Our New Land Cruiser Saved Our Lives

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You guys are definitely blessed. If that cargo came flying up and hit some heads...... holy s***!!
wagonracks.com has some pretty sweet cargo barriers. Glad your all in one piece.
Pat
 
I bet that was a ride! I love how the RTT stayed on. Glad you all had your seatbelts on and all is well.
 
Thanks to everyone again for all of your well wishes.

Now begins the fun with the insurance....and could use some advice. As expected, the vehicle is a total loss. They have given me a proposed settlement amount, but they are giving me pennies on the dollar on aftermarket items that were destroyed. Namely, the roof top tent and awning, both which were less than three weeks old. I provided them with the ad for the vehicle (which I purchased only six weeks ago), as well as receipts for the RTT and awning and roof rack load bars, and they are offering less than 20% of retail on those 3 additional items, even though I have provided receipts.

Also, they used two random local comps to come up with the "base value", but neither of the vehicles are equipped in the same manner (stock, no lockers), which I argued there is no way I could replace the wrecked vehicle at the proposed settlment amount they came up with. They sent over the valuation report, and they exclude things like the the locking differentials, etc. So, I have found a few comps of similarly equipped vehicles that I will send over to them tomorrow so we can keep "negotiating."

Also, the "buyback" price they offered seems high to me. Has anyone been successful in negotiating the price on the buyback?

Any advice / thoughts / etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks again.
 
No advice, but don't get discouraged. Sometimes these things can take a while to iron out.
Stick to your price of what it will take to replace your rig.

I've seen a few other threads asking for similar advice and remember thinking there were some good ideas being brought up. I'm sure this will bring the same.
Good luck.
 
There is a very informative thread that talks about "valuating the add ons" and couple of ins agents piped up. It'd be worth reading that thread.

Good luck.
 
Keep negotiating the buyback. Initial offers are always low and they're trying to settle.

Aftermarket parts, don't have much to say. They are usually worthless, part of the risk you take when driving an older car with lots of extra add-ons (unless you insure them in the policy).
 
WOW!! You went over 4 times and walked away. That is extremely fortunate for you and your family.

I'm running an OME low lift 861/862 Setup (I think I bought it from IdahoDoug) with 285's just to try to keep the CG low. I have a 4 and 6 year old and we frequently camp out of this rig(actually I'm supposed to be packing the rig now for Big Sur). My next purchase was going to be a RTT and I have to say that I will stick with the regular tent and avoid further altering the CG.

While these trucks are extremely tough and it is amazing that the roof stood up after a 75mph roll over we definitely need to consider that results with a worse outcome are not as well reported on the forum. What's that old pirate saying????.............
 
car-car said:
Thanks to everyone again for all of your well wishes.

Now begins the fun with the insurance....and could use some advice. As expected, the vehicle is a total loss. They have given me a proposed settlement amount, but they are giving me pennies on the dollar on aftermarket items that were destroyed. Namely, the roof top tent and awning, both which were less than three weeks old. I provided them with the ad for the vehicle (which I purchased only six weeks ago), as well as receipts for the RTT and awning and roof rack load bars, and they are offering less than 20% of retail on those 3 additional items, even though I have provided receipts.

Also, they used two random local comps to come up with the "base value", but neither of the vehicles are equipped in the same manner (stock, no lockers), which I argued there is no way I could replace the wrecked vehicle at the proposed settlment amount they came up with. They sent over the valuation report, and they exclude things like the the locking differentials, etc. So, I have found a few comps of similarly equipped vehicles that I will send over to them tomorrow so we can keep "negotiating."

Also, the "buyback" price they offered seems high to me. Has anyone been successful in negotiating the price on the buyback?

Any advice / thoughts / etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...


I'm not familiar with Cali insurance law, but in Oregon they have to replace it with an equivalent vehicle at market value price. When my truck was hit recently, the insurance company initially valued it at around $7k-$8k, I don't recall exactly. I pulled up a bunch of similar vehicles (similar year, mileage, lockers, etc) which were all in the $10.5k-$13k range (mostly around $11k). I gave that to them, and they "reviewed" it and came back with a valuation of $12.5k (again IIRC, it was at least $12k). Just a slight difference.

Now Oregon might be different than Cali, so you might get screwed there. :meh:

As for your after market items, my understanding is that if you do not have them explicitly covered by your insurance, they don't have to give you squat for them. At least with Progressive (and in Oregon), I have to call up and tell them if I add something expensive (stereo, turbo, etc) and they add that into the valuation of the vehicle (and may raise your premium). You may have to provide receipts and proof that it's on the vehicle if it's a big ticket item.

Some insurance carriers will cover up to a certain dollar amount of after market items (usually like $500 or something).

Hope that helps.
 
That was my understanding as well, that you have to have your aftermarket items accounted for and covered on a rider or supplemental before an accident for the insurance company to give you value.

I am very interested to hear how this turns out, and it may be a good lesson for all of us to ask questions of the insurance company and find out exactly WHAT the coverage for aftermarket items is.
 
Flank said:
I am very interested to hear how this turns out, and it may be a good lesson for all of us to ask questions of the insurance company and find out exactly WHAT the coverage for aftermarket items is.
Click to expand...

Sometimes it's not worth it. Some insurance companies will drop you if you modify your vehicle too much (they consider it to be too high risk or too expensive if you require coverage for an accident). Sometimes you have to look at the cost of the part vs the cost of coverage.

For example, I didn't report/record my 4x4 Labs bumper. It was only $550 (IIRC), and even if I get in a severe accident will likely survive intact anyway. So it's not worth the extra money my insurance will (likely) charge me each month. Even if it doesn't survive, replacing it with OEM will be as much or more, thanks to the high cost of OEM parts. So it's really covered either way.....
 
OK I have seen this a thousand times before. First write (no phone calls) a letter indicating you chose their company because you felt they offered a good deal on insurance. Next point out the reason for insurance is to replace what you have lost (many insurance companies forget this when the eye is on profit and not service), and last but not least and highlight the following sentence:

"To whom it may concern, please do NOT send me any money in recognition of my claim (insert claim number here), instead you the company can use the money to buy me a replacement vehicle. The replacement vehicle should be the same colour, year, mileage, lockers, service history ect (you fill in the rest car-car). I would ask you to then deliver the vehicle to my home address as soon as possible again saving me time, effort and of course money in finding the vehicle myself. In the event that you manage to fulfill my request you will have demonstrated that your present offer (enter amount offered here) is a fair one and you truly are a reputable company and your offer was in fact a valid one.

In the event that you cannot carry out my request then either a) submit a more realistic offer or b) explain to my lawyers why (insert lawyers name and address here).

I look forward to a positive response.

Many thanks

blah blah ect!

Then post it using whatever you guys use to get a signed for reciept, then sit back and relax.

In the UK this has NEVER EVER failed period.

In the litigation happy US why can't it work for you?

regards

Dave
 
I worry too about having so many aftermarket items, but how they will likely not be covered.

In all fairness, when we insure our vehicles, the agent or insurance company assumes a bone stock vehicle with no modifications and no add-ons and charges us a premium accordingly, unless we insure our aftermarket stuff separately or have a special policy.

Its interesting to me that that are offering anything for the aftermarket parts. Leads me to wonder if state law requires them too or your policy has it writen that they will cover some percentage of aftermarket parts.

Time to research your policy and local insurance laws. I've seen some insurance policies that will cover aftermarket parts if they are OEM parts. Might be one reason the "supercharger" was covered in a prior post. Other policies might cover some aftermarket parts, but usually with a limit. That's somehows how expensive aftermarket stereos can be covered, so long as they fall under that limit. It might be a percentage like 20% or a dollar amount like $1000.

Your insurance policy should have all the details. Beyond that, it's just a matter of seeing if your policy meshes with state law. Sometimes it doesn't, but I'd be surprised if state laws requires them to cover all of your accessories 100% while only charging the same premium as for a stock vehicle.

I did read something about California insurance laws if you have custom equipment coverage. Not sure if this actually California law or just insurance company policy, but the coverage and pay out for custom equipment cannot be more than 25% of the value of the vehicle itself. If your vehicle is only worth say....$8000 bone stock, that means you can't be covered more than $2000 for after market parts and as we all know, that's barely a bumper and a winch.

In the end, if they are willing to pay you 20% for most of your aftermarket items...it may not be a bad deal.
 
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Brian894X4 said:
I worry too about having so many aftermarket items, but how they will likely not be covered.

In all fairness, when we insure our vehicles, the agent or insurance company assumes a bone stock vehicle with no modifications and no add-ons and charges us a premium accordingly, unless we insure our aftermarket stuff separately or have a special policy.

Its interesting to me that that are offering anything for the aftermarket parts. Leads me to wonder if state law requires them too or your policy has it writen that they will cover some percentage of aftermarket parts.

Time to research your policy and local insurance laws. I've seen some insurance policies that will cover aftermarket parts if they are OEM parts. Might be one reason the "supercharger" was covered in a prior post. Other policies might cover some aftermarket parts, but usually with a limit. That's somehows how expensive aftermarket stereos can be covered, so long as they fall under that limit. It might be a percentage like 20% or a dollar amount like $1000.

Your insurance policy should have all the details. Beyond that, it's just a matter of seeing if your policy meshes with state law. Sometimes it doesn't, but I'd be surprised if state laws requires them to cover all of your accessories 100% while only charging the same premium as for a stock vehicle.

I did read something about California insurance laws if you have custom equipment coverage. Not sure if this actually California law or just insurance company policy, but the coverage and pay out for custom equipment cannot be more than 25% of the value of the vehicle itself. If your vehicle is only worth say....$8000 bone stock, that means you can't be covered more than $2000 for after market parts and as we all know, that's barely a bumper and a winch.

In the end, if they are willing to pay you 20% for most of your aftermarket items...it may not be a bad deal.
Click to expand...


You are lucky that you are in Oregon! Follow the link below. I insured my Samurai for full replacement value for a $100 more per year. All that was required was a itemized list of all aftermarket equipment and a total valuation of your vehicle. I have always been very pleased with the customer service when the :princess: had a claim.

Welcome to Wawanesa Insurance, Oregon
 
I don't understand the reticence on covering the RTT, etc. As mentioned above, when my father in law drove my brother in law's 80 under an awning with my sweet bikes on the roof, the insurance company bought me new bikes and a new roof rack. No dickering. Bike shop sent them the values. They were covered under the homeowner's policy if I recall as they were personal property.

DougM
 
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