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2002FO wrote:Well, I got an offer for 3650 today from the insurance company. Yeah, it had a bunch of miles on it, but I won't be able to replace it for 3600 dollars. Keep in mind, I just put new tires on it (550.00) both front wheel bearings and inner tie rods and alignment (765.00) egr valve, O2 sensors, plugs, wires, etc. So the car was in excellent condition mechanically. Whatever I find to replace it, will need most of those items.
So, tomorrow morning I have to call them back and let them know if that will be acceptable. I'm countering with 4800.00

All I can do is ask...

Stick to your "guns". That's how the wife got our '92 fixed instead of totaled in '08 (? - IIRC) good luck - BC

2002FO wrote:Well, I got an offer for 3650 today from the insurance company. Yeah, it had a bunch of miles on it, but I won't be able to replace it for 3600 dollars. Keep in mind, I just put new tires on it (550.00) both front wheel bearings and inner tie rods and alignment (765.00) egr valve, O2 sensors, plugs, wires, etc. So the car was in excellent condition mechanically. Whatever I find to replace it, will need most of those items.
So, tomorrow morning I have to call them back and let them know if that will be acceptable. I'm countering with 4800.00

All I can do is ask...

I agree try to Get at least 4800+ After all the work you put into it avoid getting into squabbles with the insurance company over cosmetic stuff. Stick with all mechanical costs . Take all that information and shove it down their throat and they have no choice but to get you what you need.

If you have receipts, fax/email them to them. You could always buy it back, take the good parts off and scrap the rest...

00Beast wrote:If you have receipts, fax/email them to them.

Did all that.. I went round and round with them about the cost of replacing a good car. They're not interested. Realistically, I would need about 5000 dollars to get back to where I was. The KBB value of the car is right at 3700, which is what they're offering me. If I get a lawyer, he would want to go for 10-15K at least, to make it worth his time, and I really can't justify that kind of claim. So, I'm basically out of luck.

Don't ever think you are winning the lottery if you get hit like I did. I've got a bunch of pain in my back, my wife is still not back to 100% and I'm basically losing a great car. The ONLY bright side to all this is one of the guys that works with me has a small corner lot, and he is going to take me to the auto auction and we'll look for a car together. That should get me a little more car for what I'll be able to spend. The other bright spot is I'm due for a 3800 dollar profit sharing check from my employer (DAL) So, coupling that with the settlement should yield something half way decent.......

This just plain sucks.....

Do they know you were injured? Are they handling that side of it fairly?

RJolly87 wrote:Do they know you were injured? Are they handling that side of it fairly?

Yeah, the medical side is being handled well, so far. They've covered all the expenses, and I will be reimbursed for time away from work, as well as my wife. However, I don't know if there will be any kind of settlement. I really can't claim "pain and suffering", so I can't complain to much...

RJolly87 wrote:Do they know you were injured? Are they handling that side of it fairly?

Yeah, the medical side is being handled well, so far. They've covered all the expenses, and I will be reimbursed for time away from work, as well as my wife. However, I don't know if there will be any kind of settlement. I really can't claim "pain and suffering", so I can't complain to much...

I had a car totaled a few years ago by an idiot who decided the speed limit wasn't fast enough. The insurance companies only had to give us book value and a copy of their list of similar cars for sale in the area that helped them create an evaluation along with the NADA value.

You may want to get a good lawyer. Those expenses added up quickly and after a little bit of time the insurance wanted to wash their hands of paying anymore. Without our lawyer we would have taken home $4000 plus the car compared to $20,000 plus the car. Without that we would have paid many bills out of pocket.

DrOlds88 wrote:I had a car totaled a few years ago by an idiot who decided the speed limit wasn't fast enough. The insurance companies only had to give us book value and a copy of their list of similar cars for sale in the area that helped them create an evaluation along with the NADA value.

You may want to get a good lawyer. Those expenses added up quickly and after a little bit of time the insurance wanted to wash their hands of paying anymore. Without our lawyer we would have taken home $4000 plus the car compared to $20,000 plus the car. Without that we would have paid many bills out of pocket.

Well, again, I'm not in a position where I cant work, and my wife is disabled, but I am still on the mend from being hit.

Maybe I'll talk to one tomorrow...

yup, tell them all the work that has been done to it and everything that has been replaced.

High miles will hurt the value but it can't hurt to show what you've done to it and ask for compensation. They WILL offer more than whatever their first offer is, I would never accept a first offer.

^^^^^^^I Agree^^^^^^^

Never take the first offer and always fight when you're not in the wrong, I hate to be too personal but if you're wife is disabled that is yet another reason despite the fact that the accident wasn't the cause she could still be suffering with preexisting injuries compounding with the accident that alone is enough for me to want to fight with a lawyer for more money. But Good luck with the upcoming events wish you the best.

So, I spoke with a lawyer yesterday. He confirmed my suspicions. The other insurance is only obligated to reimburse me for the value of the car at the time of the accident. By law, that's their legal obligation So, I am pretty much stuck with the offer on the car. The medical side of the claim is another story. There's room for adjustment there, and they'll make sure we are covered for the medical costs.

still not happy

Ahhhh that totally blows......... I wouldn't be happy at all either. I guess cause them as much trouble as you can for them until you feel a bit better i guess just make them do everything they must..

StreetƐgl-o21 wrote:Ahhhh that totally blows......... I wouldn't be happy at all either. I guess cause them as much trouble as you can for them until you feel a bit better i guess just make them do everything they must..

It's all I can do...

On the bright side....$3700 will buy you a same-year Bonneville with less miles than your previous one, particularly if you go to the auction. I'm at the auctions every so often (and regularly online checking what's there), and decent '00-02 Bonneville SE's with 130-160k regularly ring in under $3k. If insurance will let you, you could even swap tires if you can swing getting your replacement before the old one leaves.

*edit* Dependent on whether your friend is taking you to the WI or Chicago auctions, I ran a market report....here's what most are selling for in the past 6 weeks.

Fox Valley & Milwaukee auctions:
03 109k $4200
02 110k $2800
02 112k $3000
02 188k $1950
02 138k $1750
02 172k $2100
01 218k $575
00 270k $825

Chicago auction:
04 SLE 83k $5000
04 146k $2100
03 120k $1600
03 136k $1700
02 123k $1850
02 140k $1900
00 SSE 158k $1900
00 120k $1400

Sorry for your loss and hope you haven't settled yet and this might help.

Number one we should not have to do this but after being screwed also when we weren't at fault either I decided to try a different way of resolving this. My two sons were hit by a gentleman and it was his fault. The Honda had almost 300k on it and needless to say although it was meticulously maintained the offer was less than thrilling.

I didn't raise Cain (not saying you did) but was honestly devastated, got quite for awhile then asked if she could help in ANYWAY. This is when I got a small window of a glimpse into what they can do. You know these people are probably immune after being yelled at everyday of there job so goes back to "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" saying.

She said you sound like a nice guy, I cannot do anything more on the car but let me try this "did the airbags go off?" Yes they did "are both your sons ok?" Yes they are "ok in that case we are allowed to pay out $1000 EACH (may have been $1250 but I don't remember now).

That extra 2 something grand and the 1800 on the car actually allowed us for ONCE not to lose for something that wasn't our fault.

May want to plead your case and mention that and see if it helps. I didn't add the insurance companies name on purpose so the loophole doesn't get closed but I have heard this at least use to be common to most insurance companies (ours was little over a year ago).your wife at least in our state can still get help even if you settle on this part but confirm that for your state. Good luck Sir

Thanks for the tip!

Hope it helps. If you can separate yourself from all the yellers they deal with every day and they still have a heart I think they will help you especially if you know they do have that option available to them already.

Let us know how it goes.

Well, after a 30 minute "heartfelt" conversation, they still stuck to their offer. High mileage was the big factor. State law blah blah blah... Only required to reimburse value at time of accident, blah blah blah...

So, he dropped off a check today for 3670.00

Not sure what I'll be buying. I mentioned the bonus that's coming in a few weeks. That should be close to 3K. So, I'll see what is on the market then...