Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

That really sucks.....hope it works out for you......make sure they use the NADA book for the value on your 'burb.....it lists value at $3275-16,800 for the high lows on a 2wd 1/2ton 'burb.......so you would have to evaluate the condition but that is the book they should use.....here is their link

http://www.nadaguides.com

good luck with everything.......

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

This sucks
#1 Get a Lawyer, not just any Lawyer..a real ugly nasty one (like my ex wife had)
#2 Sue everybody...(God I cant believe I said that since I am so anti law suit) but in this case it is necessary.
#3 Remember THEY OWE YOU!!! ....You should not be out one red cent and even if this POSMFWPOT has no money now, that does not mean he never will....get a judgement against his worthless a$$. And the City, The Cop, and that stupid radio station if they had any hand in this !
They owe you!..this is one time when I say "Sue the B@st@rds!!!

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

:agree: make sure you have all your book info lined up for this truck before signing a singel piece of paper from anyone. Dumb question I use State Farm and on my old vehicles I have a set value with them since they are not restored yet hopefully yours isn't too low.

All these crashes lately makes me think we all need to call our agents and make sure everything is covered correctly. I have one policy that I called and checked on that the liability coverage was way too low(haden't been changed since 88) car and medical costs have changed a ton since then

I also think old rusty is on to something it is against the law to serve someone to that level of intoxication and the police should have some level of liability as you said they were debating the prior stop in your yard. Give them hell and good luck man.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

You need to look at this thread on Chevelles.com. Similar situation drunk drives across the yard and takes out a pristine ElCamino. He details how he delt with the insurance co to get fair value.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194696

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

I hate agreeing with the lawsuit comment.... but I do agree though. If you were able to smell the beer, why couldn't the cop who stopped him? And even a child could see over twice the legal limit verses sobor. And in the parking lot of the bar?

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Im going to try to make this short as I can. My fatherinlaw is a farmer he accidently clipped a guide wire that held a power pole up it leaned over enough the power line drupped about 14 feet off the ground. I guy came up on it on a motorcycle saw it freaked out layed it over. He sued my father in law, power company,pole manufacture,the company that preserved the pole,the guide wire company,johndeere,and usa that paved the road 6yrs ago. all of them settled out of court cause it was cheaper than dragging it out even though the trooper wrote up motorcyclist driver error. oh yea father in laws insurance settled not him he wanted to fight it but had no say so. SUE HIS A$$

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

After a story like this, everyone should check with their ins co to make sure you have an AGREED policy.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

This is by far the best avenue to go down. Get you a lawyer who specializes in Third Party Liability and go after the bar he was at. I taught for the Dept. of Alcohol and Gaming for five years and can tell you all kinds of stories about judgements won against bars who didn't due their duty and keep intoxicated patrons from leaving the establishment. This is a no brainer for an attorney to take on a contigency basis as the bars are required to have liquor liability insurance to cover stuff such as this.
Good Luck,
Nik

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Since the vehicles were parked outside of your residence any chance that your homeowners insurance policy may cover the loss too?

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Just a thought. Finding a lawyer to deal with this case may be difficult. Attorneys get a percentage of any award and because only property was damaged the amount will likely be small in comparison to cases they handle involving personal injury. Glad you and your family are OK. Take care.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

you are SO RIGHT!!! I cant find a lawyer because of that. Interesting stuff I got in the mail, I received 10 solitations from Lawyers for the other guy that did all this. had his name on them but my address.....go figure. Not one peice of mail from a Lawyer for ME! This DUI guy will not have any problem getting a Lawyer.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

IF the bar that keep feeding em and the LEO that let him go could be held accountable, I don't see why someone wouldn't take the case..

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

it's funny how it works, but up in Canada if you can't afford a lawyer (the a*s who hit your trucks) you can apply for legal aid, that lawyer get's his money from us, the tax payer. These deadbeats crooks who are in the system no how to use the system.

advantage - crook

victim - the shaft

funny, I'll bet the driver will sue the bar that FORCED him to consume all the drinks.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Don't let the insurance company take that Burb. Get a cash settlement and fix it or sell it yourself. The jerkass insurance company would just send it to the crusher

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Because it's a sad reflection on the legal system that physical damage cases aren't of interest to lawyers. Forty percent of the total damage done is a fraction of 40% of a back injury from a car wreck. So the only option is to pay one hourly. At say $200/hour for a middle of the road lawyer, that'll soon turn into $10,000 and exceed what he can get back from the scuzzball who hit the vehicles. Let's be realistic, if the guy couldn't afford to pay for insurance, what chance is there he makes enough to pay back the damage he's done?

I've been in that unfortunate postion myself before that you cannot find anyone to take the case. The city will get their $$$ out of it with fines and penalties but the person suffering the damage gets squat.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

god save .... the system , i wouldnt be suprized if the lawyer makes the driver go after the bar that let him drink too mush and alowed him to leave on his own

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

I know that when my sister in law wrecked her S10 the insurance totalled it and gave her the option of buying it back. You may want to ask your insurance company if they would do that (if you want it).

Good luck, Rg

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

We had our 45ft 2-car enclosed gooseneck trailer parked in front of our shop one day...all balck, triple axles, aluminum wheels, decked out inside, less than a handful of years old...so you can get an idea of what it cost us. Anyway, one of our lots has about 100' of highway frontage...one day, dad & I are bumming around town, when a local says "bummer about your trailer". We said "what do you mean", and he tells us "you know, the trailer that the truck & trailer ran through!". We jump in the truck, run over to the shop, and when we pull up, there is a mid-90s 1-ton Dodge flatbed w/gooseneck horse trailer SITTING IN THE @SS END OF OUR TRAILER! It had ran off the road, crossed a head high drainage ditch, knocked over a 4ft high wall/culvert, then ran through and into the side of our car trailer. Guy says someone pulled out in front him, so he took the ditch, and the trailer took one for the team.

Anyway, months and months go by, and when it's all said and done, we get only *partial* compensation and have to pay over $2500 out of our own pockets just to get the trailer back (we did have insurance, even extra coverage considering the cars we haul), not to mention all the time/money we were out having to *pay* to have our muscle cars transported to/from a show we host every year in St. Louis. The insurance companies interviewed both drivers, they both said it "wasn't there fault" (even though they said different @ the scene & on police report)...we fought & fought with the insurance companies, and when I finally pinned them down, I asked them why I should be penalized by having to pay to fix our trailer that someone else screwed up...there explanation was basically "that's the chance you take by having a nice trailer". We consulted a lawyer, but in Missouri you can't sue for court costs, so we figured the $2500+ it took to get the trailer back would be cheaper than the rest of the non-sense.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

[QUOTE=Chevy454;2467723]We had our 45ft 2-car enclosed gooseneck trailer parked in front of our shop one day...all balck, triple axles, aluminum wheels, decked out inside, less than a handful of years old...so you can get an idea of what it cost us. Anyway, one of our lots has about 100' of highway frontage...one day, dad & I are bumming around town, when a local says "bummer about your trailer". We said "what do you mean", and he tells us "you know, the trailer that the truck & trailer ran through!". We jump in the truck, run over to the shop, and when we pull up, there is a mid-90s 1-ton Dodge flatbed w/gooseneck horse trailer SITTING IN THE @SS END OF OUR TRAILER! It had ran off the road, crossed a head high drainage ditch, knocked over a 4ft high wall/culvert, then ran through and into the side of our car trailer. Guy says someone pulled out in front him, so he took the ditch, and the trailer took one for the team.



WOW! thats what is going on with me now, It is amazing what INS companys get away with. You think your covered...BUT YOUR NOT!
They tell you anything to get your business and then when you need them, they tell you everything to not payup......

I am learning some interesting things.

They should have a TV show that exposes this maybe called: "SO you THINK your Covered".....


I just got the estimate to fix the fence, $894.00 My ded is $500 so I guess I get a check gor $394 Sweeet, what a deal.........thanks.....


sorry to vent

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

It is on Mobile, AL News channel and Website now!!

Jeff Smith saw "Police Blunder? Accident under investigation" on NBC15
Online and thought you'd be interested in it too.

Here's what they wrote to you about it:
WOW!!!

Article Link:
http://www.nbc15online.com/news/loca...5-31522fca1169

To see more stories please visit http://www.nbc15online.com

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Wow! Scared me at first I thought it was Longhornman, but it still totally sucks! All i can think is how? How could you let that bozo leave alive!! J/K, seriously, it seems like you've got a great case for negligence gainst the city cops, bar, etc. Really don't think to highly of ins. companies now....

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

thats why i said you need to have nightmares and all suddenly you dont feel safe in your house psycological trauma as a result of the accident . the compensation will more than cover the car/trucks I suggest this only cause the bar tender, cops and the DUI driver were lets just say stuipid and negligent and should pay dearly for their stupidity

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

glad no one was hurt well alll but the truck's DO NOT LET THE INSURANCE COMPANY LOW BALL YA GO FOR IT ALL THE BURB WAS NEAR MINT AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT IN RETURN

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Maybe you can use the news station to help. Maybe tell them how the insurance company is giving you the run around etc ... get it visable. When a lawyer sees that i bet they come running to represent you.

I hope things work out for you man.

First and formost thank god none of your family was hurt.

PLEASE let me know what happens with USAA cuz i too use them for both my trucks and i am littled worried about what your going through.

I may need to look into other INS companies.

-Hart

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

The insurance industry has sold itself to the Devil, and I don't mean the ones that play hockey in New Jersey.

That said, I've had good luck so far. A woman hit my Burb in the parking lot a few months back and her insurance company covered the entire cost. I got an estimate from my body shop and their adjuster matched it, and they sent me a check. The only damage was a scrape on the bumper and a dent in the quarter panel about the size of the credit card that I used the money to pay down. I also got lucky (no, not like that) with the guy who hit my Integra a couple weeks ago. He wants to pay cash, which surprised me because the damage was estimated at about $1200. I guess he doesn't want his premium going up.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Things I have learned so far with INS.:
make sure you have collision coverage
Make sure you have UIM PROPERTY DAMAGE coverage
Make sure you have towing coverage
Make sure you have Rental coverage
AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FULL REPLACEMENT OR AGREED VALUE COVERAGE!

The Uninsured Motorist coverage is only if YOU GET HURT!
LAWYERS only will help if YOU GET HURT

on your home owners INS,:
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REPLACEMENT COVERAGE on stuff like: Fence, sheds,

Remember you will have to pay the $5oo deductables right off the bat first, (Homeowners and Auto, etc)
so have about $2000 setting in a savings account some where that you can get to quick!!!

sooo, if you wake up in the early morning to a crash in your yard:
make sure you get hurt running out to see what the hell happened......DOH!

The 1st questions the INS. & Lawyers ask when you call for help is: Was anybody hurt???

Now I know why.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

One thing I'd definitely do mvpco is keep in touch with the DA in charge of whatever charges they are going to throw at the driver. I'd think you'd be well within your rights to ask to speak at his sentencing and I would hope a judge would exercise some common sense and make restitution a part of the sentence. You may not get much out of it, but at least it would go some way towards making things right for you.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

WOW! another news story

mvpco@yahoo.com would like you to see this video:

http://www.nbc15online.com/mediacent...ticleID=241237

Personal Message:
WOW!!

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Damn...I'm sorry about the Suburban and glad no one was hurt. I just watched that video you posted and I wanna help rough him up...Idiot

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Jeff, talk to the midia, if they are still interested in the case... or... a lawyer or maybe the hwy patrol... find out if there was a dash cam in the cruiser that cited the driver before. If there was a dash cam, then there is probably audio. Most citys and many smaller towns have added this to protect themselves. It can work in your favor if you can get your hands on the video. If this kid was twice the legal limit... then it should be obviouse in his speach.
Also, just out of curiosity, none of these video clips have said anything about the gun. Are you aloud to pack in Florida? Did he have the proper permits?

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Pretty sure this is still the current law:

If that's the case, then I'd think he was in violation.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Bummer!!!!I too am in Pensacola(Pace) and saw it on the news the other morning.What are you gonna do now?Too early to tell?About a year ago I went to a house off Chumuckla Hwy in Florida town to look @ a mower and the guy had a Surburban sitting there he tried to sell me.It was too far gone to restore but who knows-the right qtr. panel may be salvageable.I can't remember.No doubt that was your baby...Let me know if youre intrested.You can call me @ work if so...850-549-2615(Mike Smith)
Sorry smithjm you can not ask for parts with out being a subscriber. I do appreciate you offering to help mpvco in getting stuff to fix his burb.
Sorry to edit your post.
oldiron
forum staff

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

If they haven't taken the Burb yet - DO NOT LET THEM and don't let them push you on it. If it is in your yard, it is not collecting any storage and isn't incurring any extra costs for them. you should be able to work a deal with the insurance company where you can keep the salvage and get the cash - might cost you a "salvage value" which shouldn't be that much on the burb as the people who are buying from "CoPart" aren't looking for vehicles of that generation. If it comes to it you can file for a "formal appraisal" in which an independant appraiser values the vehicle - his word is final, but if you're burb was super nice then it shouldn't be a problem. Just because it wasn't insured for "agreed value" doesn't mean that they will only give you the "book value"

It might also help to threaten to file a complaint with the insurance commisioner of FL. http://www.floir.com/

I assume that liability insurance is required in FL - if the ins. was cancelled in Sept, why wasn't his reg. pulled, and why didn't the first cop know this?

( I work in claims for an insurance company, so I have a little experience with this stuff - I'm an APD appraiser "Auto Property Damage")

If you have any specific question, feel free to PM me

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

big bummer dude!:(:(

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

I think the quarter panel is just the start! (unfortunatly)

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Sorry about your burb. Man, it was nice! I have "agreed" coverage on my '67. I increase it about $2000 each year (as I put more stuff on or in it!).

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

ya, you can pack in florida, but you better have a permit!

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

Any update in this? Or is it all on hold till monday? (bankers hrs)

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

so far nothing, I will keep calling the INS tomorrow, I keep getting their answering system.

If I keep the Burb, I might consider finding a C20 Longhorn with A/C & Auto of course and just swap parts. Is this a doable option???? or should I just find a good 72 Burb rolling chassis/body and swap parts.

So far the 3 doors, hatch, wheels, axle, motor, trans, dash area, seats are all usable.

Re: Its Gone!!! hit by a DUI
 

sheet metal wise, all that would swap to a truck is the fenders, hood, grill and bumpers. The doors would work, but there'd be cutting and welding involved.
Engine tranny front suspention would all swap onto a longhorn (would be converting to 1/2 ton if you did that) but the rear is leaf on all longhorns and I'll assume your burb is coil.
PM headed your way.