accident - insurance advice wanted

[81SCp]

Hi everyone!

Well I smashed the 911 against a concrete rail coming off an exit. Someone to my left cut across and left me no where to go but into the rail! It looked bad, but not that bad! Now I hear that the insurance company wants to total it out! What kind of trouble am I walking into hear? Are they going to offer me $10K for a $20K car?

Any advice is really appreciated!

Here is what it looked like right before! And now that I hit the front bumper, fender and damaged the hood - they says it totaled????? 1981 911SC - new paint, bumpers, mirrors, wheels & tires, totally restored interior, rebuilt motor and trany, ect....

[RickM]

Use current market values to get the settlement as high as possible. Then try to buy the car back for as little possible.

[IROC]

My 911 was rear-ended years ago and the other person's insurance company basically asked me whether I wanted to total it or not. I did the math and it made more sense to max out what they would give me for repairs and not total the car.

Bottom line - explore your options and take the route that benefits you the best. Had I totalled mine, the cost of buying it back would have left me with less money than simply fixing it.

It's sad that they want to total it. Sad state of affairs when the "book value" of these cars is low enough that they are so quick to total them these days....

Mike

[Neilk]

Well if you are not happy, go to http://www.ican2000.com/help/dvpros/ and get a guy from Oregon to help you out. I used James Walden in Texas to help me with my claim with excellent results. YMMV.

You may have to fight the insurance company and it might get ugly, but remember that the ins. co. is looking to minimize THEIR expenses.

[81SCp]

Thanks for the info you guys -

I have never been the one to wreck a vehicle, so I am new to the insurance side of things. Although, as it was pointed out above - "the ins. co. is looking to minimize THEIR expenses." This is just sad - I pay the insurance company money for those "accidents" that will occur and now! - I just hope I don't get screwed on this one!

Apparently they're coming out for a second look!

anyone looking for parts :-)

[dtw]

That's a real beauty of a car, very well executed. I encourage you to try to keep it alive.

There's also rule #1 of avoiding salvage titles: Under NO circumstances should you let the insurance co. touch your title.

[Hetmann]

Sounds to me like your car is mechanically sound. No point in totalling it. Get the best settlement you can without them getting their grubby mits on the title. There are lots of fenders, hoods, etc. out there to fix the front.

[81SCp]

Thanks for the compliment dtw - I spent a lot of time and money on my car and it's hard to believe that they wont step up to the plate and fix it!


Thanks again to all as I have no idea what to do or what happens next - just waiting to hear what the insurance company says tomorrow.

bS