My 93 Coupe got rear ended and pushed into a trailer last week and the rearender's insurance wants to settle for $2800. Front and rear bumper covers need replaced and painted, and drivers 1/4 is cracked in a few places and to be repaired and blended. They state the estimate is based on "crash parts supplied by a source other than the manufacturer"...

Some things I noticed that they didn't address are the gas tank doesn't line up with the filler door, and it holds about 2 gallons less than before. The airbag light is on. The driver seat doesn't adjust anymore and the targa top has a couple larger cracks amongst the many tiny ones that were present before...

I need to take it in to have these items noted and get an updated estimate, but was wondering if anyone had any idea what the additional damage might amount to, and do I have to accept non GM parts? And...has anybody had any luck being compensated for the decreased re-sale that the CARFAX creates?

Best regards,

Linn

 

Better sue for emmotional stress over the car being damaged too!

 

What shape was the car in before the accident? How many miles and what's the approximate value? If it was very clean and well maintained I wouldn't settle for anything less than GM parts. Years ago a guy ran my now ex wife and kids off the road. Thankfully she was driving a huge 76 Caddy sedan deville. I told his insurance guy I wanted that car to be restored to the exact same condition it was before it hit the ditch...nothing more nothing less. They complied and everything was fixed to our satisfaction. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

astepup said that

 

It sounds totalled if it did enough damage to affect seat adjustment. I'd try to total it out and get another one. This is one reason why I don't like putting alot of money into a car. As you don't get it back if someone wrecks into it and totals it.

I'd also price out a $1k+ new GM top in the new estimate.

 

You may need all the parts plus a whole car repaint just to match.

 

IMO the adjuster will try to lowball you to get out of the claim for small $. You should stand firm, and as stated, demand the car be made as good as it was before the accident. There is no question of fault. Did you have any injuries? "Whiplash" injuries sometimes do not show up immediately. Go over the car with a fine-tooth comb, note anything that has been affected, and present the list to the ins. co. The worst they can do is total it.

 

It "was" a very well maintained Polo Green with 72k on the ticker...and I am sort of concerned about the ability to match the metalic.

Linn

 

you are intilted to be the same as you were before. if they can find parts of lkq they have that right. If your top had scratchs and cracks in it before they are not and should not make it better then it was. Body shops and adjusters work together everyday. For the most part if it is a shop of quality assurance with the insurance company adjustors seldom come out they go by what the body shop says. But you should not expect new paint or anything that can not be proved from being hit.

 

It would be alot cheaper to just replace the top than for a shop to try and fix the additional scratches/cracks that were caused by the wreck.

 

The additional cracks were caused by my head hitting the top...Had a nice lump on my knoggin, but refused treatment.

Linn

 

Just tell the adjuster your not sure if your neck hurts yet

 

You need to take it and get 3 estimates. It sounds like you are relying on their adjuster to handle it.

Get 3 estimates from decent shops and go from there. This is a good reason to have a ton of pictures of your car. If you can prove that things were not aligned correctly after the wreck, then that's on them.

The downside is if you sue them and get a lawyer, the lawyer will get a third of the money.

 

They may decide to total it being an 18 year old car. Maybe that's the way to go.

 

Yeah...I probably saved them 20k in ER/CT charges, which oughta count for something....

Wouldn't mind it being totaled as I've had a hankerin for an 03 ZO6...

Best advice seems to be get a couple other estimates and go from there.

Still wondering about decreased value due to CARFAX.

Thanks

Linn

 

As a collision technician/prior shop manager, here's my input

Getting additional estimates is a waste of everybody's time. Estimates don't mean jack. Most ins companies have instructed their estimators to write ONLY what can be seen, even if they know from previous experience that other components will be damaged. The car needs to go to a reputable, qualified, repairer to be torn down to properly assess the damage. You will want to make sure that all of your concerns are documented with the repairer and the insurer.

A few points to consider....your top had prior damage, so it really isn't their responsibility to make it "as new", but they do owe for the additional damage, if a suitable like kind quality (LKQ) one cannot be located.

There isn't an insurance company in the country that will refinish a standard production color car "complete" for the damage that's on yours. Part of being in the business is to have the skills to correctly determine what variant of the color is on the car, and to tint or blend as required to make the refinish match the rest of the car. Will this take additional time/materials for let-down panels and test cards? Sure it will, and the repairer should be compensated for the same.

My major concern would be the fuel tank issue...I would guess that there are going to be structural issues that will in all likelihood make the cost of repairs pass the total loss threshold.

Your concern about the Carfax would be addressed as diminished value, although it is very hard to successfully negotiate a settlement on that, as there really isn't any way to determine the actual loss.You can't sell it as undamaged, then sell as previously damaged and compare the difference, which really would be the only TRUE way to establish what the impact would be. The possible exception would be if it had a professional appraisal before and after the damage incident.

My advice is to do your homework, research what truly comparable cars are actually bringing, and go into the process knowing that YOU have the facts on value, and that it might take a little more effort than any of us should have to expend to arrive at a fair settlement for both parties.

Wishing you good luck on the outcome!

 

Remeber that the insurance companys PRIMARY CONCERN is to pay out as little money as possible! They could care less about you, your car or anything else.

Things like this suck, but regardless of what they say, it is their responsibility to repair the vehicle to its pre-accident condition - or to total it out. Given the current very weak market and cruddy economy, you should start collecting ads for similar cars that sell for as much as you can find just to cover that end too.

 

This camaro has been hit numerous time last one was a very hard hit to the back. first estimate was for 1300.00 but the estimate is left open for unseen damage. It's your choice where the car goes for repairs. you won't get a complete paint job so forget that idea. Last accident due to fading they simply blended the car and buffed it out.

the total repair on the last accident was 2800.00 which is probably close to market value for this 97. Takes a lot to total a very clean for the year car. there was never any mention of a high cost repair bill on my car.

It has even been hit on the side requiring complete door replacement and they got the the car to match perfectly.

You will never get a shop to tear you car apart on a preliminary estimate. You will only get stuff repaired that is evident from the accident. Your chances of getting new parts are remote but in the end customer is always right and don't accept the car till you are 100% satified with the repairs done. once you drive it away you release them from later seen blemishes. In short inspect it well !!!!

 

454 is laying it out for you...when we were rear ended it didnt look but cosmetic at first, but eventually the sub frame was found to be bent and the gas tank was pushed in (same as your problem with the tank holding less now) good luck

 

Sounds like a lot more than $2800 to me! IMO, you need an estimate from someone who knows how to fix these cars (including rear structure and gas tank, fiberglass, top, seat, and whatever else.) Sounds like a nice car, and it should be just as nice afterwards--or compensation like 3x the current offer. When someone hit my son's car, their insurance offered fair replacement value, not a lowball like you're talking here.

 

Here's a 2010 C4 price guide you can print off:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/atta...-july-2010.pdf

I would get some other estimates that includes the top, gas tank, etc. I believe you are entitled to that instead of just relying on what the insurance company says. I would try and get it totaled. Because once they tear into it, there could be major damage that wouldn't be worth fixing in the long run. But if it all gets fixed, then the car really wouldn't be worth much as a non-wrecked Vette is pretty cheap right now. Especially one that had to be tore into vs. fixing something simple from a wreck.

Just about every other time I drive mine, there is always someone almost wrecking into me, or trying to cut across the road right in front of me forcing me to stop in the road, etc. One day it will happen.