More Issues from the Car Accident...

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 06-30-2009, 10:38 PM

Ok, I'm having a frustrating day...things aren't working out as "nicely" as the car insurance company said they would.

Had the estimate done today. They want to TOTAL our car...for a little bit of freaking body damage!!! The engine runs GREAT...I even just had the fuel injection system cleaned Wednesday!!! The frame is in tact and everything!!! I've have gone out of my way to take VERY good care of our vehicles!!! And they want to total it for that little bit of damage?!?! I WANT TO SCREAM!!!

They want to give us next to nothing for our car...and then we're left with what...enough to make a down payment on another car??? And then have car payments???? NO FREAKING WAY!!!

This is BEYOND unfair! I've taken good care of our vehicle, always paid our car insurance on time, and followed the driving laws and requirements. And my thanks is..."congratulations, you're screwed because of some little punk"?

We do not have the resources to have a car payment right now! We intentionally paid our cars off BEFORE I started school!!! So that we wouldn't have these type issues!!

They're going to call tomorrow and explain things in more detail. I do NOT want to let our car go. It's ridiculous! She runs just FINE!!!

We're both still in college...we can't afford car payments! The insurance company is talking in the $2000 - $2500 range, which is ridiculous! You can NOT get a decent car up here for that! (We have a '98 Chevy Caviler).

One of Dh's friend's suggested taking the little punk to small claims court and then having the court garnish his wages. Does anyone know about this? (He has a suspended license and NO insurance for those of you who didn't catch my earlier post on this...he was arrested).

Another friend's suggestion was getting parts at a salvage yard and taking those into a shop and having the work done. Anyone tried this?

I'm attaching a picture of the damage (license plate blacked out per Dh's request) so you all can see what I'm talking about.

I'm going to drink some tea and try to calm my anger and annoyance with this whole situation. GRRRRRR Sorry if any of this is redundant, I'm just so stinkin' angry!!!!

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 06-30-2009, 10:39 PM

Here's the picture of the damage...

**Michelle68** · 07-01-2009, 12:13 AM

My DH has been keeping up with your story (through me, of course) and he's going with the friend that suggested y'all get the parts from the salvage yard and taking it in to have it fixed. Some places will not use an after market part because they cannot guarantee or warranty the repair if it's used. But he believes that you can probably find some body shop that would be willing to do this. We have done this in the past.

Please do not let the insurance company total your car. They are basically trying to get out of paying anything and hoping that you'll get it fixed on your own--which you'll probably end up having to do if you refuse to to let them total it. The repair is fairly minor and, as long as it's running okay and the frame is straight, should be very fixable. It would be a total shame to let the insurance company take your car (which happens when they total it) and you have to start making car payments when you can't afford them. Although it's galling, after making your insurance payments on time, I would skip the pay out and leave the insurance company out of this. JMHO. I hope this helps.

**frugalfranny** · 07-01-2009, 12:24 AM

L2BF....I am really sorry you are going through this.

The totalling part sounds fishy to me......what a rip off! Let us know how this turns out. I will be thinking about you and hoping for the best.

**i.m.cheap** · 07-01-2009, 12:26 AM

I know from experience that they don't always "take your car" if the insurance company totals it. I had a Ford Escort years ago that was "totaled" from a hail storm. The insurance company paid off what I owed on the car, and I got to keep the car. It was like they valued the car at $3,000 the pay off was around $2,400 and the insurance accepted the other $600 as "the salvage value" and I got to keep the car.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 07-01-2009, 12:49 AM

When I was in my car accident in May, my car was totaled. The back axel was broke, the drivers side rear door was demolished lots of other stuff. They paid me the complete value of the car, the towing and storage fees and let me keep the car after they proclaimed it totaled. I don't understand how YOUR car is totaled? It just looks like the back fender and maybe the back light needs fixing. Take it to a mechanic, pay it get the receipt and take th guy to court to pay for it.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 07-01-2009, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by phoeny_moonstar

When I was in my car accident in May, my car was totaled. The back axel was broke, the drivers side rear door was demolished lots of other stuff. They paid me the complete value of the car, the towing and storage fees and let me keep the car after they proclaimed it totaled. I don't understand how YOUR car is totaled? It just looks like the back fender and maybe the back light needs fixing. Take it to a mechanic, pay it get the receipt and take th guy to court to pay for it.

I don't get how it's "totaled", either. GRRRRR

Well, they say it's because the repairs exceed the blue book value of the car... They were quoting it with all totally new parts, a custom bumper (evidently the "standard bumper" is black?), etc. They said it would require one weld, too (somewhere on the bumper...not like the frame is screwed up - something about a bumper attachment weld??). The trunk has a 'warp' thru it, too...doesn't open and close as good (but still does).

It just seems completely ridiculous!! There is NO way I'm letting them total it...unless for some reason it means we get the $ AND we keep it! She drives perfectly fine, runs great... Insurance and all that just seems like a scam to me so much of the time!!

**Momto2Boyz** · 07-01-2009, 07:19 AM

It's just becuase of the age and value of the car that they are totalling it. I had the same thing with a Chevy Baretta that DH hit a deer with.

Insurance values are so low on older cars that it usually isn't worth keeping full coverage on them. With the baretta, we ended up telling the insurance company to drop the claim, and we repaired it with salvage parts. It was worth it not to have to buy a new car. And honestly, if the car is driveable...that is what I would do!

**nodmicks** · 07-01-2009, 09:18 AM

We had one of dh's cars considered totaled by the ins co. as it's value was 2500 and the damage 3700.

We told them we wanted to keep it. We called salvage companies to find the value. It was 200. We got a check for the 2500 minus the 200 for the salvage and our deductable. We kept the car and dh fixed it. He bought a radiator and a new side mirror from the scrap yard . He left the door dented in. Dh drove it for years and now our neighbor kid is still driving it.

In our state you have the right to a check minus the salvage fee the Ins co would get scrapping it. I can't imagine that you don't everywhere. Ask your ins person about it.

On a side not. My sibling hit my car a few years ago. He did not want to use his ins but said he would pay cash. I asked everyone I got a quote from what they could do if I paid in cash. Everyone offered a better deal. I settled on a small local shop. IF it wasn't cash it was 1274. With paying in cash and not being in a rush it was $600!!!!

**Greebo** · 07-01-2009, 09:24 AM

For some reason I thought when an Ins. Co totalled a car, they wrote you a check and then you couldn't get comprehensive coverage anymore - just liability.

I could swear I knew a guy who had a car "totalled" 3 times by 3 different agencies over time...

**nodmicks** · 07-01-2009, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

For some reason I thought when an Ins. Co totalled a car, they wrote you a check and then you couldn't get comprehensive coverage anymore - just liability.

I could swear I knew a guy who had a car "totalled" 3 times by 3 different agencies over time...

In our state a totaled car can only have liability.

**frugalwarrior** · 07-01-2009, 09:45 AM

OK. Look up the blue book vaue of your car
-find out repair cost
-if it cost more to fix it than the blue book the car is totalled. NOW:

dealing w/ an insurance company is always a negotiation.
They throw out a low figure,you counter offer,they say yes or no,
At the very least you should get your car.
Do you know anyone who could fix it for you w/ junk yard parts??
I would keep and see if Obamas new junkers off the road incentive could help you.
We have a big prob. w/ people in the Upper Penninsula being uninsured and retired or unemployed.
Hang tough. My father negotiated and got a couple hundred more and the car.
-also is this kid 18? If not sue his parents but know the laws in your state.
We are a no fault satate in MI. and can get $400. big deal.

**freebs** · 07-01-2009, 10:13 AM

with that little bit of damage i would drive it that way, then when you have the money start getting parts. I would just set with the phone and pen and paper and call all the auto parts stores and salvage yards to get prices and go from there. The value of the car from kbb is $1,735 so that is why you are getting the low ball amounts. They dont care if you just had it rebuilt or that it still runs or anything they go by value alone.

**pop goes the weasel** · 07-01-2009, 10:46 AM

I went through the same thing and likeyou say the damage is more the carl worth as far as blue book. I had the same kind of car by the way. Great little car. The kid that hit me had no insurance, no license or registrration. The magistrate, who is a good friend of mine said that if I took him to court I'd never get a dime because ofhim not being covered and my insurance company wouldn't go after him because of this. He also hit another guy across the street. Then tried to say it was my fault. I was working at the time and didn't even know it happened. The car was legally parked. The cops got a laugh out of that. What I did was found a friend who could put on parts and got after market parts.It ended up costing less than half of the damage.

**YankeeMom** · 07-01-2009, 10:55 AM

Don't let them total it.

The only reason they do that is because the cost to fix it is more than the blue book value of the car. I'd follow the other posters advice about getting it fixed w/ used parts or just driving it as is.