'03 LC Hit by Drunk Driver. Think it's totaled?

[AlpineAccess]

Damn, bunch of bleeding hearts for drunk drivers on this board. I guess it’s only civil when a wife and kid are left without Their husband/father. The weak hand of the law largely slaps people in the wrist for doing this only enabling it further. How many articles come out about second and third offense dui’s leading to deaths. This below happened to my best friends sister’s high school bestie. op, glad your safe...sucks you have to put up with the bulls*** ahead

36-year-old cyclist killed by Escondido hit-run driver recalled as family man

Kevin Lentz of Vista died Saturday morning when he was struck by a vehicle driving up La Honda Drive, about a mile from Daley Ranch Road

www.google.com

No one is advocating for the drunk driver. We are directing forum members away from bad advice that could make the circumstances worse.

OP would absolutely benefit from meeting with legal counsel or knowledgeable auto insurance agent for some advice.

Terribly sorry to hear what happened to your friend. It looks like the driver fled the scene which left them with no remedy, truly an awful situation.

 

[MongooseGA]

My fiancee does mediations for a nationwide provider who mainly focuses on construction companies or other businesses. The absolute bull s*** that is not only allowed but encouraged by the system is enough to send someone into blind rage. Truly, your premiums are what they are because it's easier for your provider to shell out 5, 6, and 7 figure settlements than to go to court where actual justice could occur. Unfortunately, juries are our peers and our peers have grown up in a sue-happy world where everyone thinks they're entitled to retirement because the had a bad day. There's so much politics involved in it, including what city or county the court might be in, it literally can't be as simple as "you did bad, now you make good". "Fraud" is rampant in the system, and it's largely attorneys pushing it and the providers going along with it as it's still potentially less exposure than just trying the case.

This isn't at all minimizing the experience the OP had, or the incredible risk that the other driver presented on the public roads. My point is, if the industry weren't so completely ****ed up from the inside out, top to bottom, there may be some better or easier recourse for individuals who truly deserve just compensation for being on the wrong end of someone else's bad judgment.

 

[Lowbudgetlc100]

Totaled. That's a lot of sheet metal damage along with paint etc. Rocker panels, doors, fenders, etc.

I agree with the others though, if you are into fixing stuff yourself then I don't think it'll be that hard to swap on some other vehicles stuff

agree . total for sure

 

[flintknapper]

Damn, bunch of bleeding hearts for drunk drivers on this board.
^^^^
Ridiculous, no one is going soft on drunk drivers. We are just treating them as we would any other person who has broken a law. There are plenty of laws in place to address the 'punishment' phase based on the totality of the situation. A judge/jury will determine what that is to be.

I guess it’s only civil when a wife and kid are left without Their husband/father.
No that would involve criminal law, BUT that DIDN'T happen. You are sensationalizing the event. In this country...we typically don't punish folks for things they didn't do, that which didn't happen, or just things that 'could have' happened.

The weak hand of the law largely slaps people in the wrist for doing this only enabling it further. How many articles come out about second and third offense dui’s leading to deaths.

Again you are talking about criminal cases.

So....here is your chance to speak to your elected officials. Get them to draft and propose a bill for stiffer penalties for first time offenders.

And while you are at it...see if you get D/A's to STOP letting criminals plea bargain down (for reduced sentences) and lets build MORE jails/prisons to house offenders for their ENTIRE sentence and not cut them loose early for 'good behavior' or because of overcrowding.

I would support you with that...but not with overly punitive civil recourse (law suits) designed mostly to line the pockets of lawyers and the unscrupulous... anytime they think they can assemble a sympathetic jury (or the cost of going to court exceeds the wanted payout.)

My .02 on it. No doubt others feel differently.

^^^^

Expand for replies

 

[marshcat]

The bid on that one will come in at a minimum of 11 grand. It's a gonner.

Makes sense. I'm looking forward to visiting your museum when I visit SLC to ski this winter.

 

[ranma21]

Is a write off from insurance for sure. I do have a perfect fender and door from my part out 99 if you need them.

 

[Chewbacca]

Damn, bunch of bleeding hearts for drunk drivers on this board. I guess it’s only civil when a wife and kid are left without Their husband/father. The weak hand of the law largely slaps people in the wrist for doing this only enabling it further. How many articles come out about second and third offense dui’s leading to deaths. This below happened to my best friends sister’s high school bestie. op, glad your safe...sucks you have to put up with the bulls*** ahead

36-year-old cyclist killed by Escondido hit-run driver recalled as family man

Kevin Lentz of Vista died Saturday morning when he was struck by a vehicle driving up La Honda Drive, about a mile from Daley Ranch Road

www.google.com

I don't see anyone feeling bad for the drunk driver. But insurance fraud is still insurance fraud, no matter how you try to justify it.

 

[nitteo]

Insurance will probably cut you a check for a total loss, ask to buy it back and replace it with parts and pocket the cash. Glad you and the accord driver walked away though, bet he/she won't do that again.

this this this

 

[FxFormat]

this this this

Were you the one that got stuck fender deep in mud on Instagram? I recognize the truck from your avatar, i think i commented on it.

 

[marshcat]

this this this

I don't have the space to make the repairs myself.

But I'd be happy to buy back and sell for cheap the truck to a mud member who could rebuild it.

 

[Pucker5]

I don't see anyone feeling bad for the drunk driver. But insurance fraud is still insurance fraud, no matter how you try to justify it.

It’s not even fraud anymore. You can go to your doctor for a routine post accident checkup, communicate that the duress from escaping death, losing your vehicle and the impending paper pushing is causing you emotional duress or anxiety and the candle is now lit. Combine that with reality that insurance agencies don’t even investigate anymore they just collect doctor bills and it’s basically just another metric to them. Check will be cut... the Additional money you get reduces your Stress while fighting against getting bent over by the drunk idiots insurance who is gonna fight tooth and nail to give 7k book on Your cruiser.

@flintknapper, your rationale about me sensationalizing death resulting from drunk driving Is a widely shared rationale which directly contributes to their continued occurence.

 

[Chewbacca]

It’s not even fraud anymore. You can go to your doctor for a routine post accident checkup, communicate that the duress from escaping death, losing your vehicle and the impending paper pushing is causing you emotional duress or anxiety and the candle is now lit. Combine that with reality that insurance agencies don’t even investigate anymore they just collect doctor bills and it’s basically just another metric to them. Check will be cut... the Additional money you get reduces your Stress while fighting against getting bent over by the drunk idiots insurance who is gonna fight tooth and nail to give 7k book on Your cruiser.

If you're not hurt, I believe it is wrong to lie to get money. Maybe you feel differently.

 

[flintknapper]

@flintknapper, your rationale about me sensationalizing death resulting from drunk driving Is a widely shared rationale which directly contributes to their continued occurence.

You were 'embellishing' (if you like that word better) the story in order to make a misdirected point. What you proposed DID NOT happen. I am not minimizing or rationalizing the seriousness of deaths caused by drunk driving. I'm saying that there are already laws against it and punishments for those infractions (both criminal and civil). You seem to want to penalize for things that 'could' have happened. Where would that stop?

I've already pointed out the way for you to get stricter laws enacted for 1st time offenders. Find like minded people and call your elected officials. That's how the system works. Yeah, it takes some effort. Get started.

We all agree that any vehicular deaths are a tragedy. If your 'pet' grievance is DRUNK/impaired driving...fine. Get some legislation started and I will vote for it. But I submit more accidents these days are caused by distracted driving (read Cell Phones) than anything else. That's where I'd start.

 

[MongooseGA]

Omg I wish I could start a civilian task force to ticket people who text and drive.

 

[Pucker5]

You were 'embellishing' (if you like that word better) the story in order to make a misdirected point. What you proposed DID NOT happen. I am not minimizing or rationalizing the seriousness of deaths caused by drunk driving. I'm saying that there are already laws against it and punishments for those infractions (both criminal and civil). You seem to want to penalize for things that 'could' have happened. Where would that stop?

I've already pointed out the way for you to get stricter laws enacted for 1st time offenders. Find like minded people and call your elected officials. That's how the system works. Yeah, it takes some effort. Get started.

We all agree that any vehicular deaths are a tragedy. If your 'pet' grievance is DRUNK/impaired driving...fine. Get some legislation started and I will vote for it. But I submit more accidents these days are caused by distracted driving (read Cell Phones) than anything else. That's where I'd start.

Damn you, tied a nice little bow on that delivery with the distracted cell phone driver. I agree with that and of course not being an Internet forum justice warecipe. Maybe I’ll join madd and get my ass on some jury panels. Call me jaded but I live in California where they protect everything ridiculous.

 

[marshcat]

Appraiser just came by, said he thinks it's repairable. I have a feeling they're going to lowball me on the repair offer thinking I'll just take their check, since it doesn't make much sense to have a body shop repair a 16-year-old vehicle with 245k miles.

 

[gatormark91]

I don't think any of the above really matters, as Massachusetts is a no fault car insurance state.

 

[Pucker5]

Appraiser just came by, said he thinks it's repairable. I have a feeling they're going to lowball me on the repair offer thinking I'll just take their check, since it doesn't make much sense to have a body shop repair a 16-year-old vehicle with 245k miles.

Why not? Someone damaged your truck. If someone messed up your ride then you should be able to take it to a shop that can repair right. Sure these cars may have little love taps here and there but that’s not the same as what your truck looks like now.

 

[atnolan94]

Why not? Someone damaged your truck. If someone messed up your ride then you should be able to take it to a shop that can repair right. Sure these cars may have little love taps here and there but that’s not the same as what your truck looks like now.

Why are you being so argumentative and telling him what is right and wrong? Its a very high horse for someone who suggested insurance fraud was the best route here.

 

[Pucker5]

I’m Playing devils advocate for him On the friend side... Op did his duty to drive safe and have insurance and he deserves to be able to have his rig fixed to his satisfaction...not settling on a low fix amount because that’s what the other persons insurance may try to tell him.

Not a Shred of high horse by definition in my statement unless you define a moderate expectation to have your s*** fixed when damaged as arrogant.