Advice on car wreck estimates

[bannination]

Sooooo I got rear ended the other day.... my car is pretty old for most peoples standards - 1997 2wd - > 160,000 miles.

Anyway, pretty sure they will total it out (it is half way drivable though) However, given it's age, it's not likely I get any value out of the deal and end up having to spend a crap ton more money. My car was well maintained internally.... which is the sucky part, the engine is like new, and the transmission is great. I hate buying another used car with no clue to how well it's been maintained..... ugh...

Anyone been there, or can offer any advice?


I've heard from one individual that you can force them to fix it rather than a cash payout for totaling. I don't know though.

[O Really]

Lots of variables, here, but for starters, is the guy who hit you insured? It should be helpful in negotiation that he's at fault, and that your neck really really hurts. Fixing it is a two-edged sword - sometimes insurance companies will insist on fixing it because they can get it half-assed and not spend so much. If it is driveable, maybe you could get an independent estimate on fixing, outside of what the insurance company does. If they insist on totaling it, I'd contact Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

[bannination]

Lots of variables, here, but for starters, is the guy who hit you insured? It should be helpful in negotiation that he's at fault, and that your neck really really hurts. Fixing it is a two-edged sword - sometimes insurance companies will insist on fixing it because they can get it half-assed and not spend so much. If it is driveable, maybe you could get an independent estimate on fixing, outside of what the insurance company does. If they insist on totaling it, I'd contact Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

Yes, the guy was insured and definitely his fault. My car is apparently only worth $1800 in blue book value. My plan was to let the insurance company give me the estimate, and if there's something I don't like about it, I'll pull back and start thinking about getting the independent estimate, etc.

Just looking at retail sales of a similar vehicle, I'm seeing something in the $4,000 range.


Thx

[neoplacebo]

Whew; sorry you got hit, but if the frame isn't ruined I'd have it fixed, especially if the engine and other drive train is more than good. Insurance companies go by charts of model years and makes and that's what they base the value of the vehicle on. They have no concept of the actual value of any particular vehicle other than its generic value to them. Hope it works out ok for you, though. Also, there's the adventure and regret and angst in buying a new one.

[Mr.B]

Sorry to hear about your car, 'ol pal.....wish you the best.

[bannination]

Auto Advantage anyone? <ugh>

If you have a DVR, pause their next commercial and read the fine print........$399 doc fee, $750+ beacon....what the heck is a beacon?

I Googled that and the best I can determine is that that is a credit check. Dang!

Sorry to hear about your car, 'ol pal.....wish you the best.

Thanks, the car market really pisses me off around here. Everything is way way way overvalued cause everyone is like, I know, I'll just finance it for 20 years.

[O Really]

Your real leverage here with the insurance company is that you might be injured. It would cost a lot more to pay for medical bills than to pay for your car getting fixed. Just don't sign anything for settlement you're not happy with. Your entire car claim is peanuts to the insurer. If they can get you to sign off on a repair that costs $3,000 even if the car is (wholesale) $1,800, they don't care.

[bannination]

Whew; sorry you got hit,

Ditto. Were you injured?

but if the frame isn't ruined I'd have it fixed...

Also, make sure the axles are okay before making a decision.

Nah, luckily, no one was injured. Other than a very large head bang to the back of the head on impact.... which I mention for legal reasons.

[O Really]

I mentioned potential of injury as a negotiation point, but it is also real. Whiplash sometimes takes a few days or more to be noticeable. Make sure if you have much continued soreness you get checked out.

[bannination]

I mentioned potential of injury as a negotiation point, but it is also real. Whiplash sometimes takes a few days or more to be noticeable. Make sure if you have much continued soreness you get checked out.

Yes, in all seriousness I've felt ok, I definitely got whipped around and banged my head though, so I mentioned it on the police report in an effort to cover my ass should it start hurting later.

[O Really]

Who's the other guy's insurance?

[bannination]

Who's the other guy's insurance?

Nationwide

[Mr.B]

"Who's the other guy's insurance?"

"Nationwide"

You can relax...they're on your side.

[O Really]

Well, they're on the side of their policy holder, which isn't Banni (unless he has them too). But I get it on the knowledge of a guy that runs a high-end body shop that Nationwide is pretty good. As compared to the companies that claim low rates such as Geico and Progressive. In his opinion, dealing with all the insurance companies all the time, the number of ads run is in inverse proportion to the willingness to cover work done without cutting corners. Gotta pay for those premium savings somehow.

[Mr.B]

"Well, they're on the side of their policy holder..."

I know that....just being facetious.

[O Really]

Since when is any insurance company on the side of the policy holder?

The insurance company's job isn't to pay claims - it's to avoid as much claims as possible. But in comparison to being on the side of the non-policy holder, everything is relative. I've had overall pretty good experiences in the few instances I've had insurance claims on car or house. Probably just lucky.