Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

So I got rear ended on Tuesday and of course they're gonna total my truck. I was hit from behind and shoved into the truck in front of me. I get that they wanna total my truck cause it's old but they're telling me that market value is only 2500 and that's all they have to pay me. This week has been a huge headache and now I have to go through all this bs just cause I was hit. I'm so pissed. I faxed them a bunch of trucks like mine on craigslist that are going anywhere from 5 to 10k. So heartbroken. I just got spindles and a notch to flip it too.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

that's usually what they do unless it gets appraised.

do you have any receipts for the truck?

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Is the insurance company of the guy who rearended you telling you that? I would get my own insurance involved quick

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I have a bunch of receipts. I still have hope that I will get what I have in it but I know it's gonna be huge pain in the ass. They're being total jerks about it too.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I feel for you, my wife and I are going through the same thing. A girl ran a stop sign and took the front off of my wifes car. The girls ins. located a car that was already sold and asked the dealer what would be their lowest cash price they would have taken for the car, and that is what our car is worth. The car they used to base the price of ours for was not as good shape. After hiring a lawyer we are not any better off. We have been fighting this for 2 months now and no car for my wife to drive. Another snag is I can't give a cash price for a car, we have to finance through a dealer because our local banks have gotten strict with lending and don't loan on a car that is over 4 years old now or go in debt more to buy a newer car. We were trying to pay off things because we are needing to build a new house desperately and now this. Our insurance co. has not been any help whatsoever. Also beware of insurance adjusters that use the computer program CCC valuescope to help value your vehicle.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

That's exactly what they're using. The two vehicles they used to compare were an 83 with a straight 6 and an 84 diesel. The bodyshop manager at my work is being very helpful and has given me good advice. My fingers are crossed but my hopes aren't too high.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/b5d3174a.jpg
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/a6ac464d.jpg
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/8862a36a.jpg
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

ccc valuescope does just what I said, they send reps out to dealers and find out what the lowest cash price the dealers will take for a car. Our car was a SE the higher end and after the lawyer made the adjuster submitt the papers (the adjuster wouldn't let me see it) they were using LX models the base models and were using cars that were 175 miles from our home, they are only supposed to use car prices at a 100 mi radius from our home.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Owch man!

I really hope stuff gets better for you. Sharp truck, too bad.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

That sucks. I had a similar thing happen to my 66 the day I finished all the paint work on it- almost the same damage as well. They were offering me a couple grand, but after I handed the adjuster a folder with $15k worth of receipts in it, they had a $15k check to me within a week. Add up all your receipts- oil, nuts and bolts, everything- and put it in a spreadsheet of some sort. It's good that you have pics as well.
If it all comes down to it, you could maybe buy it from them and fix it for pretty cheap. Then you have good excuse to tear into it and go crazy with the rebuild. Just keep your cool, despite how much you want to punch the insurance guy in the throat.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/DSCN2040.jpg

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Yeah I'm still working on receipts but the lady didn't really seam to care when I told her how much money I have in it. She said some of that stuff brings the market value down. She was pretty cold hearted.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

thats the way the adjuster was with us, we just spent 500 on the a/c the day before the wreck and new tires a week before he just said that was normal wear stuff. Today the salvage the insurance co. uses called to pick the car up and we have not recieved a payoff yet for the car.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Wow that truck is really nice. I think I would have to shoot for something along the lines of 5k + keep the truck. Is the frame bent? I know the cab is tweeked but it looks like it might be repairable.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Any older vehicle that you've spent tons of money on to restore or refresh, you should insure for a stated cash value, just make sure you can back up your value with receipts. At least then you could turn it over to your carrier and get paid the proper amount, and let them sic their lawyer team on the company who is at fault.
I had an 86 GMC that I'd spent about 10k on, mostly engine and interior, this was back in the mid 90's. Truck was stolen out of my drive way, my insurance company tried to pay me $2500 as book value. Once I produced my stack of invoices they paid me $12,500 minus my $500 deductible. The stated value policy did not cost all that much more either, it just basically is a "book value be damned, here is my receipts" valued policy. Not all insurance carriers have it though.

Looked like a beautiful truck man, sorry for your loss. You can at least yank your wheels off of it and put on some rallies with junk tires. Same with the stereo and such. Adjusters tell us "as long as their is a radio in it, it doesn't matter". And they mean inside it, like it could be laying in the seat and it's still in there.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I think what you actually want is an agreed value policy. You produce pictures/receipts on the front end and you know exactly what you will get if the car/truck is ever totalled. Stated value you still have to prove to the insurance company that the car/truck is worth the stated value after the accident.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I'm not sure if I wanna fix it or just start over again with a totally straight one. The painter said he'd paint it for cheap and I know one of the body guys can help with body work plus I can to all the parts swapping myself. After it happened I just wanted to quit and buy a crappy little car and be done with it. I really just gotta focus on getting as much as I can for it before I decide. If I could somehow end up in an 87 and transfer parts to it that would be ideal. But that's wishful thinking.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I work in the insurance biz for 15 yrs. - the key to success is ... paperwork. Your paperwork & your ability to present it to the insurance carrier.

Comps on craig's list, mautofied, fleebay, etc is a plus & will have trucks in SIMILAR condition.

If you present this & stand hard on your values you might be surprised. This is despite the douche bag that you'll have to deal with at the insurance company.

If you were not at fault find out who was the carrier of the person at fault & persue that first.

Ratty 46

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

You know even though right now my truck isn't all that much, if I got in a wreck I would not want to part with it....I'd still want to keep it and just repair it....unless I got more than what it's worth....then I'd get a new project ;)

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I'm an adjuster but for property not auto or liability.

The squeeky wheel gets the grease with insurance companies. Keep fighting and taking it higher and higher in the company. I had a claim that I denied based on the policy. Obvious wear and tear, mold, long term. Pretty much a dirty lady let water drip in her home, mold everywhere, and when her kid got sick the dr said the mold wasn't helping. She filed a claim for the water damage, I denied it. She complained to anyone who would listen and those who didn't listen referred her up. The 2nd highest position in the state for the company was in my file after she got a hold of him. His note said, "Pay this claim". It was paid the next day. Just keep fighting, someone will give in just to make you go away.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I am in Austin too. Sorry to hear about what happened here. I am picking up a straight 87 SWB next weekend for parts. If you are interested in the cab and front clip OR even the entire roller. I am sure we can work something out. It is straight and never been hit, just stripped down. Has a clear title. I was planning to use the suspension and sell the rest off rolling.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

There are a few things to consider, and with all due respect and without wanting to step on any toes here, this thread has a lot of misinformation about your situation.

First, is it the at-fault party's insurance that is paying your damages, or is it your own insurance company that is paying your damages through your collision coverage? CCC uses values for comparable vehicles in your own market based on your zip code. They DO NOT have to stay within 100 miles. If there are not enough comparable vehicles in your market, they can definitely expand.

The tough part of using a "custom" older vehicle as a daily driver is that it is not necessarily "special" to a market. In other words, you may have a $10K paint job or $5K wheels that will actually hurt the value of the vehicle because an interested buyer may not want your paint job or wheels. Same principle as having an airbrushed anything on your hood.

Maintenance receipts will not necessarily add value to your vehicle, but they will definitely HURT the value if it is lacking in maintenance. In other words, a brand new windshield or a new A/C system, new radiator, new belts, etc. will not bring up a vehicle's value in a market because a potential buyer would expect these things to work when considering a purchase. On the other hand, if your windshield has cracks, needs belts, A/C doesn't work, then you better believe that the buyer will use that against you. If the receipts are fairly recent, they should help you in some way, but don't expect dollar for dollar value.

When your vehicle is declared a total loss, you do have the option of "buying" it back from the insurance company. In other words, they will offer you a value to take the vehicle--pay you market value, taxes, and title transfer fees less deductible (if using your own policy--no deductible applies if the at-fault carrier is paying you). If you want to keep the vehicle, they will pay you market value (with no taxes) less the salvage quote--the guaranteed value that a local auction will get when auctioning the salvage.

If the other party is paying your damages, agreed values/stated values mean nothing. These terms only apply to your own policy and only if you are using your own policy. One thing to consider that MIGHT be an option is to ask the insurance company if they can determine the value of your vehicle as a "specialty/custom" vehicle.

When the insurance company makes you an offer, they are obligated to provide paperwork to you that fully explains HOW they arrived at that offer. They should have a printout explaining all this in detail.

The other sad fact about market values is that for example, a 1979 Chevy is just that--a 30+ year old vehicle, so the "comparables" they find are in all likelihood NOT going to be comparable to your vehicle since your vehicle is not your average 1979 truck.

If you don't have collision coverage on your policy, it would be pointless to notify your insurance company because they will only get involved if you have the proper coverage to repair your damage.

One of the biggest determining factors in values is mileage and condition. And did I mention mileage? Your truck looks to be in above average shape.

Above all, take the advice you read on an internet forum (including mine) with a grain of salt. Do your own research and a huge word of advice--keep cool and reasonable. If the adjuster sees that you are a reasonable person just trying to be indemnified, then there is a big chance that she will really want to help you and work to get the value you feel is fair.

Last thing--insurance laws in Texas are VERY different from insurance laws in other U.S. states, so advice being offered here may be totally incorrect if coming from someone in another state.

I hope this helps.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Great reply!

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I really hate reading these posts and seeing these pictures. Living in Los Angeles most of my life, I have seen so many nice cars destroyed by sh*t cars with un/under-insured drivers. The insurance companies aren't there for you unless your car is 2 years old or newer - the only thing they are good for is dealing with medical bills - and even then they can bend you over if you don't know how to cover yourself adequately.

I have been looking at the agreed value coverages recently, since I have in total 4 "classic" cars:

76 AMC CJ7
62 Chevy C10
70 Mercedes 220
83 Suburban

Couple things you may want to note. I am not even eligible for this coverage yet, since I am only 22. Of all the major places - Hagerty, Heacock, etc, the only one that I found that would suit me personally when I turn 25 is Lelandwest.

You can select unlimited annual mileage and occasional commuter use, something that many others do not do. I haven't done a ton of research on companies yet since the only car I drive is my Suburban and I wont be eligible for it for a couple years anyways, but its worth it for others to look at it in my opinion.

Sorry for the loss, hope that you can recoup as much as you put into it

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

God dammit this pisses me off to no end.

I would DEMAND another adjuster to handle my claim. Cold hearted ***** would be out the door.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I think we're related because thats how I like to handle people that piss me off

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Was making a left hand turn in a no passing zone in my 80 4x4... guy passed three cars and hit me.. smashed the front end of my truck...
Insurance only wanted to give me 800 bucks and total the truck... by remaining calm, I managed to keep my truck, and get 1500 for the damages.. it took about five months.. I repaired the truck myself.. (didnt bend the frame) at a cost of around 1000 dollars...

In 1988 I had a new 88 stepside that also got hit... custom rims, hitch, sterio etc etc etc in that truck... insurance called and wanted to know if they could get the truck out of the local storage yard to save on storage expences... I said sure... "sure" cost me all of the stuff I had put in the truck, the rims sterio ALL of it!!!!!!!!!!!! i payed for three more years on that truck AFTER the case was settled... NEVER give them the truck!!!! Have it towed to your house!

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

They can't come pick up my truck until I sign some papers right. I felt like she was purposely ignoring my calls just letting time pass. They terminated the rental because they said they've settled with me already. I haven't settled with anyone on anything. I just hope there's no time limit and if I haven't proven my point in a certain amount of time they will just give me whatever they decide.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

What insurance do you have? As in Who is the carrier and how good of insurance did you purchase?

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

It's not my insurance I'm dealing with. It's the other guys insurance and it's travalers insurance.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

That is not true at all. The only reason you ever have to repair a vehicle after a crash is if it is financed.....and then only if you don't choose to just pay the bank off. You still owe the balance of the financed amount and no longer have their collateral. So you have to pay them from the insurance check you receive.
The insurance is covering the cost of your loss, you do not have to put this money anywhere but into your pocket.

Stay on the other guy's insurance....and sue him personally if you cannot get satisfaction from them. An under-insured motorist's liability does not stop at the limit of his insurance. He still owes you. It might take a court order to get it, but that's the way it is....

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

I've had a couple cars get totalled out and had to learn some stuff the hard way.

Don't let the insurance company pressure you into settling until they offer you what YOU think the truck is worth, and make it perfectly clear, up front, you want to retain salvage rights to the vehicle.

Also, stay in contact with them. Don't duck the phone calls from the adjuster, they may use that against you if things turn ugly.

I had a claims adjuster from Zurich (the insurance company LOL)telling me they were gonna sue ME for fraud if I didn't take their lowball offer ($1200). In the next breath he was saying a truck was on it's way to my work to pick up the car, and that they didn't care if I had a rental or any other way to get around. Told me that wasn't his problem. I dropped what I was doing, took the car home and locked it up in my garage.

After some wrangling, and me putting the overly-aggressive adjuster in the doghouse with his supervisor, I was able to keep the car to part out myself and they cut me a check for $3500.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Oh yeah...duh
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Do not settle or sign anything until they pay you what it is worth. It took a guy that I know 6 months to get the other persons insurance to pay what his restored 1948 Plymouth was worth. He gave them the choice of finding another as nice as his, paying the body shop of his choice to fix it or paying what he had in it in receipts and letting him keep the car. They finally did the last option.

I am paying $405/6mo for $20k stated value on my truck. They told me to keep all receipts and a lot of photos. The also said an appraisal would be best.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Find another truck on the web with about the same options...tell them you want replacement value..and if they say no, tell them you will contact the insurance comissioner about it..

I friend of mine was hit by a big wagon , he had a 70 shortbed cst with a/c

they wrote it up for $550 , he found one on autotrader..same thing 70 with a/c for sale..it was priced at $6700 and thats what they setteled for..

This is your right to get replacment value..and when you do , buy the truck back from them...give them 500 for it..then find another body and use the good parts on it.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Sorry to hear that. Don't give in to the the insurance co., fight them all the way.
There job is to pay you as little as possible. YOUR JOB is to get as much as you can. It seems this accident wasn't your fault. If this is the case you are in control. Rear end collisions come with neck and back injurys often. They will be anxious to settle. DON'T sign that check till you get all you want. If they don't want to pay you what you want, tell them to "find you a comparable truck". They hate that! Another angle is to get them to total the truck at an agreed value then you have 1st chance to buy it back, for maybe as little as $1.00. They don't want to deal with it. Been there before on this situation, hang tough. Good Luck, Frank

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

they wrote mine off and paid me wensday
voice mail first offer was 1200
called back second 1500
i laughed said no more like 5000
they laughed and said not with out reciepts
we agreed this monday 2200 and i keep the truck
this was my 3rd truck hit by drunk drivers
2nd 4X4 wrote off,while parked

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Sorry about your troubles... I often wonder what would happen in the same situation on my truck.....
I am a insurance claims professional licensed in the state of Tx and Claims Manager for over 16 years. Your situation is a pretty common one when somthing different than a stock late model car is involved. Treetop and White Elephant have some good information for you.
I agree, behave yourself and be as patient and professional as possible. What you are dealing with is an adjuster, who is uninformed about classic chevy trucks, trying to get your square truck to fit into their round hole evaluation system.
It helps if YOU know what your truck is worth and have the figure in mind that will satisfy you. If you decide 5k will do it, then 15 to 20% of that would be the salvage value. Let them know, "I'll take 4000.00 and retain the salvage". This gives them something to work with and they will at least know that you are reasonable and you should have info to back it up. You should insist on them considering additional comparable trucks, provide all of the reciepts and upgrades to your truck and then be the nicest squeaky wheel you can be.
Your goal is to appeal to the highest level of management that you can.
They are often more likely to make exceptions and/or have the experience of similar claim situations to judge a fair resolution. Get your info together and continue to elevate until you get to, at least, a regional manager level. You simply have to ask them to elevate to their manager, or you can ask:
who is your supervisor, may I have their phone number, who is their manager-may I have their phone number, who is their manager-may I have their phone number.... get the idea?
If all else fails:
In Texas you have the option of petitioning the Board of Insurance. This "complaint" makes it's way, typically to the highest levels of your area or state. And they are required to answer it.
http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/complfrm.html
**
Are you feeling sore at all from the accident? Looking at the wreck, you at least had some soreness, stiffness and minor discomfort. Though you might not consider that an "injury", you may have a legitimate claim for your bodily injury, inconvienience and pain and suffering. You should of, at least, been asked if you were injured.. Sometimes a company will leverage the bodily injury claim with the physical damage settlement.
**
feel free to PM me- I'll give you my phone # and we can talk.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

Sad to see such a nice truck bite it. I too say stand firm. Like Longhair said, sue him personally if you have to.

Re: Insurance is totaling my truck.
 

thank youeveryone for your advice. i've sent them examples of trucks like mine and I'm working on as many receipts as i can .