|
|
Post by bsutravis on Dec 26, 2006 19:40:20 GMT -5
Gotta question for anyone who has been in my shoes. As a lot of you know I was rear-ended last Monday. 100% the fault of the 17 year old punk who had his license for a grand total of 2 months. Anyway, late last week the adjuster from the punks insurance co. came out to my house and gave me his damage appraisal. He told me in the driveway it was about $1,700 IF they could straighten the frame, however if they had to replace the frame it would be a total loss. On Friday I got my check for the damage, and it was under $1,200....instead of $1,700...... anyway, I take my truck to the body shop today and initially the guy said that they would be able to work within the amount that the insurance co. approved. THEN he looked underneath and said, "Oh crap........you were hit HARD!!!!" He then gets up, and pulls back the rubber mat in the bed of the truck and there are ripples all in the floor where the bed crinkled on impact. Needless to say he said that there was SEVERE damage to the frame, plus the bed would need to be replaced. Now.....knowing that my truck ('95 Ford F-150, 185k miles) is only worth $4-$5k at best.....I know the insurance co. is going to total it out most likely. So, here's my question. What's been your experiences with "buying it back" from the insurance company? The body shop guy said that it's not "unsafe" to drive......so I am thinking if I can buy it back, I could have the frame put on the rack and pulled out the best it can be.....and pretty much let the other stuff go. How much do the insurance cos usually charge for a buy back deal? I've heard a few people say that they only charge the amount a junk yard would pay, something in the $250 ball park. Is that accurate?  ?? I really don't want a payment on a new rig, so if I can salvage this one and drive it till the wheels fall off I would be happy. Any advice is welcome! Thanks, Travis |
|
|
|
Post by shinglemonkey on Dec 26, 2006 20:02:51 GMT -5
Hire a lawyer, tell him your neck hurts and that you need 50k.
Settle for 30k give the lawyer 10k buy a used truck for 15k, take the wife to vegas on the last 5k.
Its the American way.
I did a buy back on a Motorcycle, the value of the bike was 8k buy back was 2500.00
Dont know if that helps, but thats all the info that I have.
Oh, the truck will have a salvage title if they total it out.
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Dec 26, 2006 20:14:42 GMT -5
bsu- Just talked to my son who works at a Church brothers body shop. He said the info you received from others is correct. Usually only a few hundred bucks for a total on a vehicle like that. Talk to your insurance agent.
|
|
|
|
Post by bsutravis on Dec 26, 2006 20:20:15 GMT -5
Shingle..... I like the way you think brother!!!  My back does hurt......and that ain't no lie. Vicodin, Tordal, and a muscle relaxer that I can't pronounce and I still feel like crap. The bodily injury part will be fun for sure. I'm not gonna do the lawyer thing unless I see the ins. co. trying to screw me over. I'm not even thinking about that until I get my back to near normal. If I can get the truck for a few hundred, sink a grand into a quickie frame pull, and let the dents go than I'll do it! |
|
|
|
Post by bsutravis on Dec 26, 2006 20:21:36 GMT -5
hux......what Church Bro does your son work at? I tried to get into the Church in Castleton and they were booked for over a month! I'm taking it to Collision Cure in Anderson, which I believe once was a Church Brothers......
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Dec 26, 2006 20:28:46 GMT -5
He works at the Castleton store.
|
|
|
|
Post by bsutravis on Dec 26, 2006 21:02:57 GMT -5
Ahhh..... They must be doing something right to be that backlogged!
|
|
|
|
Post by danf on Dec 26, 2006 21:06:40 GMT -5
I assume you've talked to *your* insurance agent about all of this?
Hope the adjuster that looked at your truck wasn't the same one from State Farm that did the adjustment on my wife's truck last winter. We've been with SF since before we were married 5 years ago and they had me about ready to drop them like a hot potato. If our agent hadn't been as nice as she is.....
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Dec 26, 2006 21:15:35 GMT -5
Ahhh..... They must be doing something right to be that backlogged! They've worked on two of my vehicles, and you can't tell anything had been done to either of them. If you decide to buy it back, let me know if you want anything done to it and I'll put you in touch with my son. |
|
|
|
Post by bsutravis on Dec 26, 2006 22:30:43 GMT -5
Danf........MY agent is......drum roll.......MY WIFE. LOL. Serious. Since this falls 100% on the other guy I want to leave my ins. company out of it at all costs. The wife is leaning on the on my behalf, but generally speaking once a claim is into the hands of the adjuster, little can be done by the agent. From what my wife has told me, the two companies you hope and pray the other person doesn't have for insurance are: #1. State Farm and #2. All State, with Progressive coming in a close #3.
I'll give you a holler Hux if I decide to get that work done. Does your son do any business on the side???
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Dec 26, 2006 22:37:30 GMT -5
Yes, he does, bsu. Thats what I was getting at.
|
|
|
|
Post by parson on Dec 27, 2006 7:11:55 GMT -5
bsutravis,
The wife was hit from behind a few years ago, we signed off rather quickly for a fair price on the auto, but she has had back problems ever since. If we could do it over we certainly wouldn't take the back pain lightly. parson
|
|
|
|
Post by DEERTRACKS on Dec 27, 2006 7:13:12 GMT -5
Shingle..... I like the way you think brother!!! My back does hurt......and that ain't no lie. Vicodin, Tordal, and a muscle relaxer that I can't pronounce and I still feel like crap. The bodily injury part will be fun for sure. I'm not gonna do the lawyer thing unless I see the ins. co. trying to screw me over. I'm not even thinking about that until I get my back to near normal. If I can get the truck for a few hundred, sink a grand into a quickie frame pull, and let the dents go than I'll do it! Speaking from experience, you should have a back specialist give you a complete overhaul to make sure that there is no permanent damage to your neck / back. Thinking I was tough & invencible in my 20's I let a neck / back injury go, and I will be paying for it the rest of my life. Daily pain & limited motion is no fun. |
|
|
|
Post by bsutravis on Dec 27, 2006 12:12:08 GMT -5
The truck is at the body shot for them to tear it apart to re-evaluate the damage. In the mean time, I have to drive a Chevy......oh the humanity!!!! LOL.
I talked to my family doc, he said to give the inflamatory meds another 10 days and then we would explore other options. Blah..............
|
|
|
|
Post by solohunter on Dec 27, 2006 12:50:51 GMT -5
oh do not get me started on State farmmmmmmmmmmmm...glad you are nothing more than sore, me, I would take the money and find something else..when my wife totaled her taurus a few years back...took the insurance money and she found a nice used Volvo station wagon on the internet....and she had 2 grand left over......dropped State Fartknockers....
Solohunter
|
|
|
|
Post by 36fan on Dec 27, 2006 13:13:59 GMT -5
My wife had a car totaled from hail damage a few years back while we were still dating. I was surprised how much they gave her for the damage, but they tried to make it back w/ the buy back deal. We tried to do a buy back, but her insurance company wanted an insane amount for it. They wanted something $2000, and I wouldn't have paid over $1000 for the POS if it didn't have any damage. Long story short - we said keep the car, my wife's mom decided she wanted to buy it for my wife's sister. Her Mom paid ~$1750 for it and was proud of herself because she got the ins company to come down $250. All I could do was shake my head, bite my tongue, and walk away.  |
|
|
|
Post by BIGHORN on Dec 27, 2006 13:23:23 GMT -5
The Property Damage ( damage to your truck ) and the Liability issue ( your back and and related injuries ) are separate claims that must be handled separately.
You can settle the PD claim and not the Liability claim. You have 2 years from the last date of treatment to settle the Liability claim in the State of Indiana. If you can not come to terms with the Insurance Company on a settlement, then you must file suit.
You will be able to buy your truck back for more than likely $500.00 or less.
If they total it, it will have to be retitled under a "Salvage Title". That way if you should sell it to someone else, they know that it has been wrecked and totalled. Protects the other buyer and yourself.
I would seek the services of good Physical Therapist. The muscles around the spine are easily torn in rear-end collisions. They can take a long time to heal correctly!!!
You hit the top 3 that you do not want to be insured by or get hit by someone who has them. #4 includes State Auto. JMO
You really should get that back checked out by someone other than your family doctor. And whatever you do, stay on the course of action prescribed by the doctor or specialist. If you don't, it will only hurt you in the long run. Both from years of pain and in settling the Liability claim.
|
|
|
|
Post by huxbux on Dec 27, 2006 19:26:09 GMT -5
I feel your pain.
|
|
?? I really don't want a payment on a new rig, so if I can salvage this one and drive it till the wheels fall off I would be happy. 
My back does hurt......and that ain't no lie. Vicodin, Tordal, and a muscle relaxer that I can't pronounce and I still feel like crap. The bodily injury part will be fun for sure. I'm not gonna do the lawyer thing unless I see the ins. co. trying to screw me over. I'm not even thinking about that until I get my back to near normal.
