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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 380
From: Edmond Oklahoma
geees..... must've been more damage than the door and rear quarter? All I saw were some gouges and scratches.
What was the hidden damage?
Looking at the photo again, I did see the rear wheel was buried deep in the wheel well. I thought that was due to the car being over a curb. I am guessing there is frame or suspension damage?
What was the hidden damage?
Looking at the photo again, I did see the rear wheel was buried deep in the wheel well. I thought that was due to the car being over a curb. I am guessing there is frame or suspension damage?
Last edited by LowRyter; Jul 3, 2017 at 11:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
The shop didn't even tell me, and I didn't bother asking. I was just told that before even getting into a really huge investigation, they had racked up close to 9k as their amount. I did also sail into a ditch after the wreck so I suspected some frame damage anyways. Total loss on the car is only 14k (high mileage) so that was enough for them to consider it totaled. The only positive thing of the offer was that I would get to keep my car and part it out or whatever I decided. But that sure seems like a lot of work to me, just to break even when I didn't cause the wreck. So now I'm going to try and get as much as possible out of them to put towards another one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Blake,
Who was it that gave you the figure? What was their position? Did you insist on speaking to their supervisor? Have you made a call to their corporate HQ yet?
If you run off and get an attorney without doing ALL the above, and more, you might be making a costly mistake. For what it is worth, the very first things the attorney will ask you, after you have explained the situation. are the above questions. You at least need to have the answers.
More importantly, you need to verify that someone in higher authority is aware of your situtation, the very specifics, and the possible ramifications of you taking legal action. You may have been dealing with an admin who is just trying to save money, like the boss said to. IF the guy was actually charged with DUI, you need to find out the results of his blood alcohol tests from the police. You need to do this stuff first, before you get an attorney. You do all of this, and you may not have a need for an attorney.
I am NOT an attorney, and haven't even stayed at a Holiday Inn in years. But, I do have experience, and know how to tip the situation in my favor if I get the info to do so. JMO...good luck.
Who was it that gave you the figure? What was their position? Did you insist on speaking to their supervisor? Have you made a call to their corporate HQ yet?
If you run off and get an attorney without doing ALL the above, and more, you might be making a costly mistake. For what it is worth, the very first things the attorney will ask you, after you have explained the situation. are the above questions. You at least need to have the answers.
More importantly, you need to verify that someone in higher authority is aware of your situtation, the very specifics, and the possible ramifications of you taking legal action. You may have been dealing with an admin who is just trying to save money, like the boss said to. IF the guy was actually charged with DUI, you need to find out the results of his blood alcohol tests from the police. You need to do this stuff first, before you get an attorney. You do all of this, and you may not have a need for an attorney.
I am NOT an attorney, and haven't even stayed at a Holiday Inn in years. But, I do have experience, and know how to tip the situation in my favor if I get the info to do so. JMO...good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
Blake,
Who was it that gave you the figure? What was their position? Did you insist on speaking to their supervisor? Have you made a call to their corporate HQ yet?
If you run off and get an attorney without doing ALL the above, and more, you might be making a costly mistake. For what it is worth, the very first things the attorney will ask you, after you have explained the situation. are the above questions. You at least need to have the answers.
More importantly, you need to verify that someone in higher authority is aware of your situtation, the very specifics, and the possible ramifications of you taking legal action. You may have been dealing with an admin who is just trying to save money, like the boss said to. IF the guy was actually charged with DUI, you need to find out the results of his blood alcohol tests from the police. You need to do this stuff first, before you get an attorney. You do all of this, and you may not have a need for an attorney.
I am NOT an attorney, and haven't even stayed at a Holiday Inn in years. But, I do have experience, and know how to tip the situation in my favor if I get the info to do so. JMO...good luck.
Who was it that gave you the figure? What was their position? Did you insist on speaking to their supervisor? Have you made a call to their corporate HQ yet?
If you run off and get an attorney without doing ALL the above, and more, you might be making a costly mistake. For what it is worth, the very first things the attorney will ask you, after you have explained the situation. are the above questions. You at least need to have the answers.
More importantly, you need to verify that someone in higher authority is aware of your situtation, the very specifics, and the possible ramifications of you taking legal action. You may have been dealing with an admin who is just trying to save money, like the boss said to. IF the guy was actually charged with DUI, you need to find out the results of his blood alcohol tests from the police. You need to do this stuff first, before you get an attorney. You do all of this, and you may not have a need for an attorney.
I am NOT an attorney, and haven't even stayed at a Holiday Inn in years. But, I do have experience, and know how to tip the situation in my favor if I get the info to do so. JMO...good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 380
From: Edmond Oklahoma
I am not sure what an attorney will get you.
So if you get $14k, keep the car and it can be fixed for $9k? That gives you $5k to get the body kit you want. Yes, you might have a car that's totalled on paper but can get your car back plus $5k for your trouble.
I don't see how going after the other driver gives you anymore money whether he was drunk or not.
So if you get $14k, keep the car and it can be fixed for $9k? That gives you $5k to get the body kit you want. Yes, you might have a car that's totalled on paper but can get your car back plus $5k for your trouble.
I don't see how going after the other driver gives you anymore money whether he was drunk or not.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
I am not sure what an attorney will get you.
So if you get $14k, keep the car and it can be fixed for $9k? That gives you $5k to get the body kit you want. Yes, you might have a car that's totalled on paper but can get your car back plus $5k for your trouble.
I don't see how going after the other driver gives you anymore money whether he was drunk or not.
So if you get $14k, keep the car and it can be fixed for $9k? That gives you $5k to get the body kit you want. Yes, you might have a car that's totalled on paper but can get your car back plus $5k for your trouble.
I don't see how going after the other driver gives you anymore money whether he was drunk or not.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 380
From: Edmond Oklahoma
You'll be arguing for the value of your car with an insurance company. If you think you'll get a better deal with a lawyer good luck. You seem to have some dispute over a few thousand dollars at most. An amount you can probably negotiate yourself. I would think your car should be worth more $14k. And you'll certainly get more if you sell it to the insurance company rather that keep it.
But the damage was to the car. It's hard to imagine that you're out anymore if the other driver was drunk or not. Would it matter if you were hit by a drunk or a school bus? The damage is the same.
But the damage was to the car. It's hard to imagine that you're out anymore if the other driver was drunk or not. Would it matter if you were hit by a drunk or a school bus? The damage is the same.
Last edited by LowRyter; Jul 4, 2017 at 01:00 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
You'll be arguing for the value of your car with an insurance company. If you think you'll get a better deal with a lawyer good luck. You seem to have some dispute over a few thousand dollars at most. An amount you can probably negotiate yourself. I would think your car should be worth more $14k. And you'll certainly get more if you sell it to the insurance company rather that keep it.
But the damage was to the car. It's hard to imagine that you're out anymore if the other driver was drunk or not. Would it matter if you were hit by a drunk or a school bus? The damage is the same.
But the damage was to the car. It's hard to imagine that you're out anymore if the other driver was drunk or not. Would it matter if you were hit by a drunk or a school bus? The damage is the same.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 380
From: Edmond Oklahoma
good luck whatever you do. I am just sharing what I've been through. Perhaps the trucking company will pay more just to keep it quiet for bad publicity? There might be more to it, Good luck.
The car still looks fixable, I'd like to know more.
The car still looks fixable, I'd like to know more.
Last edited by LowRyter; Jul 4, 2017 at 01:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
Blake, I did not mean to confuse the issue when I asked these questions, I was referring to the insurance settlement offer, not the body shop estimate. Insurance companies are used to getting some push back on their offers. That does not mean they will go higher, but you don't know if you don't ask.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 5,363
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
Blake, I feel your pain.
Couple things:
What you owe on the car has no bearing on what the settlement will be. Keep that in mind.
I would spend some time on autotrader, CarMax, etc, and print out some cars as identical to yours as possible.
You are going against a large company with a legal department that likes (to quote Mr. Wonderful) to squash cockroaches like you.
My suggestion would be to check with the local TV stations to see if any of them have a "Helping Henry" kinda person that does human interest spots where a poor run-of the-mill schmuck is being taken advantage of by a large corporation. If so, tell the WERNER rep that the TV person has agreed to film you at the local truck stop next to a WERNER trailer and talk about the drunk truck driver, guns, etc., and air the spot.
Good luck.
Couple things:
What you owe on the car has no bearing on what the settlement will be. Keep that in mind.
I would spend some time on autotrader, CarMax, etc, and print out some cars as identical to yours as possible.
You are going against a large company with a legal department that likes (to quote Mr. Wonderful) to squash cockroaches like you.
My suggestion would be to check with the local TV stations to see if any of them have a "Helping Henry" kinda person that does human interest spots where a poor run-of the-mill schmuck is being taken advantage of by a large corporation. If so, tell the WERNER rep that the TV person has agreed to film you at the local truck stop next to a WERNER trailer and talk about the drunk truck driver, guns, etc., and air the spot.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
Blake, I feel your pain.
Couple things:
What you owe on the car has no bearing on what the settlement will be. Keep that in mind.
I would spend some time on autotrader, CarMax, etc, and print out some cars as identical to yours as possible.
You are going against a large company with a legal department that likes (to quote Mr. Wonderful) to squash cockroaches like you.
My suggestion would be to check with the local TV stations to see if any of them have a "Helping Henry" kinda person that does human interest spots where a poor run-of the-mill schmuck is being taken advantage of by a large corporation. If so, tell the WERNER rep that the TV person has agreed to film you at the local truck stop next to a WERNER trailer and talk about the drunk truck driver, guns, etc., and air the spot.
Good luck.
Couple things:
What you owe on the car has no bearing on what the settlement will be. Keep that in mind.
I would spend some time on autotrader, CarMax, etc, and print out some cars as identical to yours as possible.
You are going against a large company with a legal department that likes (to quote Mr. Wonderful) to squash cockroaches like you.
My suggestion would be to check with the local TV stations to see if any of them have a "Helping Henry" kinda person that does human interest spots where a poor run-of the-mill schmuck is being taken advantage of by a large corporation. If so, tell the WERNER rep that the TV person has agreed to film you at the local truck stop next to a WERNER trailer and talk about the drunk truck driver, guns, etc., and air the spot.
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 5,363
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
Thanks for the suggestion. I figured that somehow threatening to "get the word out" would put them on board with what I'm trying to accomplish here. I'm not trying to get rich off them and I know that my case isn't good enough for that anyways. But I do feel that some sort of compensation is in order here.
Tell the WERNER adjuster what you just said (I'm not trying to get rich) and that you are not threatening but you just want a fair deal and lay out your research.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
I spent my career in the transportation industry and can tell you trucking companies hate bad publicity as much as TV news folks like spreading bad publicity.
Tell the WERNER adjuster what you just said (I'm not trying to get rich) and that you are not threatening but you just want a fair deal and lay out your research.
Tell the WERNER adjuster what you just said (I'm not trying to get rich) and that you are not threatening but you just want a fair deal and lay out your research.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
Final Update
Well I came out on top, I guess. Werner is giving me retail for the car (more than payoff), some extra for my troubles to keep it from going public, and I get to keep the car and part it out/sell it depending on what I decide. So all in all I will lose the car, but at least I did a little better than break even. Looks like I'll be back in the market for another C6 soon 
Last edited by Blake Brooks; Jul 5, 2017 at 05:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 250
Likes: 32
