full value. If the vehicle is low miles. they have to find a comperable model and milage car for replacement. Has a 74 olds that got hit 3 months after paint. 19 years old at time but only 50k miles no rust. They could not find a matching car but based on a midsized car with 50k mile they paid for the repairs. book value on car would have been less that 500 i got 1500 for the damage.

 

This 1955 Oldsmobile has 48,764.9 actual miles on it. Non stock drivetrain and upgraded suspension. Nothing against original as I have another 1955 Oldsmobile that is stock with less than 100k on it.

But this low mileage modified is my favorite and only had 34,424 miles on it less than 2 years ago. How do you figure any of that in?

I didn't clean this seat frame and springs. This is how clean the car is. Like new original rockers, door bottoms with original glossy paint......

I didn't have to do a thing to the original floor to insulate it but wipe the dust off the original paint.

Find another one like that.......................

 

Makes me want to consider specialty insurance.

 

Hope things go better for you Jerry!

 

Hope my agent and friend of 27 years makes it work right. Otherwise, I'll have to go specialty insurance.............

 

I piped up here earlier stating my experience in insurance. There is a lesson to be learned here. To an insurance company that is not an agreed value company what you have is an old car thats it. You can insure cars on your regular car insurance and ask for full coverage the company is going to simply think old car. I know that many drive old cars as their daily. Unless you have a stated value policy you are going to be self insuring for most of the value of your car. I understand most stated value policies put usage limits on your cars. Most don't wan't the exposure that comes from daily driving. I also think expecting your agent to perform miracles is naive. Insurance companies don't let agents do adjusting because adjusters have a different agenda. Hope it works out. Some have said insurance company isn't responsible driver is the company agreed to accept her liability so you are fighting probaly two insurance companies. Good luck I think you are going to need it.

 

IT AINT UP TO THEM! I had to deal with the same issue on my dailey driver pick-up door. "we use this guy for all our body work."
But Your guy ****s I'm takeing it to my guy!
"well, we wont pay more than_____"
The State attorney general and the insurance commisioner will be very interested in that.
"uhm... who do we make the check to and how much?"

 

Sir Woosh,

Please go back and read DrJ's post, he is 95% correct, except for the insurer not being able to total a car. Most states have given the insurer that right.

I would strongly recommend that you call your state insurance commission, to understand the laws pertaining to your rights in your state. Question them about your concerns and try to get answers. They are the body that oversees the business of insurance in your state.

Here in Pa. if you accept anything of value from the insurer involved (car rental, partial medical payment, etc.) you give up your right to persue legal action against the at fault party, and accept the insurer as your payee. You now have to deal with them.

Had a customer drop off his damaged car and said call me when it's done. I reminded him the insurer would want to see his car, he replied, not going to deal with the insurer, I am going to file suit in civil court for your costs. I faxed him the estimate and he filed suit. When the insured called his insurer with that fact, the insurer issued a check for my estimate and never saw the car. This man apparently was aware of his rights, and used them.