SWB 4x4 was totaled. Now what? Can I get it back?

[georgieb51]

Sad story here. I recently bought a 1970 Chevy 4x4 SWB (Short wide-bed) automatic, 350, with original caravan on it always owned in the desert of Elko, Nevada. I was having it shipped to me in upstate NY when the transporter went off the road and all 9 vehicles and the tractor/trailer were "Totaled". The insurance company (of the trucking company) wants to pay me $5500. and then put the truck up for salvage auction. They have no idea how rare this truck is in any form. I do not want to lose this truck to a salvage company in Iowa. Any suggestions on what to do?

[Grumpy old man]

Call them back and tell them your not giving up the truck and they need to complete their delivery along with the check for damages that will be determined at a later date once your lawyer is involved ! They don't get to just tell you it's totaled without due process and that means delivery of whats left of your property !

[Dieselwrencher]

Wow, definitely sounds like a backwards deal. Did the towing company keep the entire wreck for the tow bill or something?

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Wow, definitely sounds like a backwards deal. Did the towing company keep the entire wreck for the tow bill or something?

The towing company has all nine vehicles that were on the load. All have been totaled. I talked to the towing owner (Barney at Barney's Crane and Wrecking in Newton, Iowa, 641-792-1505). In Barney's opinion mine was the only one worth keeping. It took two large cranes and two large wreckers to get the transporter upright and back to his place of business (he does not run a salvage yard). He says mine was missing the gas cap and therefore had no gas because it all drained out, but he put some gas in it and it started right up. I am tempted to go out and get the truck (1100 miles away) but I really don't have a way of doing this. Anyone in Newton, Iowa available to go to Barney's to check out my truck?

[Grumpy old man]

please tell me you had insurance ? They don't get to decide what happens with your property just because it's cheaper for them ! Personally I'd have my attorney having them rebuild the complete truck at their expense ! I'd start screaming and not stop until it's better than when they picked it up ! your not hurting the delivery company they have insurance to cover just this situation .

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

please tell me you had insurance ? They don't get to decide what happens with your property just because it's cheaper for them ! Personally I'd have my attorney having them rebuild the complete truck at their expense ! I'd start screaming and not stop until it's better than when they picked it up ! your not hurting the delivery company they have insurance to cover just this situation .

I did not have my own insurance. The trucking company has insurance on it. I wish I had put my own insurance on it but I have alwasy waited until I got them home to me first and got them roadworthy. My mistake. But the trucking company has insurance. I do not seem to have much leverage in this situation. I do not even know if I can take it out of the wrecker's yard.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

The towing company has all nine vehicles that were on the load. All have been totaled. I talked to the towing owner (Barney at Barney's Crane and Wrecking in Newton, Iowa, 641-792-1505). In Barney's opinion mine was the only one worth keeping. It took two large cranes and two large wreckers to get the transporter upright and back to his place of business (he does not run a salvage yard). He says mine was missing the gas cap and therefore had no gas because it all drained out, but he put some gas in it and it started right up. I am tempted to go out and get the truck (1100 miles away) but I really don't have a way of doing this. Anyone in Newton, Iowa available to go to Barney's to check out my truck?

Did the towing company go out of business?

I'm going to guess no.

Tell Barney to get off his ass and put your truck on another carrier and complete the delivery you've paid for?

You can then work out the damages with their insurance. Make sure you take a lot of pics of it when it arrives, still on their trailer.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Did the towing company go out of business?

I'm going to guess no.

Tell Barney to get off his ass and put your truck on another carrier and complete the delivery you've paid for?

You can then work out the damages with their insurance. Make sure you take a lot of pics of it when it arrives, still on their trailer.

Thanks. The carrier had only one truck. Essentially he is out of business until he can get another truck. I will call right now to try to arrange another carrier. Thanks. Barney is just the guy in the middle who hauled everything out of the ditch and back to his yard. Not his fault.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

The towing company has all nine vehicles that were on the load. All have been totaled. I talked to the towing owner (Barney at Barney's Crane and Wrecking in Newton, Iowa, 641-792-1505). In Barney's opinion mine was the only one worth keeping. It took two large cranes and two large wreckers to get the transporter upright and back to his place of business (he does not run a salvage yard). He says mine was missing the gas cap and therefore had no gas because it all drained out, but he put some gas in it and it started right up. I am tempted to go out and get the truck (1100 miles away) but I really don't have a way of doing this. Anyone in Newton, Iowa available to go to Barney's to check out my truck?

Barney's is literally 20 minutes from me. If they will let you have the truck, I have a trailer and can go get it for you. I have a place it can set inside for a bit if need be as well.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Barney's is literally 20 minutes from me. If they will let you have the truck, I have a trailer and can go get it for you. I have a place it can set inside for a bit if need be as well.

Holy Shoot!! You sound like you were sent from heaven! I think I really need to get my truck out of there until I can arrange another carrier. Should I PM you to exchange info, or just send you my phone number? According to Barney the truck still runs and drives OK.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

Holy Shoot!! You sound like you were sent from heaven! I think I really need to get my truck out of there until I can arrange another carrier. Should I PM you to exchange info, or just send you my phone number? According to Barney the truck still runs and drives OK.

PM Sent.

I'll get you pics. They used to have a pretty good selection of cars and trucks. They used to sell them to get their tow fees back. My cousin's sister got a 79 Mustang from there when we were in junior high.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Barney's is literally 20 minutes from me. If they will let you have the truck, I have a trailer and can go get it for you. I have a place it can set inside for a bit if need be as well.

This place is awesome

Get us some pics too

[arocars]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Barney's is literally 20 minutes from me. If they will let you have the truck, I have a trailer and can go get it for you. I have a place it can set inside for a bit if need be as well.

Dude, you are awesome for even offering.

[In The Ten Ring]

If you can't go yourself, hire someone to go get it for you.

After reading this, I think if I buy a vehicle out-of-state, I'll do it in person and tow it back myself.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Misread that part, then yeah, go back to the carrier.

I'd be leary of using a different transporter to finish the trip as I'm not sure how that would work out with insurance, especially since you can't inspect the truck before the "new" carrier picks it up??

[70cst]

georgieb51 ...

So sorry to hear of this happening.

Stick to your guns and get your truck back.

Don't hesitate in getting a lawyer involved.


Best wishes and keep us updated.

[Joesjunk]

Wow that's a bad deal. I hope it works out good for you. Also lots of good guys on this board willing to help out!

As a side note, I always put insurance on everything I buy out of state the second I buy it. Hagerty is who I use and that say that they will insure it like that no problem.

Best of luck to you on this deal

[Dieselwrencher]

It sounds to me like the insurance company is playing the old bait and switch routine to not pay the value of something. Just look at the values on NADA. They for sure are not going down other wise you'd see a lot of threads on here every day about all the SWB's being dried up.

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Ca...hortbed/Values

[arocars]

You do not need to have any insurance on your vehicle. The insurance company for the car hauler is the one responsible for paying you under third party liability coverage. It is their job to appraise your vehicle's damages, and if it exceeds 70% or so of its value, determine its actual cash value and/or replacement value. If you decide to keep the totaled vehicle, the insurer will subtract the salvage value of the vehicle from the money that they owe you.

The insurer cannot legally take your property without your permission.

The car hauler's insurance company is also responsible for the cost of the tow from the scene of the accident and for reasonable storage charges at the place that it's towed to. They also owe you for your loss of use of the vehicle.

If our fellow board member can go and get your vehicle and store it briefly for you, you might consider that. On the flip side, how much did you pay for this vehicle? Do you really still want a totaled vehicle that's 1000 miles away? Things to think about. It's easy to say you're going to sue. The reality is that it's often expensive and time consuming.

Lastly, you paid the car hauler to have your vehicle moved from Point A to Point B. The car hauler did not do that. They have materially breached the contract they have with you. You are likely entitled to 100% reimbursement of the money that you paid them to do the job. Check your written contract to be sure.

[57taskforce]

+1 Ryan! Your a class act for helping the op out! That's what makes this board so awesome!

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

Sad story here. I recently bought a 1970 Chevy 4x4 SWB (Short wide-bed) automatic, 350, with original caravan on it always owned in the desert of Elko, Nevada. I was having it shipped to me in upstate NY when the transporter went off the road and all 9 vehicles and the tractor/trailer were "Totaled". The insurance company (of the trucking company) wants to pay me $5500. and then put the truck up for salvage auction. They have no idea how rare this truck is in any form. I do not want to lose this truck to a salvage company in Iowa. Any suggestions on what to do?

I am trying to add a photo of the truck just as it was listed on Craigslist when I bought it.

[flashed]

Tell them to find you a replacement truck in the same condition as that one for $6000 .If they find a second one I want it . Shortbed 4x4 Chevy trucks dont just appear for that kind of money these days .

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by flashed

Tell them to find you a replacement truck in the same condition as that one for $6000 .If they find a second one I want it . Shortbed 4x4 Chevy trucks dont just appear for that kind of money these days .

That is a great response. I will ask them that-- and you can have the one they find. Of course you and I know they will never find one for that kind of money in this condition.

[flashed]

Good luck dealing with them but remember you are in the driver seat ,they have to make it right ,just dont settle for less .

[hugger6933]

I have a body shop and have had for 30 years. I rebuild wrecks and at times I did insurance work. I would not start off threatening to get a lawyer involved or to sue everyone over six inches tall, keep that in your back pocket for later if need be. I have found that bowing up on the adjuster or the insurance from the start normally provides less satisfaction for the customer[you]. Simply state the fact that it is widely known that the trucks aren't going down and are not being produced irregardless of their thought about value and availability. Not all companies will let the owner retain salvage. It is rare to run across this as most will like 9 out of 10 times. Also check into the salvage title laws for your state and theirs as you don't need them to brand the title . They shouldn't anyway if they never take ownership and are just paying you for damages.In my state,[AR] they aren't supposed to brand anything older than 10 model years but sometimes one slips through. I wish you good luck and I hope it all works out for you and they get right and do the right thing. Most will but it is normally a second offer kind of thing. Like I said keep the lawyer in the back pocket when they are threatened with a lawsuit starting out it seems to me to put them in a bad mood and on the offensive. Well would it do that to you if someone started out a phone call or first visit with good morning I'm gonna sue you. Now I'm not saying that one might be needed to get what is your it just seems to me from all the insurance dealings I have had in my shop and seeing customers doing things both ways it just works better to keep the lawyers on stand by instead of calling them out right out of the gate.
I know I my catch flack for that just a feeling and from things I've seen