My stang got nailed yesterday (pics of wreck), have some Q's

MrBobMarley · Sep 4, 2004

Long story short, I was heading to the car wash and then to my bud's place to see how he was doing for the hurricane, it was all I had planned for the day (sept 3rd). I had my digicam on me for after wash pics. Well, instead of a car wash, I got a car accident. The road has two lanes north and south, with a turning lane in the middle. I was doing 45-50 in the far right lane heading north and I noticed this mercedes suv in the center lane heading in my opposite direction. It looked like she wanted to make a left and I distinctly remember not seeing a turn signal, but I took notice of her position just in case.

Now as I approached her she started slowly moving out of the center lane closer into mine. I remember thinking nobody(her) would keep moving, because I KNEW I couldn't stop quick enough or even get out of the way, being on the far right lane. Well, she hit the gas unfortunately, nailed me and I 360'd about 3 or 4 times over maybe 30 yards in the same direction I was driving and ended up on a curb and coming to rest on a stop sign (how ironic eh?).

I'm ok, but I've got a weird tingle in my left knee cap, and in my lower back today. I'm going to the hospital to get checked out in a bit. She was ok and she admitted to me and the police that it was her fault, that she didn't see me. Aside from the fact that she murdered my car, she's otherwise a decent lady so far, pretty nice too.

It was the biggest rush of adrenaline I've ever had in my life, and not in a good way. Her insurance is supposed to take care of everything, including getting me a rental to get back and forth to work(I'm only 20, one car). But, due to labor day and the hurricane I have to wait till the 7th before the insurance companies really get involved. If any of you have any advice or things to look out for I would really appreciate it. I refused to let the cop tow my car over to some yard where I couldn't keep an eye on it so the lady that hit me paid for a tow truck to take it straight to my house. I plan on being there when the adjuster comes out to look at it.

What do you guys think the damage might be? All the resto and body shops are closed for the the hurricane, so I'm SOL on estimates for a little while.

There's a lot more detail, but I'm frankly kinda tired of it all, I just wish I had my car back now. Here's the pics.

In the last pic, yes that is piece of mercedes bumper inserted between my wheel and tire. There was one EMS lady petting the stang and trying to console me when I was really shaken up, it was kind of touching that she understood how much this sucks.

Ronstang · Sep 4, 2004

Don't worry young man, although that damage looks quite bad to you it is all easily fixable by a competent body shop with older car experience. I would DEMAND that the car be checked on a frame machine just to be sure.

ratio411 · Sep 4, 2004

Sucks man...

My experience was almost identical, except she hit me head on from the turning lane.

Her insurance company is going to look out for themselves first, then her, but never you.
Having an older car they are going to offer you $500 for it.
Nevermind any collector value.
That's what they did to me.

Here is how I countered this:
I contacted my insurance company and told them my car was worth far more than what they offered and asked how I could fight it...
There answer was that they would pay the car off for fair market value then send her ins. the bill, which they could not refuse. This is called 'subrogation'.
I gathered about a dozen auto trader and new paper ads on cars just like mine, then they took an average.
I got $6300 for the car they wanted to total for $500!
The best part is they had to pay.
There is only one requirement:
You have to have full coverage on your car. I keep it on ANYTHING.

If you don't have support from your insurance co., get a lawyer!
NOW.
No matter how nice she was, her insurance company will be combative, slow, cold, and any other derogotive you can conjure.
Even she will be closed minded after this all sinks in.
I was lucky and found a lawyer that charged 10% on settlement and 33% if you went to court.
I settled of course.

If you are hurt, get it covered right away.
Injury also changes the dynamics of legal action and you should have a lawyer for that.
As far as the ins and lawyer are concerned the car and your injurys are 2 different cases.
See if the attorney will handle both for the same fee.
Good luck
Dave

MrBobMarley · Sep 4, 2004

Ronstang, that was one of the first things that went through my mind. The frame might could be severerly twisted. I will have that done.

Ratio, man I was worried I was gonna hear that. Glad you made out ok, I hope I don't have to get into anything with lawyers though. It looks like I'll find out what my insurance company's stance is on Tuesday. What a great month, 2 hurricanes and i'm out of a car, I really don't need any trouble with my or her insurance company right now. I have a feeling that I just might though. Oh well, at least I'm not dead, really, I am grateful for that. It could be worse.

The Dan · Sep 4, 2004

Dude, my condolances! First off I'm glad to hear you came out OK. I hate to see side impacts, especially in a 40 year old car. When you get it to the shop I wouldn't accept anything other than original tooling panels, and like ronstang said, go to a 5 star shop. Your adjuster will be able to reccomend one. Good Luck!

88_GT_5_oh · Sep 4, 2004

i can't look... it's hurt, that really sucks man

69Rcode_Mach1 · Sep 4, 2004

Sorry dude thats an awful feeling i know. My car is being repainted right now cause of an accident. Not to worry your car will be fixed up and ready to go. When it happened to me you should have read my post i was dead inside. At least your okay. Good luck.

MrBobMarley · Sep 4, 2004

Thanks guys, I know some of you know what this is like, I can't be the only one. Let me see if I can find some pics of it in better circumstances, maybe I can help brighten the mood a little. .

MrBobMarley · Sep 4, 2004

Ok, I found some, here's one. These are some friends of mine from out of town. Never mind the big one up front, she came with the brunette up top

Man that was right after I had finished up my 5 speed swap. They couldn't get over it. Feels weird looking at old pics, knowing the car is jacked up right outside my window and all.

Route666 · Sep 5, 2004

Man that blows. Good job getting those shoes off the girls in the above pic though!

I hope it all works out well for ya!

PoliceInterceptor · Sep 5, 2004

You should wait and see what company she is insured with and what they have to say before you get a lawyer involved. That typically slows the process greatly and lawers will not usually take a PD case on contengency, which the insurance companies know. They will just laugh if you threaten it.

This is a more case of you will catch more flys with honey than vinagar case.

That all insurance companies "is going to look out for themselves first, then her, but never you." and "her insurance company will be combative, slow, cold, and any other derogotive you can conjure." is simply not true. True of some, but certainly not all.

Here is what you can do between now and next week.

1) Go ahead and document the value using NADA classic, CPI, and auto trader adds of honestly similar cars. (Make 2 copies of everything so you can give one to the inspector.)

2) Gather your parts catalogs to help the inspector. They will have some sources as well, but the easier you can make it for him or her, the harder they will work to help you out.

You should be aware that if the car is titled/registered in Florida you are fighting a state law that requires a certificate of destruction if the cost to repair the car exceeds 80% of the ACV (Actual Cash Value) a certificate of destruction is a "parts only" certificate which means it could never be registered and driven on the road again.

Sorry to hear of your accident, hope it works out.

MrBobMarley · Sep 5, 2004

You should be aware that if the car is titled/registered in Florida you are fighting a state law that requires a certificate of destruction if the cost to repair the car exceeds 80% of the ACV (Actual Cash Value) a certificate of destruction is a "parts only" certificate which means it could never be registered and driven on the road again.

Wow that sucks. If that is the case they would give me money instead of fixing the car, and I could use it as a parts car only? If that is how it works then, I might as well start looking for another stang to buy. I'm concerned about how much the repairs would cost. A few years ago, I took it to the most reputable shop I know, they only do classics there. They gave me an estimate of about $6000 to fix a few small dents, all the rust, and paint. They car is wayyyy beyond rust, dents, and paint now so I don't know what to expect here. Any bodywork experienced guys here have any input?

The mercedes was registered as a work vehicle also. I don't know if that makes a difference in anything.

And thanks for the tips PI. I take it you have a cop car? I used to have a 94 p71 with 120,000 on the clock. Ran like a champ, AC was like a freezer and never had a problem with it. Word of advice to anyone: Don't loan cars to family members who think driving to SC and back from FL with a 1/4" of oil on the dipstick is a good idea :bang:

And thanks Route, I hope so too.

PoliceInterceptor · Sep 5, 2004

I used to have a cop car (2 actually a 88 Crown Vic SSP and a 91 FHP Mustang) I sold them both quite a while back and the name is a holdover.

It is hard to say without seeing the car or what the real value of the car would be, but if you can save it, I'd start by trying to find a used 1/4 and door at someplace like old gold. That would be the easiest and least expensive repair method. If you get a used 1/4 with the inner structure and wheel house it can be welded in at more or less factory seams. I'm guessing the floor didn't take much damage because the rocker appears more or less intact. It also looks like the front hinge pillar is O.K. which is good. I'd say that if the damage is about what it appears with not much hidden, the estimate is going to be in the 4000.00 if someone works pretty hard at keeping it reasonable and eliminating "fluff", probably twice that if they don't.

If it gets a CD, you will have the option to "buy it back" for the salvage value which will be pretty low, then you could transfer your parts to another car. You can also opt to take the entire ACV and let the insurance company have the damaged car.

The shops in Florida are familiar with the program, so once you can establish a true ACV, talk to several and tell them you want to try to save it (if you do) even if the insurance companies estimate is over 80%, they will probably accept a complete bid below 80% from a shop.

Sucks any way you cut it, it is a huge inconveinance at best.

On the brite side, looks like Mercedes lady might have a nice figure, she might look good in a little black dress, you should have tried for a sympathy date.......

ratio411 · Sep 5, 2004

The typical insurance buy-back for your salvage (the car) is 10-15% of the payout.
I had the option to buy mine back for 10%.
At the time I was injured and not working, so of course I had to let the salvage go.
I did get the chance to get to the car though and remove personal items.
I didn't know at the time

, but removing something that is attached to the car is strictly a no-no...
Too bad I didn't know that, I wouldn't have taken my c/d player, new double pumper, and several other 'knick-knacks'.
Dave

69 Capecod · Sep 5, 2004

First I would get a body guy to look at it. Tell him u dont want them to total it U want It rapaired. He will know what to do if hes good. Body shops know the estimaters. Then find out what they say the car is worth. Then have them estimate the damage. hope fully its under the the value of the car. Then the body guy can start to work on and request more money for un for seen damages. If it a total lost I would fight it because she hit you.

PoliceInterceptor · Sep 5, 2004

ratio411 said:
I didn't know at the time , but removing something that is attached to the car is strictly a no-no...
Too bad I didn't know that, I wouldn't have taken my c/d player, new double pumper, and several other 'knick-knacks'.
Dave

That is theft pure and simple. :notnice:

MrBobMarley · Sep 5, 2004

Hahaha little black dress. Nah she's way to old for me.

So let's say I get a CD on the car. My only options are to take the ACV and either buy the car back for cheap, or just let it go? I have no idea what to expect on the ACV but I hope it's enough that I can get another stang to transfer my stuff into.

And to think I have a 60,000 mile 91 efi 5.0 sitting in my bud's garage.

Do adjusters usually try to skate around and ignore unseen damages? I hope my guy is intelligent enough to where I don't have to explain the workings of the car to him.

And thanks Capecod, I'll try that also.

PoliceInterceptor · Sep 5, 2004

Generally if the insurance company writes its own estimate, you will be seeing an appraiser or estimator, the Adjuster (or Claim Representative) will be the one you negotiate the claim with but based on the report (or estimate) that the appraiser writes. Some companies will ask you to take it to a prefered shop, or may ask you to get estimates. It depends on the company but if they write their own estimates, the guy/gal shouldn't be a total hammerhead.

It is not to their advantage to ignore damage, if they write a 60% estimate and the shop finds 20% more damage they have to total it then, and pay the shop for what they did.

The ACV is a negotiation, but you need documentation. They will have some from the commercial vendors such as CCC, ValueMate, or Audasource if you provide some compareables from the collector car trader and the NADA and CPI values they will be obligated to consider it. The more documentation you have the better off, including recipts for upgrades. be honest, don't try to give them high CPI book if it isn't a high book car (a high CPI book car is essentally perfect)

Remember, in this instance not only do you need to be able to support the value to the insurance company, they need to be able to support it to the state should the need arise.

It could still be considered a total loss at less than 80%, but could be rebuilt and driven again.

Red Barchetta · Sep 5, 2004

PoliceInterceptor nailed it. As another word of advice, I wouldn't show any pictures of people on your car. My first thought as an ex-adjuster is after seeing that pic, if I found any dents on the hood or roof, I wouldn't pay for it as obviously you didn't take that great of care of your car if you're letting people sit on it.

This is not an attack, just an observation. And trust me, the insurance company would say the same thing if they saw that photo, as well as have a legitimate argument to support their stance.