Need some insurance advice "Wrecked my Baby"

[MHTARSTON]

Well had a bad day!! Wrecked my FJ62 after years and tons of $$ restoring her. Post office truck on the side of the road delivering mail pulled a U-turn just as I was passing her. She never saw me, I was traveling about 45 MPH did a big swerve just prior to flipping the truck and took off her front left quarter and my front right. Truck still runs great, no internal engine damage, OME springs are bent, tire and rim is dead, passenger side took damage. Frame is still straight, I think from just looking.

My question is do I have to take their offer. I know they are going to total the truck but I have so much invested. I don't even have 3K on the total drive train rebuild and the body only has 93,000 total miles.

What are my options? I want her fixed, a little more of my money back. Anybody deal with anything similar.

Thanks

 

[SLOwag]

No, I don't have prior experience with this but somebody will chime in soon. It looks like there's damage into the passenger door, does the door open and close correctly? Damage into the pillar? You might want to get an opinion separate from yours.

Your rig looks nice even banged up. Sorry.

 

[Michael Hanson]

File papers and sue now. Im getting very little help with FARMERS INS. and their client was found 100% at fault over 1 year ago I still have recieved nothing on my medical,I cant even get responses from FARMERS INS.on my questions.They mail me the same papers over and over again stalling for more time.FARMERS INS. says they will answer your questions in 2 hours and they dont even do it in 2 weeks.

 

[Joe_E]

Wow, bummer dude.
On the brighter side I just called my wife over to the computer and asked her if she recognized your 60. (from seeing your avatar,Jersey plates,and windshied sticker)
She was upset and said yes, she saw you a few times on base.
She drives the beige OME'd 80 by the way.

Hope things work out.

 

[krookedpandas]

If they are going to total it, they will offer you to buy it back with a percentage of the total amount. Take the remaining money and have the body work done and replace the spring pack etc. This is of course if they offer you enough to repair the damaged parts.

-Matt

 

[Joe_E]

By the way, I have a 81 parts rig and I know where there is another 83 at a junk yard close by if you decide to rebuild.

 

[Eporter]

I totalled a new Pathfinder a few years ago with my '83 FJ60. She ran a 4-way STOP as I was pulling out. She swerved just in time to avoid T-boning me, but still ended up bouncing off the ARB a bit.

She damaged her hood, bumper, headlights, fender, tire shredded, driver's door dent. And she was crying. Oh, boo-hoo. Too many little things that added up to too much $$=totaled for her

I got lucky.

The hit pushed the ARB back a bit, and dented up the fender. My damage looked much more minor than yours, but it still tweaked the frame and front end components a little bit. I replaced the fender, but it's still a little tweaked. (I feel it adds character to the truck)

Guess what I'm saying is beware any estimate that doesn't take frame damage into account.

They tried to total my truck with a dented front fender! I believe they were using KBB values, whereas NADA offers a more fair price for our "collectors" vehicles. I also had $$$ in recent receipts that added up to way more than the book value.

The insurance company really wanted to get me with a low-ball check, but I held out. Get your receipts together, write a letter, and fax/email them to the appropriate ins. agency office when they try to send you a tiny claim check.

Yes, I ended up keeping the $$, but it all went right back into my truck's mechanicals!

Good luck!

 

[Darkrealms]

MHTARSTON, they totaled mine, after my roll. They gave me $4k for it. It was pretty nice at that point, hood was still a different color though. Yours is much nicer.
I'd agree with Michael Hanson unfortunately. They will be the ones you will have to go after for any kind of settlement. If you have all your receipts that will help some.

Unfortunately Insurance companies hide behind all kinds of stupid rules and games. You do not have to accept their offer you can negotiate some.

Michael Hanson if you have medical and it has been that long a lawyer would probably be worth it. Most of the time with just a wreck they won't bother but with medical they have a chance of making money.

Sorry guys, but nice guys finish last with these kind of situations : (

 

[Elbert]

don't just accept their estimate. You also don't have to get 2 estimates. I would have someone you trust
to wirte an estimate for you if you know a local body shop. The Ins companies really have you over the barrel on these things unless you go with a lawyer. What tools does an individual have to leverage the insurace company?...not much.

Find out what true market value is for your vehicle...see what the estiamte is....and then figure out the delta... I suspect that SUV prices have tankes and you are going to feel some pain. If you konw someone in the Ins business do some talking now in private to come up with a strategy.

 

[Dynosoar]

It looks very fixable. I guess we will be paying 43cents for stamps soon!!!! Postal delivery drivers SUCK!


Dynosoar

 

[Marc311]

First things first. Were you hurt? Hopefully not, but if you were injured or may be injured (sometimes it takes a day or two to manifest) you need that covered. Don't be so quick to get some cash that you end up with life long back pain that won't be covered because you settled.

You don't have to settle both claims at once (property and injury). If you can agree to an amount for your truck, make sure it is noted that is not a settlement for your whole claim.

If they total it, they owe you the market value of the vehicle. As we all know, that is most likely far less than what you have into it. And the market value is likely far less than what is was a year ago. But don't settle for some blue book offer - that really is not market value for older vehicles. Have them find comparables, or show them comparables. If your ride is real clean, maybe a TLC landcruiser is "comparable."

Remember too, put stuff in writing. A written claim letter goes a long way.

I totally disagree about filing suit right now. That puts people on the defensive and can sometimes makes things worse. If it comes to that, by all means. But no need to rush.

You may also want to talk to an attorney. This is a simple insurance claim. Don't hire one on a 30% contingiency for God's sake. But paying one for a few hours to draft a letter and provide you some guidance may be worth a couple/few hundred bucks. many attorneys will give you a free consultation - tell them you want assistance to handle it yourself, not for them to handle it. A letter on attorney letterhead sometimes provides the right amount of "pucker factor."

 

[MHTARSTON]

Thanks for all the input. The doors open and close just as they did before the accident and windows roll up fine. I don't suspect any pillar damage. I know I'm going to get screwed. I'm going to start getting my receipts together and get some comps on ebay etc....

Here are a few more Pics of damage.

 

[pint]

I hope it all works out. That is too nice a rig to waste.

 

[nuclearlemon]

research is god here.

in addition to having your receipts, go to websites and download pricing or get quotes on what it would cost to do it again. same brand/model of parts you used (if you research a little bit more, you can find the most expensive website). be sure to factor in shipping (getting the parts to you), labor, shop supplies (oils, pb blaster, rags, zip ties, bolts). get pricing on everything!

 

[Michael Hanson]

I have been nice to the FARMERS agent he does nothing SLOWLY. The damage to my red cruiser was not as bad as yours and they could not have cared less what the market said my car was worth.I had offers to sell my cruiser weekly it was in such good condition.Guys with dodge vipers wanted it. File and let a jury deciede ;juries love insur. cos.

 

[cruise4070]

Wow, that is a beauty, and not too bad off.
-
If insurance company totals it they will likely run a market survey thru a company like ccc or mitchell. They are not very accurate on older vehicles.
Most adjusters arent car people and need to be "educated" as to its value.
-
Be able to present any recpts you have for the work done, custom or otherwise. You wont get dollar for dollar, but it can be added in to enhance the overall value. This would include brake work, all the way up to lockers/sliders/etc...
Also, like Ige said, demonstrating its value thru other resources could get them to re-evaluate as well. Theres some nutty prices on ebay and the auto trader that could work in your favor!
-
In NJ, you dont need a salvg title 8 yrs or older, and you just might want to consider salvage retention.
They would get a salvage quote from their yard and deduct it from their settlement offer. Their should be some negotiation room in that as well, especially to an adjuster that sees a vehicle approaching 20 yrs old.
Good luck

 

[Norris Marshak]

You are in a unique situation if the postal driver/vehicle is assigned responsibility: most governmental agencies are self-insured using third part evaluators/estimators to come to a resolution. I had a county truck find its way into the back of my Saab at a traffic light. The field report assigned respomsibilty to the county truck. The third party assessor took into account the CONDITION of my vehicle in making his recommendations. I was very happy with the result. Take the police report to YOUR insurance broker and get some counsel, and do the same with a body repair shop that enjoys broad respect. I think you'll be very surprised!

 

[srplus]

Good news first - it was someone with insurance... bad news second - you are going to have to have a good body shop write you an estimate that covers all damages with OEM parts. Find one that will and do not accept aftermarket junk.

GL

 

[ginericLC]

Good news first - it was someone with insurance... bad news second - you are going to have to have a good body shop write you an estimate that covers all damages with OEM parts. Find one that will and do not accept aftermarket junk.

GL

There are no after market junk body parts for 60s, OEM is it.

There is a really nice FJ62 for sale in Boise Idaho right now. It is higher miles but it is rust free and it is white. I could get a number if you are interested. I'm thinking it was about 4500.