I got t-boned (Page 7/11)
sdgdf DEC 08, 09:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

So... they're offering you $1740 over and above the cost of the donor car to cover all your labor and other (parts, etc) expenses? I dunno man, I wouldn't be happy. There's a lot of work and time involved to swap everything over.



My labor I guess I consider to be free. They’re roughly estimating the cost of the parts damaged which I consider an ok amount. It doesn’t pay for totally fixing my coupe, but the car isn’t getting totaled so I get to keep this frame with a good title and maybe I can eventually find someone who can cut out and weld in frame so this title can be a duke beater car?

The $1740 will definitely help buy a new wheel and set of rear tires. And go towards paying someone to swap my cradle over.

I haven’t hired an independent appraiser. Should I still do that? I was wiped out for a week sick and had vertigo/dizziness and was almost bedridden so I had trouble staying on this.

Their appraiser seemed like a good guy, used to be a bodyshop guy and worked at GM dealerships back in the 90s. We talked a lot about cars, especially GM and he liked my Fiero a lot. Seems like he tried to set this up so it doesn’t get totaled. He acted like it can be fixed, and judged it needs that bit of frame replaced. But like people have said here he said I’d have trouble getting a shop to fix it, it being so old.

I originally expected some low ball KBB offer of like $2k, it getting totaled and having to do a buy back

[This message has been edited by sdgdf (edited 12-08-2023).]

Patrick DEC 08, 10:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by sdgdf:

Their appraiser seemed like a good guy...



The operative word there... is "their". The appraiser is working for the other guy's insurance company, not for you. Don't get sucked in by him seeming to be a "good guy". It's all part of the shtick.

Don't take this the wrong way... but are you a young guy... say, under 25 years of age? IMO they're trying to take advantage of your youth and inexperience in matters of this sort.
sdgdf DEC 08, 11:32 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

The operative word there... is "their". The appraiser is working for the other guy's insurance company, not for you. Don't get sucked in by him seeming to be a "good guy". It's all part of the shtick.

Don't take this the wrong way... but are you a young guy... say, under 25 years of age? IMO they're trying to take advantage of your youth and inexperience in matters of this sort.



I’m 37. I’ve never really had an accident before. This is my first time really dealing with insurance. I’ve drove a lot over the past 20+ years and I’ve avoided loads of accidents but this is the first time I’ve actually been hit. In my favorite car I’ve had too

[This message has been edited by sdgdf (edited 12-08-2023).]

Patrick DEC 08, 11:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by sdgdf:

I’m 37. I’ve never really had an accident before. This is my first time really dealing with insurance.



Just keep in mind that the other person's insurance company wishes to pay you as little as they can get away with.

I suspect that getting an independent appraiser involved would very much be to your benefit.
sdgdf DEC 12, 02:51 PM
Anyone else able to chime in on this? I need to make a decision soon. Last thing I need is them pulling back their offer and me having to fight to get any $$$. Its not like I want to get a lawyer involved just because I need more of a payout on this.
sdgdf DEC 12, 02:57 PM
Honestly from their perspective this is a generous offer. The car is only worth its blue book and they don't have to consider any aftermarket parts. I was expecting them to consider it worth $2000 total, paying me that much and totaling the car. The agent who came out told me they were actually calculating the damage to my wheel and all the individual parts. That vs totaling it outright seems like a good deal to me. I really doubt there's some way to get paid what its really worth unless I had specialty classic car insurance and a prior appraisal and guaranteed value of the car from them.
82-T/A [At Work] DEC 12, 04:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by sdgdf:

Honestly from their perspective this is a generous offer. The car is only worth its blue book and they don't have to consider any aftermarket parts. I was expecting them to consider it worth $2000 total, paying me that much and totaling the car. The agent who came out told me they were actually calculating the damage to my wheel and all the individual parts. That vs totaling it outright seems like a good deal to me. I really doubt there's some way to get paid what its really worth unless I had specialty classic car insurance and a prior appraisal and guaranteed value of the car from them.




You definitely need to get an independent appraisal.

I got a "running" 85 Fiero 2m4 SE for $2k.

This is absolutely not a generous offer... YOU are not the customer, YOU are the plaintiff (and you can use that terminology if you want).

If you were the other person and had insurance on your car and they told you they'd give you "X," it's a different story. You're a totally innocent person who THEIR client (the defendant) hit you and caused destruction of your property. Property for which it is their responsibility to make you whole again.

They should pay-out what it would cost to purchase another Fiero in the same or better condition. This is the only "FAIR" offer. And then, if you decide you want to buy-back that old Fiero, you can negotiate the value for what it might cost.

Don't give in to THEIR insurance company. Honestly... and please listen... you can politely ask them if they would like to resolve this in civil court. Any one of those accident attorneys would jump at the opportunity to make a few bucks, for which their insurance company will be responsible... and they'll have to pay out a whole hell of a lot more.

You should be paid at least $5k for a well-running Fiero... probably more like $6,500 based on what I've seen on eBay and the car auction sites.


This is peanuts to them...
Raydar DEC 12, 06:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by sdgdf:

Anyone else able to chime in on this? I need to make a decision soon. Last thing I need is them pulling back their offer and me having to fight to get any $$$.



Not likely. What they want to do is wash their hands and be done, as quickly as possible. The longer you hold out, the more trouble it becomes for them. I've never seen an insurance company withdraw an offer.

Also keep in mind that any conversation that you have with them will likely be recorded. They are always looking for something - anything - that can work in their favor.

sdgdf DEC 12, 10:52 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:


Not likely. What they want to do is wash their hands and be done, as quickly as possible. The longer you hold out, the more trouble it becomes for them. I've never seen an insurance company withdraw an offer.

Also keep in mind that any conversation that you have with them will likely be recorded. They are always looking for something - anything - that can work in their favor.



I was slow to talk to their insurance agent because I didn't want to make a mistake while speaking with them, and when I did it was so long they said they thought I wasn't pursuing my claim and they were going to close it out or something. That was about a month ago.

I hired an independent agent today, supposed to be here tomorrow afternoon. $150 to get them out. The guy apparently owns a bodyshop and they even work on older cars and said they'd work on the Fiero. No idea how obscene the cost would be fixing this car though.

Thanks guys I have no guide to follow doing this, other than this site and your help.
82-T/A [At Work] DEC 13, 02:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by sdgdf:


I was slow to talk to their insurance agent because I didn't want to make a mistake while speaking with them, and when I did it was so long they said they thought I wasn't pursuing my claim and they were going to close it out or something. That was about a month ago.

I hired an independent agent today, supposed to be here tomorrow afternoon. $150 to get them out. The guy apparently owns a bodyshop and they even work on older cars and said they'd work on the Fiero. No idea how obscene the cost would be fixing this car though.

Thanks guys I have no guide to follow doing this, other than this site and your help.




Good luck... let us know what comes of it... I'll be pulling for you!