my baby got wrecked, please help!

[spunger]

Well about a month ago or so a worker in his work truck somehow backed into me and hit my camaro in the rear. The insurance company sucks. They sent me a check for $3060 and told me that I have to take it to a body shop to have the estimate revised etc... The car was hit and pushed into a car parked infront of me, and was pushed like 6ft while the e-brake was engaged and the tranny in park.

The passenger side rear quater pannel took some brunt, bumper cover is toast, piece that says "CAMARO" is pushed into the key hole for the back, my spoiler is cracked and busted, plus I dunno what is wrong with the hatch lid as I haven't opened it yet. Front is just the bumper cover as it was pushed into a car parked infront of me. Paint is mainly messed up on the front.

My car isn't a normal camaro color. It is a custom brown color that didn't come stock. The car had been in an accident before I bought it (not knowing it was) so they repainted the whole thing. Did a sad job at it too.

So I am wondering, it's a 94, has the mods listed, and the apraiser guy thinks it's market value is around $4900. They will consider my car a total loss at 80% of the market value ($3920). They won't do anything more than give me my check for $3060.

I am wondering is it worth taking it in to get it fixed and risk loosing the $3060 check they sent me or take the chance at it being a total loss? My body shop quoted me about $3722 to repair it but I am not wanting to take a chance knowing I may get my car fixed, but it's not really worth it.

Let me know what you guys think I should be doing here. I've never had this happen so it's a first for me

[gergwheel]

buy the parts and fix it yourself. buy the bumper, fender, hatch, rear lights, and the front bumper and then install them and take it to a body shop for paint. this will save you alot of money. just my .02 cents

[99firebird99]

There is a sh*it load of other stuff u do u do if u want it done good take it to a body shop!! we did mine ourselves except for pulling out the coule and stuff but otherwise we did it!! if u have car experince do it yoursleve but i do have to warn u it will take a lot of time! if u dont have experience then take it to a body shop they will do a good job thats why it costs so much and ALOT OF TIME THEY PUT INTO IT!!! [img]graemlins/omg.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/omg.gif[/img]

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

1st get a lawyer

[Pastor Larry Roques]

10-4 on the lawyer,viper! Listen, I'm a pastor and the Bible really frowns upon sueing your brother, but let me tell you something. The Bible also calls for restitution for injury. spunger, my friend, the whole purpose of insurance is to put you back like you were before the accident. None of this, to the best of my understanding, was your fault.
Now I'm no lawyer, but my siblings are and I was raised around them long enough to know what to ask you. Have you signed any consent and release forms accepting the settlement? Or did they just shove this check in your face? Insurance companies, dear saints that they are, exist for one purpose and one purpose alone...to make money.
It seems to me that they have put you in a very hard place if the money they have given you is not enough to get your car restored to its pre-accident condition. Remember, deductible is not an issue here for you. The burden of liability is squarely thiers. It would behoove them to do the right thing and provide you with the funding needed so that the headache of trying to scrimp and shortcut your way back into some level of normalcy is not placed upon your shoulders. These guys hit a parked car...and shoved it some six feet into another vehicle! And they want to play games?
....really, get a lawyer. Blessings, and I hope all comes out well.

[spunger]

Yeah, I wasn't even in the car, I woke up, got ready for work, went to the car, noticed someone hit it, freaked out, went and called my insurance company to file a claim, they said I don't have comp and collison so "hit and runs" aren't covered, I get ready to cry, go back out to take pics, and this guy came forward saying he "thinks" he hit my car.

so he did commit a hit and run (even though he claims he didn't know that he hit anything) but still, in a court it would be a hit and run. Even though he came back he left the scene. It's still a hit and run.

I am talking through his insurance company and they are a-holes. They sent me a check without my consent or anything in the mail. It is in my name. I haven't cashed it yet because I don't want to do anything until it is all figured out.

Thankfully the guy works for a company that is sub-contracted for city work. He did hit me in a city truck. What I am going to do on Monday is call his company and explain to them that their insurance company is refusing to give me the additonal fee's to fix my car and are NOT being helpfull. My mom seems to think that I'm not the right one wanking.

It sucks. It's either I take it in and get it fixed (for free, whatever it comes to) but why put $4000 into a $4900 car? I'd rather have the $4000 and do what I need with it (weather fix the car or not) but they should still pay.

Here's some idea of what they did

[spunger]

http://members.cox.net/spunger/camaro/DSCN0262.JPG
http://members.cox.net/spunger/camaro/DSCN0263.JPG
http://members.cox.net/spunger/camaro/DSCN0264.JPG
http://members.cox.net/spunger/camaro/DSCN0265.JPG
http://members.cox.net/spunger/camaro/DSCN0266.JPG
http://members.cox.net/spunger/camaro/DSCN0267.JPG
http://members.cox.net/spunger/camaro/DSCN0268.JPG

[Timmy]

that really sucks bro, I feel your pain. I got hit in indiana by a stupin woman who is a heroin addict. she didn't have insurance. the cop is going to make her pay me out of pocket to get it fixed though. maybe you can work something out like that. my rear end looks exactly like yours.

[ABH]

Go to a site that lists cars for sale in your area. ( Yahoo! Auto for example). Forget the value of whatever mods you did as no insurance company will cover them. At least I don't think so.

Print out the list and circle the ones closest to what you have. What you are looking for is what it will cost to replace it.

Take that to them and tell them that this is what it will cost to replace it. Make whatever lawyer noises are needed.

I did this when my 94 was wrecked. Right off the bat they gave me more because, as the adjuster said, "It looked brand new." It took a bit of fencing, but I got even more.

I took the money and bought a 97 convertable.

You may just be better off buying a newer one.

[spunger]

I just did this, wrote the women of the company. She told me if I had any troubles with this that she would try and help me out to the best of her ability.

I'm not asking for a new car. I just want the money to fix the damm thing (or keep the money, sell the car as is, and get a real camaro, z28) so hopefully she will be able to pull some strings in her company and do so as the insurance lady is a whore. I'd hate to have any job with an insurance company.

I said over and over it is a hit and run. IF I have to get a lawer and pay the stupid fees I will as it will just prove a point that they are playing the wrong type of game with me. I have no reason to pay anything for it, I just want to be re-embursed

[BirdMan8507]

lawyer lawyer lawyer...you shouldn't have to pay for that. the f***** in the truck should definetly have to

[ABH]

Present the estimate,($3722) to the company. See what they say.

If you want more than that, you have to take them to court. Or do as I did and show them what it will cost to get another 94.

Small claims court may be your best bet. No lawyer needed.

[Ian]

Listen, do not "present" the estimate to the company. Refuse their check straightup. tell them that thew WILL pay for all damages, period. basically, what should have happened is that their adjuster should have come out after you got an estimate from the shop, and the adjuster either approves or adjusts your estimate. if you take it to a shop you know and want to use, sometimes they adjust the price. if you take it to a shop certified by their company, they will approve it most of the time. either way, all you should have to do is get an estimate and contact the company again.

remember, tell them straight up you are not using the measly check they sent you.

dont get a friggin lawyer involved yet, see what they say to the estimate. and BE FIRM! dont be like "well, the check ytou sent is too little, i dont like it'. get on teh phone with them and be like 'im not using this check at all, so you might as well void it. you are paying for teh full amount!' they should have to send their adjuster out to look at it.

good luck.

[Pastor Larry Roques]

What Ian says is true...If they think they stand to lose a whole lot more...like loss of use, mental anguish, lost wages (if its your work car) rental expenses to cover you while you're out of a car with repairs/replacement, you may be able to back them into a corner and get what you need to satisfy the situation. Remember, if you do involve a lawyer...a good one worth his or her salt will beat legal fees and court costs out of the insurance company. It is viewed as another result and expense of the accident.

[Distephano]

Man. You have already done waaaayyy too much screwing around on this matter. You are not at fault in this a cident, rather, the truck driver / company admited fault.

This means you have LOTS of power, vs the insurance company. Don't not accept anything right away. If you do not think their offer is fair, simply do not take it. You should not have to take any "estimates" to them. It is their job to send an adjuster out, look at the damage and write you a check to replace your car, or to get it fixed.

Outa this deal you should be able to get money to get the car fixed at a GOOD shop, or to buy a comperable car. Do not sign off on anything until you are completely satisfied with everything.