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Accident

Damn! That's depressing. I drive my car on the regular, and it what I fear the most! Good luck. Try Carlisle next month for some of the parts you may need. There's always a surprising selection to be had.
 
that sucks big time. glad no one was hurt. I lost a '69 road runner a few years back to fire. the cars can be replaced. when this is all said and done, don't let this keep you from enjoying your car. even in the garage all tucked in, they aren't always safe, and we all have only so many heartbeats, so you might as well have fun with your baby.
 
Glad there were no serious injuries is the most important thing. I was thinking the same thing as you here in that there's probably a hit (no pun intended) to the value on a car that's been seriously roughed up in a wreck, right? I'm sure that would turn off potential buyers, or at least they'd pay less.

Good luck with getting it back together. I'd be sick to the stomach if this were my car.

I know that I wouldn't pay the same amount for a car that has been in a major collision versus one that was unmolested. Even if the car is repaired, it's my intent to get the insurance company to compensate me for that loss in value.
 
no one really wants a car that was wrecked...BUT seeing that it was repaired by a speciality shop with a good rep will ease alot of the concerns.
 
Man, so glad you are OK! I had a similar thing happen to me back in 1988 (when I drove chevys), but the damage was much less. One rear quarter panel was dented really bad and the insurance said the car was totaled. My dad helped me get the car back in our driveway and we eventually got it fixed with our own money, but the insurance reps were jerks.

My experience way back then was - if you don't have classic car insurance, you can pull up all of the comps you want, but in the end they will try to get away with telling you that it's a 40 yr old car that originally sold for $4K and has depreciated to $1K and so they have to total the car. Don't let them do that and don't sign anything. Be firm as others have said, but not too much of an A-hole. Stick to your guns. If you don't have classic car insurance or stated value previously agreed to, you have a long uphill battle ahead of you.
 
be slow to do anything, dont sign anything, dont take any money as:
1. any signature could be used to give access almost any records on you or the car including health records.
2. any money given to you relieves them of any future liabilities, so dont take not even $1, even if they say damaged uncovered later will be considered. are you OK?? what if your back starts hurting a few weeks from now?? this would also not be covered as their liability is relieved.
3. they want to pay you fast as this closes the case.
4. if you have any idea you will fix the car, make them send a check to the shop doing the work, this still leaves YOU open as you have not taken any money.
5. they have no one or no system to correctly estimate the value of the car, YOU are the only person able to give it a dollar value.
6. dont let them talk you into totaling the car, as then they will own the car and you will have to buy it back from them. it will also take the title and you will not be able to title it later. it is not their car and will never be their car----it is YOURS.
7. be an A-Hole from the beginning, and then you can back down later after they see you cannot be run over easily.
8. tell them you want to send the car down to Jeff Lilly in Texas to repair and restore it. he could totally do it but it will be expensive, he is one if the best.
8. the insurance company has one and only one agenda--to pay out the lowest amount of money.

was there a minor in the car with you? if so the court will make them hold the case open until the minor is 18.
maybe this helps, hope you get an adjuster who has some concept of old cars and will be human about it.
i am sorry, i am 57 and i cannot find but a few people i can trust anymore, no one or no company has YOUR best interest at heart (especially if they tell you that in the beginning).
PT in Tennessee

OK, I just spent 30 minutes typing a reply to this [I type slowly] and when I went to post, it said I wasnt logged in, which I was, [how else could I be typing a response?] and I lost it. I wasnt going to say anything, but basically EVERYTHING pturner says is wrong. I was stuck in the industry for 20 years...regrettably I know a thing or two about auto claims. Feel free to pm me me and I'll try to tap out my response again if you care.
 
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Just remember there are two parts to a accident, the value of the car and bodily injury. You can settle for the car but leave the bodily part separate ( more money for you) Also make sure they do not try to give you a salvage title on the car. I had a accident years ago and settled with the insurance company but kept the car and took care of the repair, after I had a good body shop give me a estimate.
 
Keep it in perspective. You're OK, that's what matters. As much as I like my toys, they can be replaced.

If your car is meaningful to you, call your lawyer, tell him how important your car was to you, how much it cost, etc. Leave it to him. You VS any insurance company will not end well for you.
 
more info

Sorry to disagree with you Malamutejohn, but i have had the following fully restored classic cars wrecked:
1. 59 Volkwagen
2. 1957 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop ($65,000 invested)
3. 1974 Volkswagen Karman Ragtop
my daughter was driving the Volkswagens, and my wife the 57.
maybe it is not so in the area, or for the company you worked for, BUT this is what you need to do in Tennessee.
Tennessee is not a No Fault state, so there are about 60% of the at fault folks without insurance. you almost always end up suing. maybe this is why we have so many Lawyers.
the 74 bug got totally fixed due to a very honest homeowner (where the wreck occured) pressing his homeowner insurance carrier, OH and he was a lawyer. they paid $6900 for a car that about $2500 book value.
Glad we can state our experiences and opinions on this forum.
Thanks for your opinion and experiences John
Wondering what state you were working in during your experience? let us know-thanks
PT in Tennessee
 
Thanks to everyone for all the good information. Unfortunately, the insurance company doesn't want to pay squat, so off to the attorney it is!
 
Thanks to everyone for all the good information. Unfortunately, the insurance company doesn't want to pay squat, so off to the attorney it is!

Her insurance company, or your insurance company? Why not?

I would suggest contacting your agent 1st and asking them what they can do for you. They are after all, 'your agent'...not just someone who collects payments. That's what they said when you got your policy through them, right? See what they're made of.

If that goes no where move on to the claims adjuster, if one was assigned. Ask to speak to their bosses if they tell you there is nothing they can do.

Insurance is nothing but legalized gambling. You paid your premiums, betting you would eventually get in an accident. The agent (bookie) took your money (bet) gambling that you wouldn't get into one. Unfortunately, you finally won...It's now time for SOMEBODY to pay up.

According to the NADA website, 1967 Dodge Coronet convertibles (no options) values are as follows:
Pricing for: MSRP ----- Low ------ Avg ------ High
440 Conv: $2,834 -- $ 8,750 -- $15,400 -- $30,200
500 Conv: $3,013 -- $ 7,875 -- $13,000 -- $20,200
R/T Conv: $3,199 -- $11,300 -- $20,300 -- $34,200

Add options and things go up.

I don't know your car and photos don't show the whole car, so it's hard to decipher its' true condition. Look at the descriptions on the NADA site, then be non-biased and fair at assessing your cars condition prior to the accident. You will figure out where you fall in NADAs conditions / values.

Have you already had an estimate provided by the body shop? Is it anywhere within the values provided by NADA? If so present that information to whomever you are dealing with...showing them that you are not trying to get anything more than your car fixed.

We're all here for you...trying to help as best we can. Keep us updated!
 
Who won't pay? When I had my accident last year that wasn't my fault, my insurance (Grundy) paid within 3 days and then went after the other peoples insurance co. I wouldn't think you should have to hire an attorney. That should be your companies job.
 
Unfortunately, some guy ran a red light and schmucked my 67 Coronet convertible on Friday. Thankfully no injuries, but it's depressing as it previously was unmolested except for new seat covers and carpet. Absolutely no rust and the only body work was a repaint about 20 years ago.
I haven't heard from his insurance yet, but am trying to do some research in case I have to negotiate with them over the valuation of the car, so I'd like to ask for some help from here with 2 questions-- first are there any sites that provide a 'book value' for classic cars? Secondly, even if it is repaired, obviously, I lose value as it no longer is unmolested. Does anyone have any idea how an accident of this magnitude would diminish the resale if it was repaired?

Thanks so much in advance for all your help and commiseration.

whatever happened ???

seems like there was a lot of great advice given and wondering if it worked out for you.
 
whatever happened ???

seems like there was a lot of great advice given and wondering if it worked out for you.


I just read the entire thread myself. I'm wondering the same thing.
 
Ouch! That just hurts to look at the pix. If you fix your car strip everything off and reseal the car after it is completely painted. It will cost a lot more unless you do it yourself but it will be worth it in the long run. This can be fixed and will look awesome again! Hope this turns out better for you. It sure is a sweet ride. Research the body shop well. Good luck!
 
I just read all this and i'm depressed to not see an outcome,i'm guessing he did not have classic car insurance and we all know what happens next!!!
 
Do you have an agreed value on your car with your insurance co.? If so,it wouldn't be a bad idea to alert your insurance about this accident and let them deal with the other guys insurance,after all,as we all know the insurance companies have the power.I have had more success doing it this way than going it alone.As far as the insurance commissioner goes....it might help you out,but in my state they side with the insurance companies
 
My condolences, that really sucks... bad.
 
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