GT just got T-boned! Now what?

[Idwitheld-1`]

Will insurance companies reimburse the value of aftermarket parts? I assume I will have to proove I purchased them....not a problem (Mastercard). Should I expect a fight on this issue. Anyone have any experience with this?

This sucks.

I got T-boned after crossing 3 (of 4) lanes of cross trafic. Jackass ran a red light, T-boned me at 30MPH, then the car on my right hits him. Witnesses said I spun 720 degrees (wet roads) before comming to a stop on the side of the road.

I have spent the last 4 years resurecting this car. I performed 100% of the work (minus the AC upgrade). Now I got nothing.

I'm ready to curl up in a ball and cry like a little girl
Thanks for all your help stangnet. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Ray@VSK]

Where did you hear that, I thought insurance company only paid you the estimated blue book value & that's it.

 

[87'GTstang]

Where did you hear that, I thought insurance company only paid you the estimated blue book value & that's it.

Yep, that's about how I know it to be. Just going to have to part out the rest of it piece by piece to get your money back - OR.........buy another and transfer away

 

[Idwitheld-1`]

An agent of my ins. company said I will need proof (of the aftermarket parts) for my claim. Sounds promising, but I have no experience in this arena. Anyone else?

 

[04sleeper]

I got T-Boned the same way in my 82 GT. It sounded almost the same as me but he was going a little faster. I gave all my receipts and got every penny I put into it and the book value. I had to prove he was wrong but I won.
The only thing I didn't get back was the labor that I did. I just put in a complete drivetrain from a 90 and a new roller block at the time. Had the parts for 2 years waiting to go on. Just put in all new seats and complete rear panels from a 90 as well. Only had the motor in the car for only a month and this happened.

What it used to look like.

My old motor.

May it R.I.P.

Kevin

 

[TITAN STANG]

it will all depend who you are dealing with. Not to be pessimistic, but I believe that you will get the blue blook value and not the parts. I think it is beter to buy eithere another car or rolling chassis and to exchange parts. Probably will cost you less than habinv to do it all again, Just my .02 cents

 

[bryanrevans]

I got rear end in N.C. and the ins company the state only required a "good faith" offer for my car.I bought the car back from the ins company for 743.00.Those f u c k ers tried to tell me that they only had to put me into another car of same model and year!!!!!!!Later on i found out by the state that I could have a apraiser give statement to MY insurance co to cover cost!!!!!!!!!!!!This is my experience in N.C. with state farm as my co and Nation wide as the monkey who totaled my car!!!!!!!

 

[Ray@VSK]

Ya blue book & they take your car, I was told I could either take the $ or the car & sell it for parts if I think I'll make more.

 

[hllon4whls]

You dont have to accept anything they offer. If one person on here has done it simply with receipts, then I think that there is a good chance that you will get it back.

Sounds like you are OK. And though most people dont want to hear this, that is what is important in the big picture.

89sleeper: Dont know how you made it through that, but glad you did!

 

[Idwitheld-1`]

You dont have to accept anything they offer. If one person on here has done it simply with receipts, then I think that there is a good chance that you will get it back.

Sounds like you are OK. And though most people dont want to hear this, that is what is important in the big picture.

89sleeper: Dont know how you made it through that, but glad you did!

Ahmen. Ahmen Bro.

 

[_jb_]

I got T-Boned the same way in my 82 GT. It sounded almost the same as me but he was going a little faster. I gave all my receipts and got every penny I put into it and the book value. I had to prove he was wrong but I won.
The only thing I didn't get back was the labor that I did. I just put in a complete drivetrain from a 90 and a new roller block at the time. Had the parts for 2 years waiting to go on. Just put in all new seats and complete rear panels from a 90 as well. Only had the motor in the car for only a month and this happened.

What it used to look like.

My old motor.

May it R.I.P.

Kevin

Damn dude, and you walked away from that?

Idwitheld-1` sorry to hear about the stang. I would buy another stang and just transfer the parts over. If ya can, get some pics.

 

[PhLoBuS]

damn nice looking stang too, yeah were/are you alright after the accident?

 

[Soupy]

First off, understand that an insurance company's first rule is deny, deny, deny! If the adjuster does not make you an acceptable offer, demand to speek to their supervisor, or the supervisor's supervisor. Also, depending upon your situation, look into your (or your parents, etc) homeowner's/renter's policy. If you are living in your parents home, you may also be able to file claim on thier policy as a "household member". Finally, Do not give up, you pay higher premiums to drive the car you want and you should be properly reimbursed for your loss. I'm not unnecessarily letigious nor an I am attorney, but I've traded enough blows with insurance companies to learn a few lessons. Consult an attorney if you need help, many will not charge for a consultation...

 

[Michael Yount]

Also, talk to your insurance company as well as theirs. Don't know if you're in a no-fault state or not --- I'm not. When I got hit (like you, the other guys fault); I engaged both my company and the guy who hit me's company, and I let the one that was offering the best settlement handle the claim (turned out to be his insurance that offered the best deal).

As others have said - their first offer is just that; it's an offer. They are the most profitable for their shareholders if they can hold claim costs down, so they usually won't bowl you over with a good offer. But document value with pics, receipts, documentation of what other similar cars have sold for -- and stand your ground. If their first offer is unacceptable - tell them so, and demand to speak with a claims manager. Usually when the other fellow is at fault, they work pretty hard to please you.

Lastly - are you sure your neck isn't bothering you a little bit now that a day or two has gone by? What they're usually worried about is medical costs as they FAR exceed property damage. If you have medical costs (if you're sore at all, you should probably be checked out on their nickel) that you're willing to settle, it usually gives you some leverage on the property damage side.

My wife's car was totaled a number of years ago. She had a pretty bad case of whiplash, and we told them we wouldn't settle the property damage claims until we had some progress on the medical damage claim. I simply told them that if they got the property damage claim up to X amount, then I thought we'd be willing to settle the medical claim for Y amount. By finally agreeing settling (with prejudice - no going back later) the medical claim, I got the property damage claim amount I was after. It's all a negotiation - let them talk first; and don't accept the first offer.

And, if they do offer an amount for the totaling it, even if you're happy about the amount, don't accept it until they also tell you how much you can buy the car back for. Usually they will offer the car for a relatively small amount - and you'll have a settlement AND your car/parts back.

There are plenty of lawyers out there that will help resolve cases like this - just be sure you understand their fee structure. They're much more likely to get involved if there's a medical issue to be resolved because of the potential for bigger settlements/fees.

 

[hllon4whls]

There are plenty of lawyers out there that will help resolve cases like this - just be sure you understand their fee structure. They're much more likely to get involved if there's a medical issue to be resolved because of the potential for bigger settlements/fees.

Good advice here! Definately know what they will charge. They normally get 1/3-1/2 of the settlement from the little bit that I understand. Some will also hit you with a bunch of expense fees that will whittle the settlement down to nothing.

It is going to be a PITA, but keep your cool, stay persistent, focused and polite as long as you can be.

 

[Idwitheld-1`]

M.Y. Good advice (as usual).

My neck and upper back (spine) are VERY sore. I can't move my head without having pain. My girlfriend has the same symptoms. She was in the passenger side which took the hit.

I've decided to buy a F250 and park the stang. I'll try and work on it when I can, but I don't want it to be my dail driver (any more). The Fox4 was my dream car since I was 17 (1987). This will never change.

All 3 of us involved in this accident have state farm insurance. I have a feeling I'm getting the short end of the stick as my car is 12 years old (110K miles). I am meeting with my agent tomorrow. I want to impress upon her how much this car has meant to me, and how 99% of the cars on the road are "jelly beans- a million produced in every color". My car is NOT a jelly bean. It is NOT utilitarian transportation - thats what Honda's are for! She needs to FIGHT for me, my interests AND my overall business as I have two cars and a home owners insurance policy through them.

The reality is setting in. My car will never be the same. Period.
Thanks for all the advice fella's.

 

[Michael Yount]

If you haven't been, you and she should both go to the Dr. - you don't want to mess around with neck/back pain.

 

[Darkhorse845]

I am sorry to hear of your loss! I hope you are o.k.
I bet you will be looking for another stang here soon!
Good luck

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I got T-Boned the same way in my 82 GT.

OMG....that seriously touched me in a bad way....it hurts to see a car that F'ed up.

I think i'd start with finding a nice junkyard coupe with a straight body, and start fresh from the ground up and just swap over any salvageable parts. If you get a check from insurance, i'd just save it for mods/upgrades or use it to buy the new shell. Good luck man...sorry for your loss

 

[Michael Yount]

"nice junkyard coupe with a straight body"

Probably an oxymoron....