Not good, got rear ended
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
Not good, got rear ended
You know when its going too good, something bad usually happens soon. Lady must have been 80 with big funny glasses pulled in my lane from the side. I stopped and another guy talking on the cell making a right pulls out looking to his left and doesnt see me stopped.
Both chrome bumpers smashed in cracking lower panels. Top surface were gas cap has crack in fillet of little spoiler gulley running full length side to side. He's got full insurance so I'll probably end up at JD Corvettes and with a little luck, new paint all-round.
Both chrome bumpers smashed in cracking lower panels. Top surface were gas cap has crack in fillet of little spoiler gulley running full length side to side. He's got full insurance so I'll probably end up at JD Corvettes and with a little luck, new paint all-round.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Man - you were lucky!!! About 1 / 3 of drivers nowadays have no insurance, especially West of the Mississippi.
Most paint and body men recommend a full paint job when accidents like this happen because it is too difficult to match the colors.
Most paint and body men recommend a full paint job when accidents like this happen because it is too difficult to match the colors.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Do not settle too quickly, you should look in area for a good car valuation expert. You can get the cost of devaluation due to wreck on the resale value of your classic. A wrecked versus unwrecked effect on a classic's price sometimes may add several dollars to what they should pay. 
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Diminished value...
tough to establish, but if no previous repair in area and they are tight on who you take it to, or require you to repair rather than replace panels, you may have a case. I'd go for an excellent repair and threaten diminished value lawsuit if they bauk.
On color, if it's reasonably recent paint the match can be impeccable. But they should pay to paint it to a body panel break, i.e., the doors.
On color, if it's reasonably recent paint the match can be impeccable. But they should pay to paint it to a body panel break, i.e., the doors.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
The good thing is I wasnt hurt. I'm worried that they may force me to go somewhere they want and JD is the only one in my area that can really bring this back perfect. The paint actually still looks brand new after 4 years, due to garage and using car cover everyday.
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Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
I was sitting at a light on RT 10 in NJ. When the light turned green, the dork behind me saw the left lane start to move, so he stomps on the gas.... and I wasn't moving yet. He creamed the back of my Vette.
I did the body work myself and painted the car to match. It blended perfect. After a few years, because the old paint responded at a different rate to UV than the new paint, the blend kept getting worse & worse. This is a reason to paint the entire car. Different paint = different UV decay (fade) rate.
Second, when tapped in the rear, the entire body flexes all the way up along the roof line... and eventually the "stress cracks" appear, well after you have had the car repaired.
I did take it to a body shop, and they said the same thing. They said the entire car SHOULD be painted. But the insurance company will not see it that way.
Kicker is, the guys wife begged me not to involve the insurance company because the dork was having financial/job problems. I was able to fix the entire rear end for about $100 in materials. When I asked for $100, the guy went berserk, saying that was too much. All dorks should be shot on sight.
I did the body work myself and painted the car to match. It blended perfect. After a few years, because the old paint responded at a different rate to UV than the new paint, the blend kept getting worse & worse. This is a reason to paint the entire car. Different paint = different UV decay (fade) rate.
Second, when tapped in the rear, the entire body flexes all the way up along the roof line... and eventually the "stress cracks" appear, well after you have had the car repaired.
I did take it to a body shop, and they said the same thing. They said the entire car SHOULD be painted. But the insurance company will not see it that way.
Kicker is, the guys wife begged me not to involve the insurance company because the dork was having financial/job problems. I was able to fix the entire rear end for about $100 in materials. When I asked for $100, the guy went berserk, saying that was too much. All dorks should be shot on sight.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by Surfer69
The good thing is I wasnt hurt. I'm worried that they may force me to go somewhere they want and JD is the only one in my area that can really bring this back perfect. The paint actually still looks brand new after 4 years, due to garage and using car cover everyday.
I always involve the insurance companies. Too many people have backed out and refused to repay repair costs and you get left with the bill because there is no way for you to prove what happened.
Happened to some friends of mine. So now I call the police and have them write up an accident report so I have proof.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
You can make the choice in Calif...your insurance compamy may make recommedations..mine did...I picked their second choice for my truck...if it were the vette, I'd insist on a good vette shop that knows glass repair....be careful on that choice...shop around...hard to find good ones...good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
Originally Posted by slyone10001
Dam.......sorry to hear but glad you are ok............that is my worst fear.......getting everything Finished on my 71, and someone hitting it with no insurance.............
What happens if someone hits you and doesn’t have insurance? Do you just get shafted?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
Yea Scotty you get shafted by your own insurance who will raise your rates.
I'm hoping I can get a premium paint and clear coats applied instead of relying on them to just choose some crappy stuff.
I'm hoping I can get a premium paint and clear coats applied instead of relying on them to just choose some crappy stuff.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 402
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
Happy to hear your OK Surfer69.
Consider yourself lucky, I've been hit TWICE in L.A. by UNISURED "Hard-Working Amigos from The South". Both times I've not been able to recoup my deductable. Just another social cost that us law abiding tax payers must pay for illegal immigration. Enough of my bitching...
JD does great work but expensive (as repair will not be on your nichol this may not be a factor). McJack's in Santa Ana or C&S Corvettes in Torrance are other shops you might want to check out.
FYI: My 70's been at McJacks since April 21 for paint/bodywork. I would have liked to have given J&D the work but cost became a factor when I found out we were adopting a child to be born June 2 (Adoption Fees: $20k. My son is now 13 weeks old, pure delight & worth every penny!). Anyway, I'm a little dissappointed in the pace of progress at McJack's but don't want to rock the boat for pissing them off. Hoping to have the car back before year-end so I can put the interior back together.
Hope to see you around town. We'll be the two C3's with Sweet paint.
Best,
James1970
Consider yourself lucky, I've been hit TWICE in L.A. by UNISURED "Hard-Working Amigos from The South". Both times I've not been able to recoup my deductable. Just another social cost that us law abiding tax payers must pay for illegal immigration. Enough of my bitching...
JD does great work but expensive (as repair will not be on your nichol this may not be a factor). McJack's in Santa Ana or C&S Corvettes in Torrance are other shops you might want to check out.
FYI: My 70's been at McJacks since April 21 for paint/bodywork. I would have liked to have given J&D the work but cost became a factor when I found out we were adopting a child to be born June 2 (Adoption Fees: $20k. My son is now 13 weeks old, pure delight & worth every penny!). Anyway, I'm a little dissappointed in the pace of progress at McJack's but don't want to rock the boat for pissing them off. Hoping to have the car back before year-end so I can put the interior back together.
Hope to see you around town. We'll be the two C3's with Sweet paint.
Best,
James1970
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Sorry for the wreck, sure glad you are OK!...I got T- boned in my 68 vert. last year. I provided the insurance co. with documents on value, I maxed out the idiots property damage limits at $25k....I had the value set at $31k, they paid roughly 80% of value. This tells me that you should be able to get it repaired properly. Don't let them push you around. G/L 
will work out for you.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
Thanks for the support everyone. That's what I think is great here.
Got JD's to look at it and they say most likely the insurances will fight not to paint whole car. Oh well. Dont know estimate yet until tomorrow.
But they say it'll look like brand new when done and not to worry.
By the way, where did this post move too, if it was moved?
Got JD's to look at it and they say most likely the insurances will fight not to paint whole car. Oh well. Dont know estimate yet until tomorrow.
But they say it'll look like brand new when done and not to worry.
By the way, where did this post move too, if it was moved?