I just had $6681.17 damage from a dog hit, but close to half was from airbag deployment.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ate-today.html

From your pictures, it doesn't look totaled to me, but you won't know for sure until the front and rear bumper skins are removed and they look at the frame and rear compartment.

Good luck with the repairs. I feel your pain, I got my car back a little over 2 weeks ago.

 

"Diminished value claims?" "...spun me around up and over the curb." A couple of thoughts on those two comments:

1. Go to a reputable used car dealer (CarMax? Stonebriar Chevy? Huffines Chevy? etc.) and tell them what has happened to your vehicle. Ask them whether, if/when they try to sell a used car with similar damage, they would need to disclose that damage, or whether they expect such damage would show up on a CarFax vehicle report. If yes, then ask them how much, in their judgement, they would have to reduce the car's selling price because of that history. Texas law DOES provide for dimunition in value claims, but you really have to press on it, and DOCUMENT how you determined the amount of your dimunition claim. Warning: if both you and the other driver use the same insurance carrier (e.g. both insured by State Farm, or Farmer's, or Allstate) the two insurance agents will tacitly agree NOT to bring up, or aggresively pursue, the dimunition in value claim. Why? Because their insurance carrier (not somebody else's carrier) will incur the expense. It may be up to you, alone, to press for this damage.

2. If you went up and over a curb, it is entirely possible you have also damaged some portion of the suspension, one or more wheels, etc., or at least have a dose of curb rash, bruised tire(s), etc. Look for all of these items now. If you discover them after the car has left your control (for any reason) you will play h. e. double hockey stick trying to prove up those physical damages. Given that we had rain this weekend, it might also be wise if you washed the vehicle (including its undercarriage) prior to beginning to write a list of (i.e. take inventory of) your damages.

3. If the other driver's insurance carrier (or agent for that carrier) gives you any grief, you might re-examine your neck and other joints. (Sometimes bodily damage takes time to show up.) It is remarkable how amenable the opposing carrier becomes once they even sniff the threat of weekly chiropractic treatment for a year or so, neck pain, headaches, a personal inury lawsuit, etc. (I know - you told the cop who investigated the accident that you weren't hurt. As I said, some injuries take time to begin to reveal themselves.)

I'm not an attorney (instead, I am a financial expert witness regarding damages claimed in big ticket commercial lawsuits). But my now-retired father was an independent casualty insurance agent in the DFW metroplex for 45 years. The advice I gave you above is exactly the same as he has given to me and his own insureds whenever the other party's carrier behaved unfairly.

Finally, you may also have other problems along the way: (1) the carrier won't want to pay the cost charged by a quality repair service; (2) the repair's paint job won't match the remainder of your car's paint; (3) the carrier will try to avoid providing you a rent car, will try to shoe-horn you into a 5-year-old Ford Escape, will try to reduce the number of days they will offer a rental vehicle, etc.

At each of these junctions, you can press your own agent to represent your interests (assuming you trust your agent - if you don't, or can't, then fire him!); otherwise you will need to go it alone (or risk getting screwed by hiring an attorney to pursue your claim).

Finally, were there any witnesses to your accident? If yes, contact them and get their statements. Notwithstanding Texas is a "no fault" state, you may well avoid paying any self-insurance decuctible if you can get a credible witness to explain to the police/court (or prepare a written, notorized statement) that the other driver caused the accident.

Good luck.

PM me if you want to discuss this further.

 

Absolutely..........

 

Take your own pictures and keep them. Get a copy of the report for yourself and keep it. Contact ins. agent ASAP and get him to work. Get a couple of estimates from places you trust. This should get the ball rolling. Always keep copies of reports in a case like this for permanent records. You never know when you might need them. I was called to testify about an accident I worked five years after the fact. I was very glad I kept all my personal notes from the incident. They came in very handy at the deposition.

 

I have always thought that I would do a Tigershrak front if necessity drove opportunity to do so, just a few dollars more. I have seen Stuarts do one on a yellowC5, looked awesome.

 

Good luck with the repair

Chuck

 

I know the feeling. I was hit by a drunk driver and the officer asked me to stay inside my car because I was furious. The guy that hit me said while we were both talking to the officer, and I quote, "Yeah I have had a few beers but its no big deal." officer replied, "Is there anything in the vehicle you would like to be upfront about before we check it." he replied, "Yeah, I got a little weed in there." I nearly lost it at that point. Good luck with all the repairs though. Luckily it looks better than what mine did.

 

Lonestarlizzard you have a pm, as for the witness it worked out well because the officer was in the parking lot where I ran up on the curb. He saw the wreck and saw how pissed I was. I guess I will see where this takes me I have had goodluck in the past with wrecks but this is the first in a non pickup truck.

 

Well I have had the car back almost 2 months now, got it back just in time to get all nasty and messy over the little icey week that we had here in north texas.

First off thanks to member LoneStarLizzard, all the reading material that you provided defiantly swayed my decision into pursuing this diminished value claim.

Stuart's paint and body did a great job on the car I cant see any overspray or any misaligned panels after the fix. My car was very clean and seemed well taken care of while at the shop.

I did get a diminished value report done though a company that the shop recommended. He came to me and met with me on my lunch break and had the report done in 2-3 days i believe. I waited a few weeks from start to finish of this process and did have to haggle with the insurance company. However I did come away with a check for another almost 3k. All in all I would of rather never been in this wreck obviously, however both parties were uninjured, my car is back better than ever, and I now have it almost paid off in less than 3 years of buying it after the DM check gets here.

One piece of advice I received throughout this whole process that I strongly recommend everyone pursing a claim do. GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!!! It makes a world of difference.

 

[QUOTE=rev35;1576627212]Well I have had the car back almost 2 months now, got it back just in time to get all nasty and messy over the little icey week that we had here in north texas.

Stuart's paint and body did a great job on the car. I can't see any overspray or any misaligned panels after the fix. My car was very clean and seemed well taken care of while at the shop.

I did get a diminished value report done though a company that the shop recommended...However I did come away with a check for another almost 3k. All in all I would of rather never been in this wreck obviously, however both parties were uninjured, my car is back better than ever, and I now have it almost paid off in less than 3 years of buying it after the DM check gets here.


Fantastic...now let's confront the miserable 68 degree witner weather here in North Texas and go driving. I know a couple of "twisty" roads that you can use to test your new undercarriage.

LoneStarLizzard
(aka Texas Horny Toad)

 

Glad it worked out for you. I hope your weather doesn't stink like is here in Kentucky. We've had more snow the last several weeks than the last several years and if it snows the vette stays in my garage. Bummer....

 

Sorry to here about the wreck, but it happens. As long no one was seriously hurt all can be fixed, though it can really **** you off. Start with a rental car, whether you need it or not. Insurance companies don't drag their feet when they are paying for a rental car each day. Hope you got pics of the accident scene, sometimes police reports are not very accurate.

 

I want to stay positive....hard to beat some GM body shops for doing the job right. They are great for insurance work.